Rating: 4/5⭐️

Publication Date: May 23rd 2023

Author: Becky Dean

Review: If you can call a book absolutely adorable this would be the book. BUT it did have its moments of being absolutely dull and a bore fest. I felt like i couldn't really relate the her family and how they were so straight forward and how they had to have everything revolved around the mother and the medicine and the list and schedule, relax a little on vacation.... in Hawaii. Being that this is also a YA and i enjoyed it was something i really wasnt expecting. I'm out of my YA era and this one didn't me back in but it didn't deter me either. Also i think all of the YA kind of have the same vibe, fake boyfriend/ fake dating trope that has to be perfect for the family.

Overall i wouldn't probably read the book again (maybe if i was bored and needed something to get through quickly) but for the first time reading it was fun and an easy loving read.

I didn't realize I needed this book so badly!! Picture perfect boyfriend is the most rejuvenating summer novel I've read, and here's why.

What would you do if your imaginary boyfriend- who you made up to impress your family- actually turned up on vacation? Exactly our MCs situation. Kenzie is a photographer at heart but reinvents herself for her parent's happiness.

As I do often nowadays, I requested this novel a while back, completely forgot what it was about, and started reading without checking the blurb. Turns out it was a great decision!

I am supremely impressed by the characters, whom I fell in love with instantly, and the ones I wasn't sure about became alright by the end. Kenzie is a relatable, comfort character in a tough dillema. Parent's approval Vs her happiness.

Enter fake Jacob Miller. Good looking, EXACTLY like the guy she made up, and more understanding than her family. I shipped him and Kenz from the very start, their chemistry was fire!! He fit in with her like a puzzle piece, from the very start. (I adored the interlocked hands from the very start). Just a minute complaint here- Jacob's physical description didn't match my mental image of a cute 19 yo guy. I felt that the description more suited a mature 20- something man.

Special mention for gran!! Everyone needs this bold, impulsive, slightly crazy woman supporting them every step along the way.

I loved the climax as it popped when I was not expecting it. The ending was sweet and I think I need a part 2 coz this was just sooo good!!

You've made it this far so I might as well tell you- the title is just elite! While reading, I just realised that it made so much sense in so many ways, it's so cool. I can't stop thinking about how to interpret the title with respect to the story there are so many references!!!!

So obviously, I loved this book (Thank you Becky Dean for penning it down<3) and would love for you to read it. Tell me your thoughts about the book/ my review!!

Kenzi has reinvented herself to be the perfect daughter that her parents want, a carbon copy of her older sister. She has given up photography for optometry, and invented a fake perfect (long-distance) boyfriend. Imagine her surprise upon arriving in Hawaii for a family vacation to find him there, waiting for, knowing the her entire back story for him. No spoilers here, because the way the story unfolds is fabulous. This was a great romance with quite a few twists, plus some nice messages about staying true to yourself and following your passions. Recommended for grades 7 & up.

Picture-Perfect Boyfriend is adorable. I really loved Kenzie's arc in particular. Her personal growth, the dynamics with her family, the evolution of her relationship with Jake - all of it was masterfully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable to read! I often judge a book by how long it takes me to reach the point where I struggle to put it down, and this one is a perfect example of a book I almost immediately couldn't stop reading. The details about Hawaii are beautiful and immersive, and I loved every moment of it!

I was provided with an ARC by NetGalley. My review is my own.

I did like this book overall but a few things:

It was hard to get into this book. The family was so extremely dull. The whole we can’t do anything except talk about being eye doctors (even reading about it IN HAWAII for fun) was a bit overkill. It was a turn off.

If they hated fun so much I also find it hard to believe they would even go to Hawaii for a vacation. And the mother who gets motion sickness? Everything they did revolves around her having to take meds.

The schedules! I love a good schedule/chart but never to that extreme and on a beach vacation.

Kenzie (main character) would be likable if she didn’t completely change her life. I mean so far as to she wouldn’t even take a picture on her phone on vacation! Major red flags on this family. Definitely felt like emotionally abusive family (of eye doctors!). Doesn’t add up. It was also hard to believe the things her parents hated about her were taking pictures and learning about animals. It’s not even dangerous things so very odd.

Jacob was likable! Even with his sketch reasons for being on the trip. Loved his character, didn’t however, think he needed to be so secretive.

Tyler! Liked him too but he should’ve fessed up as soon as he realized she was going with the plan. Clearly neither of them liked their lives why not have them work together? Would have helped this story if they were the best friend siblings.

Gran! I would’ve probably stopped reading this book if it hadn’t been for her. She was hilarious and everyone should strive to be like her. I do wish she had told her son and daughter in law stfu from the first time she took scenic route.

I did like the book at the end of you can overlook the dullness of this family.

My toxic trait is that I love YA contemporary romance but also love to make fun of them. I mean, I always pick up a YA contemporary hoping for the best, but then my snarky, cynical, highly critical reader kicks in and then I’m too busy picking things apart to remember to have fun. If I’m really honest I was kind of expecting to happen with Picture Perfect Boyfriend. (Sorry, Becky.)

Thankfully that’s not what happened.

You see, once in a while I pick up a YA contemporary romance, and I’m reminded why I Iove the genre so much (you know, when I’m not too busy hating on it.)

This is one of those times.

Picture Perfect Boyfriend is such a fun book. I mean, a Hawiian getaway, wacky family members, and lots of banter? What more could you want in a summer read?

I Wanna Soak Up the Sun
For a moment, I forgot all the lies, the faking. There was just his smile and the thrill inside me at the whole situation–Maui and surfing and a cute boy.

I said it earlier, but Picture Perfect Boyfriend is just fun. As someone who hasn’t traveled in years (first world problems, I know,) I’m kind of in need of some fictional getaways to cure my wanderlust. While Becky Dean’s sophomore novel didn’t completely scratch my travel itch, it certainly helped.

I used to think I hated first person POVs, but really, what I hate is first person POVs that have no personality. Kenzie is honest (minus the whole imaginary-turned-fake boyfriend thing), funny, and wonderfully sarcastic. I do think her voice could be stronger, but overall, she’s an entertaining narrator who brings the story to life.

Putting the “Family” in Family Vacation
I have really mixed feelings about the Reed family, but we’ll start with my favorite, Kenzie’s grandma.

The longer I live the more I realize that old people are great. Yeah, you have your sweet, neighborly grandmothers, but you also get the little old ladies who say whatever they want because they’ve lived long enough they don’t care what people think (think Stormy from TATBILB.) That’s Kenzie’s grandma. She’s a Taylor Swift belting, ice cream loving, convertible driving senior citizen with a devil-may-care attitude and more sass than I have–and I’ve been told I have a lot. Basically, she’s my favorite kind of fictional grandmother.

Brother-sister relationships might be my favorite kind of familial relationship, so I kind of love Kenzie’s relationship with her brother, Tyler. I wish we’d gotten to see him interact with Kenzie more because they have such a fun and interesting dynamic. There’s just something about bratty kid brothers who secretly love their sisters that gets me every time 🥲

As for the rest of the Reeds, they’re…not quite as endearing. They feel worse than your typical cookie cutter characters because they’re, well, kind of annoying. Kenzie’s parents and sister are supposed to be these successful, type A personalities, but they come across as one-dimensional caricatures of control freaks who would be laughable if they weren’t so aggravating. They go way beyond funny, cartoonish people who love schedules and plan everything to the T; they’re unrealistically absurd. Dean tries to redeem them by giving each of them a moment to flesh out their characters a bit, but it comes too little too late. Kenzie’s heart-to-heart with her older sister lacks any kind of emotion, Kenzie’s mom’s backstory has some potential, but it’s glossed over so quickly it makes the whole plotline feel superficial, and I don’t even remember what kind of bonding moment Kenzie has with her dad.

Fake Dates, Real Feels
I’m a little biased when I say I’m a fan of the romance in Picture Perfect Boyfriend which combines the enemies-to-lovers dynamic with the fake dating trope (which are honestly two of my favorite things.) It’s been a while since I’ve read anything with decent banter, so I definitely appreciate the back-and-forth between Kenzie and Jack-slash-Jacob. It goes from antagonistic to flirtatious over the course of the story, but it’s full of snark and wit, and I love it. I’m also a sucker for cinnamon rolls who fall first, and despite the semi-permanent smirk on his face, Jake fits the description perfectly. He’s sweet, caring and sarcastic. What more could you ask for in a fake boyfriend?

You Tried
As enjoyable as Picture Perfect Boyfriend is, it’s far from perfect. Dean pushes the “I’m so different” subplot a little too hard, and Kenzie comes across a little like all those girls who claim they’re, you know, not like other girls. She compares herself more to her picture-perfect family than to the rest of the female race, but the result is just as off-putting. The moments when she geeks out over marine biology and photography come across a little forced. It’s like, in her excitement over her research, Dean decides to info-dump everything she’s learned and call it dialogue.

Overall, I think the story could be developed more. I mentioned it a bit when I talked about Kenzie’s cardboard family, but it feels like a lot of things are glossed over. I just found myself craving a little more depth and a little more tension while I was reading. Things just feel overly simplistic, and there isn’t really any kind of conflict that’s strong enough to carry the story. When Dean tries to add drama to the story, it comes across as weird and shallow. Jake’s big secret, for example, requires a pretty healthy dose of suspended disbelief. The “problems” and “obstacles” that come up remind me of a daytime soap opera or a cartoon villain laughing maniacally in his cape and monocle–overly dramatic, kind of fake, and comical in the worst kind of way.

My Verdict
I feel like “clean romance” gets a bad rap these days for being cheesy or, I don’t know, not realistic enough or whatever, but Becky Dean proves you can be wholesome and relatable. I mean, it’s a little cheesy, but the sarcasm definitely helps the story feel more grounded. If you’re looking for a fun, light, summery read or a cute love story with a little bit of attitude, Picture Perfect Boyfriend is the perfect beach read (or imagine-you’re-at-the-beach read.) If you’re looking for a YA contemporary romance with a bit more substance, you might want to look elsewhere.

Picture Perfect Boyfriend was such a cute and fun read. I felt as if I was right alongside Kenzie as she tried to figure out how Jacob knew about her situation, and I felt her frustration as he kept his secrets and avoided her questions. Kenzie’s storyline about the pressure of her family to be who they wanted her to be instead of expressing herself was heartbreaking to watch, but was also so relatable to the compromises that we all have to consider to achieve success in the eyes of others. And we can’t forget Gran - I absolutely adored her! Overall great quick read for summer!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

"𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶."

I have overall good thoughts on this book! It DEFINITELY gave me both the travel AND photography itch!

The only thing I struggled with a little bit was the female main character at times. Now, I'm going to preface this with that I ABSOLUTELY understand parental issues and not living up to expectations. AND keeping in mind that she's only 18 (presumably)...

But there were times throughout the books where I actually found her stubbornness... unlikable? Its hard to explain without giving too much away, and honestly, her family did kind of suck so I absolutely get it LOL but there's a balance (which just comes with age I guess 😅)

Thank you to @randomhousekids, @delacortepress and @netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for this review! ❤
.
.
.
.
#bookstagram #booksta #books #booksbooksbooks #avidreader #ilovereading #thetwistedlibrarian #professionalbookworm #pictureperfectboyfriend #beckydean #whatsnikkireading #book33of2023 #fakedating #photography #familyexpectations #comingofage #delacortepress #randomhousepublishing #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #kindleebook

Kenzie is a smart and creative girl who loves photography. She loves it so much that she wants to make a career out of it.

Her parents have an optometry practice and they want all the kids to go into practice with them.

Kenzie has put photography on the back burner to try and make her parents happy just like her sister did. She decided to follow in her sister's footsteps and take courses in optometry. She then decided to create a fake boyfriend named Jacob to make her parents think she is now on the "right" life track.

Kenzie and her family go on vacation to Hawaii for a week. She runs into her “fake boyfriend” Jacob at the airport. I found this part so funny. It kept me wondering who he is and who he knows since he knew so much about Kenzie and her family.

My favorite character had to be her grandma. She was so loving and carefree and helped push Kenzie into being herself. Also, I agree with Grandma that dessert should always come first!

I also really loved her brother Tyler. I love that he was just trying to help Kenzie be her true self.

I loved this story. I found it to be such a cute and fun read. A perfect beach read with Hawaii being a constant in the book. I was so happy for Kenzie and the way everything unfolded in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Picture-Perfect Boyfriend by Becky Dean is a new rom com with a twist. I found this to be a quick read perfect for summer as the setting takes us to Hawaii. Poor Kenzie is always getting compared to her sister so she makes up a fake boyfriend to impress her parents. Enter fake boyfriend Jake who shows up in Hawaii. This is a fun fake dating rom com.

This was such an adorable contemporary romance! ❤️ Even though the romance was good ~ the growth of the main characters was what made the book so enjoyable for me!

The storyline was really intriguing. I loved Kenzie, our female lead's passion for photography and her bravery to pursue a career path so different than her family's. Jacob was a likable lead ~ but I was expecting a bit more from him. His character needed to be fleshed out more, imo. I liked how he inspired Kenzie to follow her dreams! The mystery about Jacob added such a charming touch to the story too! The Hawaii setting won my heart, and I loved reading about Kenzie's family's adventures on the island. Speaking about her family - Kenzie's grandmother. Oh. My. Gosh. I loved her so much! She's a gem. ✨

The fake dating trope was so fun too, and had a little twist which I loved. But the story was so much more about the romance, and that's what won my heart.

I would definitely recommend reading this if you're looking for a quick and uplifting beach read! 💜

This book was the cutest! Kenzie and Jake are adorable together and I loved how their relationship progressed so naturally throughout the book. It gave me all the happy warm fuzzies reading about them and their trip. All the characters were so dynamic and well written, and I just couldn't put the book down.

Picture Perfect Boyfriend is a cute rom-com book with such a crazy plot that you can’t help but smile!

Kenzie feels like she is letting her family down by wanting to follow her dreams of being a photographer so she decides to become more “responsible” in the eyes of her parents. So she makes up a fake boyfriend… but then he shows up to join her family vacation! How?! How does he know all of the lies she has told her family about him? How is he here? Who is he?

This is a new favorite book!!!

I’m already a HUGE fan of Becky Dean’s YA contemporary reads. Her characters are spot on and so real life that it makes me want to reach out and hug them. I feel their pain, and sometimes it mirrors my own. Not to mention they’re always hilarious and keep you laughing throughout the entire book!!

All that aside… the story. Y’all, it was amazing! It was crafted impeccably and done so well!! ACK!!!!!! This book has my heart for sure!!!

If you’re looking for a fun light-hearted YA contemporary that tackles good themes, this book is for you! It’s a perfect summer read to dive into on the beach. Or anywhere! It’s amazing. There’s still time to preorder it and get all kinds of fun goodies… So go do that!!!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Picture Perfect Boyfriend was an adorable read. An adorable book to read was Picture Perfect Boyfriend. To win her parents' favor, Kenzie creates the ideal make-believe lover who fits her new false character. When her very false boyfriend appears on a family vacation as a real person, her plan takes a slight detour.

Although Kenzie's character did indeed develop throughout the story. Although Kenzie was a senior in high school, anyone can relate to her hardships and realizations. The whole story is told from Kenzie's point of view. I adore the relationship between Kenzie and Jake, and how she communicates her sentiments to Jake without resorting to teen drama. Jake does a terrific job of supporting her and her love of photography. The best-supporting character is her Grandma. Gran was undoubtedly a favorite. She is funny, daring, and unafraid to ask for what she wants. The attraction was well-written, and the other family characters were entertaining. The location in Hawaii was ideal for a romantic encounter as well. The two get along incredibly well. The story was rather predictable. I truly like it and was interested in learning more about Jacob Miller's background. This book is for you if you're looking for a YA contemporary with humor and good subject matter. It's the ideal book for a beach reading experience this summer.

This is such a delightful YA contemporary romance! It takes place in Hawaii, so the setting is gorgeous, and it has fake dating in it, in a way I don’t think I’ve seen done before!

Kenzie and Jake are great characters! I loved their growth and what they learned throughout the story, and I was cheering for them to be able to make their relationship continue past the time they were in Hawaii for vacation. I mean, what do you do if you make up an imaginary boyfriend, and then your family surprises you by inviting your boyfriend on vacation and he meets you there? This fun setup made for a fake dating scenario I don’t think I’ve seen before. There were enemies vibes at the beginning of the story too, which added to the fun of their budding romance for me because enemies to more is my favorite trope.

The themes of being true to yourself and choosing to do what makes you happy were very well written in this book. I felt for Kenzie and Jake and the situations with their families, and I loved how everything worked out in the end.

I have now read both of Becky Dean’s contemporary romances, and I will be eagerly waiting for more! Both books have clean romance and no swearing, and each story has a fun and unique premise. I highly recommend this book, as well as Love & Other Great Expectations!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.

This is a quick, cute read set in Hawaii during the summer. Kenzie has made up a fake boyfriend to impress her parents who expect her to be exactly like her older sister and to not be "distracted" or aloof or anything but serious. So, this fake boyfriend and her self denial of her photography career lead to her parents liking this "new" Kenzie. Everything is fine (well, not for Kenzie who is forcing herself to be someone she's not) until this fake, imaginary boyfriend surprises her on their Hawai'i trip at the airport...and she just has to roll with it.

Jake and Kenzie's fake dating into POSSIBLY real dating was adorable (I mean...I put the possibly there for spoilers but like...it's a HEA). No idea how Kenzie didn't freak out, especially since she doesn't find out how Jake came to be until about 50% or so through the novel. The forced proximity and fake dating is strong in this book. Kenzie's Gran is also a massive supporter of Kenzie, and I love how she's just cheering for her the whole time (even after Gran figures out Jake is fake).

Overall, I enjoyed this more than I expected to!

3.5 stars

This was such a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed going on this Hawaiian (can't beat that setting) vacation with Kenzie. I liked her adventurous spirit and her love of nature and photography. I also enjoyed watching her grow over the span of the trip and come into her own. Jake Miller was a very interesting character in all his fake and real glory and how he ended up on the trip, plus his reason for coming, were certainly something I didn't expect. My favorite character had to be Gran, though, and I honestly would not mind seeing where her future adventures take her.

Overall, this was a light, fun read about following your dreams even if not everyone around you supports them and being yourself unapologetically.


Thank you, Becky Dean, Random House Children's Delacorte Press, and NetGalley, for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!

what a pure delight this book was!! it was just so much fun to read. the characters were charming and full of heart. i adored this and will be adding it to my shelves so soon!! thank you so much netgalley!!

This book encompassed basically everything I like in a YA novel, it was lighthearted and fun and in HAWAII. What more could I want? It even tackled some family problems like the pressure they might put on you when it comes to planning a future or just pressure to be a certain way in general. I’m a sucker for pretty much any book that has to do with travel. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is that it was a liiiiiittle far fetched and the side characters were merp.
Thank youuuuu Netgalley for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review!