My Rating: 3/5 Stars

My Review:

I received a digital ARC of this book from HTP Books in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

As a future librarian, I would be doing myself a disservice if I did not read every book I could about books, libraries, and librarians. So when I saw the MC in this book was a librarian, I jumped at the chance to be a part of promoting it. The Boyfriend Candidate is a messy and cheesy rom com, that is as fun as you let it be. It was a lot at times, but letting go of the technicalities made it a more enjoyable read.

This is not to say that there wasn’t things about this book that I wish were different. I felt like there could have been more research/attention spent on Alexis’s and Logan’s careers. There was a lot of plot holes of convenience regarding that, which I hope will be resolved in the finished version. There was just something off in the way Winstead chose to portray that aspect of this story and for Alexis, especially, her ending career wise was disappointing to me. It was also a bit misrepresentative of the education involved in becoming a librarian, which irked me, whoops.

Moving past that, this book had such a wonderful cast of characters. I don’t think there were any that I did not enjoy. Though told through Alexis’s perspective, I felt like we got to know most of the cast well enough by the end of the novel. There were many sweethearts throughout (I loved Muriel so much) and I thought that their interactions balanced out the story.


I also really enjoyed the building of Alexis’s relationship with her mother and sister throughout the novel. It was a well rewarded decision to focus on that aspect of her life, in terms of how she is still growing and discovering who she is and where her current ideals come from. I would have liked to have spent a bit more page time applying these changes to her relationship with Logan, but alas.

All in all, this was a fun read that I am sure many other readers will devour once they pick it up.

The Boyfriend Candidate released May 9th, 2023

This is one of the best romcoms I've ever read through netgalley. It was funny, sexy, and entertaining. I honestly could not stop reading.

I found the characters relatable and likable. The FMC was a bit naïve, but I still rooted for her and enjoyed her arc.

4.5 stars.

This is a first time read for me by this author, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up. Alexis has been leading a bit of a boring, ho-hum life, and when her boyfriend dumped her for that very reason, she realizes she needs to change things up. She decides to have a one night stand. She meets Logan at a hotel bar, who is the complete opposite of her, and she decides he is the one. But hooking up with Logan gives her more than she bargained for when pictures of her and Logan surface all over the internet. In order for both of them to save their careers, they pretend to fake date - just for a couple of months. There's no harm in playing this charade for a couple of months, is there? Unless of course real feelings begin to develop and the chemistry between absolutely sizzles.
Fake dating, likable characters, and an interesting plot kept me turning the pages of this humorous and fun story. I think the writing was well done, it kept me engaged and interested till the end. I enjoyed the story and hope to read more of this author's work. Glad to have had the opportunity to read this delightful fun story!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a really cute rom-com with a fake dating premise. I loved how Alexis and Logan meet and how it turned into this whole whirlwind. A little bit more politics in a rom-com than normal but as I agreed with all of Logan's idea it was totally fine! I look forward to reading more from Ashley Winstead in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Fun, good, beautiful


Thank you soooooo much netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced review copy if this book💗
"I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy.
Very Likeable Characters!
Alexis Stone is a shy and reserved school librarian, she was dumped by her cheating ex for being boring and timid. She goes out one night to a hotel bar to have a one night stand to prove to herself that she can be forward. She meets Logan at the bar when he steps in when a suitor won't leave Alexis alone. They get a room and the fire alarm goes off, and Logan is photographed carrying Alexis from the building. This does not bode well for Logan's campaign to become democratic governor of Texas, an already uphill battle. His campaign team then devise a plan for the two to fake date.

What a charming book, Fake dating to real dating. A quick lovely read.

Thank you Netgalley & HTP Books for an eARC of The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead!

How can Ashley write between two genres so seamlessly? Every time I read one of her rom-coms, I feel like I can't love anything more - And then I just DO. This is a SLOW burn that is OH so worth it.

Alexis Stone is a shy school librarian and is dumped by her boyfriend who claims she's too meek in bed. She decides to go out and look for a one-night-stand to enjoy the night with, living outside her comfort zone. That night she meets Logan - A gorgeous, foul-mouthed man at the hotel bar. They're truly opposites - But the hotel catches fire before they can do the deed.

When sudden photos of Logan and Alexis appear all over the internet, she realizes that he is a candidate challenging the Texas governor's seat. This one-night-stand has become quite a scandal. Can they pretend to be in relationship to save both of their careers and reputations?

These two are opposites - I love both Alexis and Logan - and their forced proximity is absolute fire. It drove me crazy just how much of a slow burn this was, but in a way that absolutely pays off. I NEEEED more of them and this. Also, I do not enjoy books about politics at ALL, but once again Ashley wrote this just like Fool Me Once in a way that I really enjoyed that aspect of the story, too.

It was a mistake to make this one POV. Our MC is in the clouds and it's hard to believe she's not just oblivious and that this isn't just badly written.

The reasoning behind the fake-dating, not impressive, not believable enough.

How could I forget, our MC and love interest don't actually have a moment until like 100+ pages in... how is this a romance?

I regret requesting this.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I literally just finished reading Ashley Winstead's Fool Me Once right before this and had no idea the two books were companions! While Fool Me Once follows the story of Lee Stone, this one picks up about a year or so later and focuses on her younger sister, Alexis.

Lex is incredibly different from Lee. She fits the more conventional role of female protagonist, whereas Lee was something of an anti-hero(ine). I appreciated (however unintentional it was on my end) having so much context for Lex's character, making my investment in her story a pretty seamless one.

In the previous book, we saw that her long-term boyfriend cheated on her multiple times and made some pretty disparaging remarks. While that was but a mere plot point in Fool Me Once, we see the aftereffects of that behavior in this one, specifically how it has impacted Lex's psyche. On the anniversary of her break-up, she sets out to do something impulsive and adventurous. In doing so, she ends up meeting Logan, a man whose attraction she pretty quickly acts on. However, what she didn't realize or expect was that her short-lived and interrupted tryst with Logan would be broadcast all over mainstream media. Logan is a Democratic candidate for governor in Texas... and their escapade was caught on camera. In an attempt to curb some of the commentary made from their scandal, the two agree to fake a relationship for the camera, offering a bit more legitimacy to their previous meet-up.

We all know how this one plays out, right? Nothing beats a good fake dating trope when done properly! However, it was the miscommunication interspersed that detracted from some of the momentum. In the previous book, I felt like the political side-story sometimes overtook the narrative; I was less bothered by that in this one. I appreciated seeing Alexis, a school librarian, use her newfound platform for advocacy. The topics discussed (school funding and book banning/challenges) are obviously topics near and dear to my heart, so I was less thrown off by their inclusion. I also found there was a bit more balance here.

Yet, the constant miscommunication between the two main characters was somewhat frustrating. The pacing is really my only issue; Ashley Winstead's writing is quippy, smart, and captivating. I hope she continues down this rom-com rabbit hole!

The last 30% of this book was SO good!!
I loved the fake dating situation in this book, there is a lot of talk about politics but I enjoyed that. I really love Alexis as a character and watching her growth and discovering what she wants in life. Logan was a really solid love interest. I really enjoy Ashley Winstead’s romances and can’t wait to read more!!

This book was so cute, so sweet, and so emotional. And funny! I cracked up out loud a few times! Alexis is a school librarian who recently went through a bad break up. Her ex had some not-nice things to say about her sexual prowess, and she takes that to heart. So she goes looking for a one-night stand and meets Logan. They hit it off immediately, but she is completely unaware of who he really is. Caught in pictures by the media outside a hotel, they are thrown into a fake relationship...but is it really fake? I loved watching Alexis use the strength she wasn't sure she had, Logan learn how to tone down his bad-boy reputation, and both of them learn to trust themselves and each other. I adored this book!

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good political romance. Both protagonist had intense chemistry and there was plenty of angst to keep me guessing. Really enjoyed it!

So while a lot of my captions and stories and liked posts on Instagram would be categorized as “political”, I’m not huge into politics.

The Boyfriend Candidate brought up some really good points though. Mainly and in part that love is political.

The book also introduced a new book boyfriend into my armada. The subtle way that Alexis and Logan-LoLexis- loved each other was beyond goals and adorableness. I loved their whole dynamic and relationship.

I’m not going to lie, having the romantic relationship not be at the forefront of the book was refreshing and wonderful.

The romance was the driving point of The Boyfriend Candidate but the relationships that Alexis had with herself and the other members of her family was the neck that turned the head of the romance novel. The amount of self-reflection and inner growth was amazing.

All in all, a very nice romance novel with a fire spice rating. All at the end bu the chemistry was off the charts.

Thank you NetGalley and graydor books for an advanced copy for an honest review.

I really was enjoying this book and know that I will definitely get it again. Unfortunately I ran out of time before I finish it. I love Ashley’s book and how diverse her writing style is. She writes cute romances with thrillers. It boggles my mind how she can be do good at both. Thank you again and I will buy this and review on my booksta account.

The Boyfriend Candidate is another charming, touching, witty tale by Winstead that I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed. In my opinion, is is the perfectly good romcom that has offers a lot of hope, heart, and humour.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Alexis and Logan. Alexis works at the elementary school library. Logan is running for governor. They meet at a bar and decide to have a one night stand. The press find out and blow it out of proportion. They each have issues and together they work them out and fall in love.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️- this book was a slow, slow burn filled with misunderstandings. Alexis is a school librarian and Logan is a gubernatorial candidate who find themselves in a compromising situation which leads them to fake dating. I struggled to get into it until about 70% and at times felt it was a bit predictable. I think I would have enjoyed to have Logan’s point of view as well.

Right off the bat The Boyfriend Candidate opens up with a laugh out loud scenario and some fabulous insight to our leading lady. Ashley Winstead has created a female lead that is so incredibly relatable in Alexis.

The back and forth banter, the self-discovery, the tension- this is the perfect recipe for a fabulous rom-com. In a series of questionable situations and hurdles, Alexis really takes her life into her own hands and watching that transformation into putting herself and her wants first was a joy to read. Every character brings something lovely and meaningful to the story and the connections between everyone was enjoyable. I couldn't put this one down and I'm sad it's over. Winstead is surely an author that I'm keeping on my radar now.

As a librarian this was an interesting romcom with a school librarian as the main character. This is usually good really well or really poorly and I am happy to say that it went really well in this book. I appreciated the commentary on book banning and library budgets and how it was woven into the story - especially when the other plot is someone running for Governor in Texas (I would have felt let down if it wasn't even addressed).

The Main couple was so well written as well - they felt like full adults with real baggage and real motivations. I also liked the many different side characters and plot threads woven in to make this more than just a one note romance (which also have their time and place). I just really enjoyed the author's writing style and tone - it hooked me immediately and I just fell into the story.

There was a fair amount of hype surrounding this book prior to publication, and let me tell you: it is warranted. I was hooked from the very first line: "I'll say one nice thing about my ex Chris Tuttle: the man was the entire reason I was here, standing at the entrance to the sultry Fleur de Lis hotel bar, wearing a red dress so plunging I kept it in the back of my closet for fear of scandalizing visitors, on the verge of reinventing myself." (And it only gets better from there.)
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The relationship between Alexis and Logan has all of the charm of the classic 90s rom-com, minus any of the dated stereotypes. They have the absolute best chemistry, and I found myself rooting for them both in their individual endeavors, as well as a couple. Also, I just have to say, this is fake dating at its finest.
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I love Ashley Winstead's writing style, and I can't wait to read more of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for the advanced reader copy.