This is the type of representation that I love to see. This book made me smile from ear to ear. I love that these voices are being seen and represented in media. Such a feel good story and I am so excited to see what else is in store from this author.

This is one of the funniest and wholesome-est books I've read in a while, I had to legit keep the book down and internally scream because it was so wholesome 😭 the story follows a trans boy as he changes his high school and tries to prove (to everyone, but also for himself) that he IS a boy by joining an exclusive club (aka the title). The new friendships he forms, the new enemies to lovers romance, the dry humor and sarcastic narration were absolutely perfect, I can't wait to reread this book!

TWs - abandonment by parents (physically and mentally), mild transphobia experienced by the MC in the past ("slip-ups" aka people misgendering him, using his dead name etc)

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced e-copy!

I loved reading this book! It was like Ouran High School Host Club meets Heartstopper. I surprised myself with how quickly I finished it.

I loved how in The Borrow a Boyfriend Club, Noah struggles with feeling like he can prove himself, something I think a lot of us can identify with. We get so caught up with "I'll feel enough when XYZ" and then we realize that it doesn't matter. We reach that point and it sometimes doesn't feel enough.

We have to do the difficult work of looking within us to find out what acceptance or feeling enough feels like for us. In the book, not only Noah, but Asher both deal with their expectations of what it will be like. I loved watching them both explore this and the romance was swoony and also I loved the challenge aspect to it. This put me in the contemporary mood!

thank you netgalley for sending me this book

i loved this book so much!! one of the best read of this year! it was both funny and lovely. the characters are well written and the chemistry beetween asher and noah is perfect

This debut is truly marvelous. I had so much fun following along with the entire cast of characters through their shenanigans, drama, heartbreak, and hope. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. Page Powars is a gift!!!

This book was a great read that I devoured. I loved the characters and the storyline. I wish I had more to read!

A delightfully heartwarming story, Borrowed Boyfriends Club gives us a protagonist to love and root for while also providing a deft depiction of a trans boy finding his place in the world. While the relationships between the kids are perfectly on point, what’s truly lovely is this is a book about a trans kid, but it’s not *about* the kid being trans. While coming out stories are important, it’s nice to see a trans student on the page without making that the entire plot. Noah has supportive parents and community- something all YA readers need to see. Such a great story- it belongs in all YA sections.

This was a very good representation of transgender teens and what they face with the coming of age. I plan to recommend this to teens who are going through similar things. Books are best when they are relatable.

This incredible coming of age story follows Noah Bryd, a trans boy who decides to join a boyfriend borrowing club to prove that he is in fact a boy. Rule number one: no real boyfriends or girlfriends allowed…but that means Noah can’t do anything about the chemistry between him and the President, Asher.

This borrowing a boyfriend club was absolute chaos but everything that Noah needed to find himself and his purpose. Noah is one of those characters that you can’t help but love even though you know he doesn’t actually put a whole lot of thought into his decisions and actions.

This book was also packed with so many hilarious moments that I found myself giggling throughout the story…thankfully I was alone.

Overall, if you’re a fan of queer teens being their messy and chaotic selves while trying to figure out life then read this amazing debut!

This book was so scrumptious. I knew just from the sk8 related dedication that it would be good. Page Powars comes from the exact same brand of fandom and humor as me and it made for a great time. I was laughing out loud many times during this. It had a romance you wanna root for paired well with the main character's story of coming to age and self acceptance. As someone whos read A LOT of average queer ya recently i can tell you this is how you do it and this is what i enjoy. I gobbled this up so much. I can't wait to read more from this author. 😩

This book has so many good elements of a YA rom-com/contemporary but with the added layer of a club that I honestly considered if I would start at my own school (even though that definitely is not the lesson of this book at ALL) and trans identity. I wanted Noah and even Asher to succeed, as well as the other members of the club, even as things are more tropey or cliche (and that’s not a bad thing). The highlight for me though was the idea of trans reclamation as Noah finds love and joy within things (dance) that felt like they had to be rejected to be truly a boy, and the element of dance particularly spoke to me. I’ve been looking forward to this book since it was first announced, and I’m happy to see what lived up to my expectations and what surprised me along the way. Definitely worth picking up for anyone keeping up with the YA genre, and for my fellow trans people trying to navigate love (in all its forms) while cementing who you truly are.

THIS WAS SO CUTE!!!

I originally heard about this book between late 2020 to early 2021 and instantly added it to my want to read shelf. 2 years later it was finally here and I requested an arc. I was not disappointed.

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club follows Noah, who recently switched schools due to the fact he is trans and got mistreated at his last school. When he arrives at this new place, he decides to join a “football and lamo” club. The club is actually the Borrow a Boyfriend Club. He initially fails his interview but strikes a deal with Asher, the president.

This book was so fricking cute it actually hurt, Noah and Asher were so sweet together. I love when queer books mention and discuss the trauma and disadvantages of being queer but still be a light hearted fun book and this did that. Noah has insecurities and problems with being trans but Asher and the other characters are supportive of him. This was such a good debut from Page Powers and I will definitely be picking up his next release!! Recommend 10000%

When Page Powars wrote the line “short guys are hot,” it was fan service, and I am the fan in question.
The Borrow A Boyfriend Club is an eccentric young adult rom-com that me genuinely laughing out loud, and clutching my heart in subsequent chapters. The dynamic characters lend themselves well to the theatrical plot, and it hooked me in quickly. Noah Byrd’s struggles—internally and externally—of feeling seen as his gender identity cut deep, but sewed me back up neater than before.
Reading this book felt like watching a comfort show with my best friend. Page Powars, an instant auto-buy.

4.5 Stars

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars is the kind of book that will bring a smile to any reader’s face. Depicting a boyfriend borrowing service posing as an Italian club, this one contains a cast of lovable characters and a fair amount of chaos. This is a well-executed feel-good story that is entertaining from start to finish.

Determined to prove his gender to his classmates at his new school, Noah is thrilled when he discovers the Football and Lamborghini Club—the perfect masculine-sounding activity. However, his plan already starts to crumble when he learns that the club is actually a cover for a boyfriend borrowing service and fails his interview to join. Luckily, Noah is able to strike a deal with the club president: he’ll help raise some much-needed funds by helping them win the talent show in exchange for another chance. To successfully join the club, Noah must pass a series of tests, including romancing the president himself, but as the two find themselves getting closer despite a strict rule against dating, they must confront their real feelings and the future of the club.

❀ LOVABLE MAIN CHARACTER

I loved Noah’s character and the way he transforms throughout the book. I really felt for him since he feels the need to prove himself as a boy, and the way his parents never call him by his full name doesn’t help, making him feel tolerated instead of supported. His fears and insecurities are well written, and I loved watching as he slowly becomes more confident.

❀ SIDE CHARACTERS SHINE

The side characters throughout the book also shine. Because the club assigns each member a boyfriend “type,” they all have their own quirks. From influencer to psychic, there’s an interesting range of characters, and their chaotic interactions are so much fun to read about.

❀ A JOYFUL STORY

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club by Page Powars is a joyful story about self-love. The concept is entertaining, the main character is easy to root for, and the side characters add even more fun to the story. This is the perfect read for any romcom lover.

To have such a cutesy premise, this book is very very bland. To have "queer joy" on the cover, this book is sort of depressing!!! To be pitched as a romance, the love interest is SUCH a dick. This book wasn't bad, it just was so, irrelevant that I kind of would have at least liked something to dislike about it instead of feeling SO neutral about it....

💜Pub Day Book Review💜

Happy pub day @pagepowars! Thank you @prhaudio for the complimentary audiobook!

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club - Page Powars
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

“A feel-good, coming-of-age rom-com from debut author Page Powars that follows a trans teen who joins a boyfriend borrowing service masquerading as an Italian Club to prove that he’s one of the guys, especially to its frustratingly handsome leader.”

This was such a cozy, heart warming read. We follow trans teen Noah as he navigates a new school, making new friends, and feeling like he constantly has to prove himself. Since it’s too late to join sports for the year, Noah finds himself joining the most “manly” club he can find - the Football and Lamborghini Club. Except this club is just a front for the Borrow a Boyfriend Club, where students can hire the club members as dates. It just so happens the club has a grumpy, hot president named Asher.

I adored every character in this story so much! So many absolutely hilarious lines. The trans and queer joy in this make my heart so happy! I truly wish anyone struggling to accept themselves ends up with a friend group this amazing and supportive.

The audiobook was fantastic and added so much to the story!

Recommend if you like:
- high school romcoms
- hilarious quips and banter
- stories about acceptance
- trans & queer joy
- important, heavy themes handled in a lighthearted and fun way
- found family

💜What recent read will you keep recommending over and over?

#prhaudioinfluencer #audiobook #readqueerallyear #queerbooks #transbooks #transreads #lgbtqreads #lgbtreads #booksbooksbooks #debutauthor #newrelease #pubday #netgalley #summerreading #goodreads #bookchallenge #bookphoto #bookreview #bookrecommendations

Oh gosh, this was such a lovely read! Thank you so much to the author for reaching out to me about an ARC. All thoughts are my own!

I am so grateful for all the trans rep in books nowadays and this is def one I will be recommending to folks. Noah is mostly surrounded by supportive people, but he still feels insecure about how others see him, which felt so relatable to me. Wanting to prove himself as a boy, Noah tries joining the Borrow a Boyfriend Club and shenanigans ensue!

The Ouran High School Host Club is one of my fave animes and this book reminded me of it in all the best ways! There is a cast of interesting characters who come together to form an odd little family and I loved that so much! If you pick up this book, expect a lot of funny and sweet moments that will make your heart melt.

I especially think this would be a great winter read because there's lots of scenes with snow and colder weather. It gave the book a great cozy vibe!

4.5 stars but I rounded to 5 stars for NetGalley.

noah byrd’s goal is to be one of the guys. that’s why he’s determined to join a boyfriend-borrowing club at his new school. but then he bombs the first round of interviews, which leads to striking a deal with the club’s president: he gets a second chance if he trains (and helps win) the boys for the talent show.

this book felt like such a warm hug which i so deeply needed right now. noah is such a lovable character. even asher (the club’s president), prickly as he is pretty, was a character i took a liking to and really felt for. while this isn’t to say this book didn’t have its heavy moments, i feel like these did not overshadow the overall lightheartedness.

i also liked the concept of the book. a secret organization that rents out boyfriends sounds like a lot for a bunch of high schoolers to manage, but the way everything was explained made a lot of sense. i also like how the boys were such close friends, even though it took them a while to say it outright.

i highly recommend to any YA romance readers.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself while reading this. I thought that the characters were well-fleshed out, and the stakes didn't feel exaggerated or unrealistic. It balanced the heavier themes with lighthearted humor and banter among friends that had me literally laughing out loud. And I think every reader can relate to the characters in some way - Noah's ultimately trying to prove something, and we've all been there. Asher's trying to prove something too, but he's also burdened with not wanting to lose the only family he's come to know, being constantly overshadowed by his past mistakes and living up to someone he isn't. Every member of the Borrow a Boyfriend Club might have joined for different, legitimate reasons, but I loved the underlying sense of camaraderie as they work to save the club.

Asher and Noah seem to have intense feelings for each other almost from the start, and while they weren't necessarily enemies, things weren't always kittens and rainbows. I love how this book can serve as a commentary on what dating/love means to people - especially teenagers - who have enough on their plate as it is.

I tend to not like first-person POVs as much (I'm aware they're more prevalent than others), because I find a lot of them fall into the traps of being overly expository and very juvenile, stream-of-consciousness in style. But Noah's doesn't feel that way.

The reader is able to see his thought process (and be entertained by his commentary on literally everything), and even if we don't necessarily think the same things he does (re: every time he does something in the name of being a good "boyfriend" for the sake of the club), we can certainly see where he's coming from. However, this also means there's quite a lot of secondhand embarrassment (especially at the beginning).

Since the book takes place in late winter, it almost feels like a cozy read. Absolutely would reread during that time of year just to feel more immersed in the setting.