Canadian Boyfriend single-handedly pulled me from my 2 month reading slump.

I adore the characters and the romance, but honestly what really appealed to me was their approach to grief. My brother passed away roughly 6 months ago and I’m still grappling grief. Jenny Holiday approached grief in this book delicately but did not tip toe around the effects of it. Grief is hard to maneuver in real life let alone in fiction and I think it was handled extremely well.

Overall, I really liked this story and I’m eager to read anything in the future by this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for access to the eARC for this title! (Even if I accidentally forgot to download it before the archive date, my bad).

Canadian Boyfriend centers on Rory and Mike. Rory is a former nearly professional ballerina trying to find her purpose and who she is apart from her controlling, toxic mother. Her relationship with her mother has fostered a difficult relationship with food that manifests as disordered eating and body image issues. She has transitioned to being a part time dance teacher for kids who aren’t especially gifted in the dance department. Mike is a recently widowed professional hockey player trying to raise his daughter, Olivia. They are thrown together when Mike asks Rory to help out with Olivia while he is out of town during hockey season, and their friendship slowly blooms.

I really enjoyed the slow growth of the relationship between Rory and Mike. It felt very authentic, and like it developed naturally. And I really, really appreciated the inclusion of intuitive eating care in this story as well! Disordered eating is an issue that is very important to me, both personally and in my career. To see intuitive eating represented correctly, and not the “trendy” (*cough* inaccurate *cough*) version of it that is sometimes pushed on social media was a relief!

I also loved the family connection between Olivia and her dad, and how it then extended to Rory. I loved watching the three of them grow into their own little unit. It was precious and special and one of my favorite parts of the story that I almost wished was highlighted slightly more.

90% of the book was going very well for me, I thought the character development and arcs that both Rory and Mike were making in their healing journeys alongside one another were real and raw. I was rooting so hard for both! But I didn’t love how the third act conflict was handled, and it definitely happened a bit too late in the story for the direction it went. I also felt like in an effort to wrap things up, Olivia’s story was forgotten, which was a disservice to her as she was the most important factor in the first half of the story.

Overall, I rated this one about 4.5 stars! ⭐️ I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author. Canadian Boyfriend is out now

When she’s a teenager, Aurora meets a Canadian hockey player and immediately makes up an elaborate lie about him being her “Canadian boyfriend” - despite the fact that she’s only seen him once. The lie could never hurt anyone so what the big deal right? But of course, years later, Mike Martin shows up again in Aurora’s small town and as their lives become intertwined she can’t help but remember the “relationship” she had built up in her mind all those years ago.

This was a super fun read! I loved the concept and found it highly entertaining. There were a few too many heavy moments to make this a fully light hearted read so keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up. I also thought the “conflict” near the end was a it more dramatic than it needed to be.

All in all, it was a solid rom com and made me laugh quite a few times throughout which is always a plus in my mind!

This was a cute romcom. I love hockey so having that included was a bonus for me. The constant referring to him as "My Canadian boyfriend" drove me crazy though.

This book was so cute! Rory, Mike and Olivia are all coping with life’s challenges. This book talks about mental health, eating disorders and grief. And handles it beautifully. The characters growth throughout the book is so well written. Def recommend.

I loved how this was a story more about two people growing and healing on their own AND separately. They both had to grow on their own and work through some of their past trauma separately and through therapy. I absolutely loved the positive talk around therapy and how we got a glimpse in how it was going for both Mike and Aurora. I loved this slowburn and the audiobook is to die for!

I really enjoyed this book! This book mixed the comedic and heartfelt moments really well! Honestly, parts of this book were a little dark, but it was done well and reflected how life is often a mixture of sad and happy moments.

I loved how Mike, Rory, and Olivia made a little family! I’ve read a lot of books featuring a single parent, but I’m not sure that I’ve ever felt the connection within the developing family quite like how I felt it in this book! I loved how Jenny Holiday was not afraid to shy away from the effects that change can have on children and their behavior. Families, especially in the wake of tragedy, are complicated and this book did such a great job at conveying that!

My favorite parts of this book were all of Mike’s POVs. He was just perfect! He had so much depth to his character that made him feel so real. I loved watching his growth as he juggled his grief with learning to be a single parent while also continuing his NHL career and finding love again in the wake of his loss. Also, I listened to the audiobook and Joshua Jackson has an amazing narrator voice! I’d listen to him narrate a thousand audiobooks!

I loved the chemistry between Mike and Rory! They felt like a real adult relationship in ways that few books achieve! They also just had the type of chemistry that led me to tell “JUST KISS ALREADY” at my book!

I really appreciated how complex Rory was as a character. It was both heartbreaking and really inspiring to watch her grow and heal from her emotional abuse at the hands of her mother. I also get why she wrote those letters. While they were a little cringey, I really appreciate when books write 18 year olds as dramatic and stupid, which is much more accurate than a lot of portrayals of teenagers in the media. And when you factor in her trauma from dancing, her escapism into the world where “Mike” is her only confidant makes sense.

Now, with that being said, I did still kind of hate the third act conflict. I don’t often like when there’s a big secret (often secret identity) hanging over the head of one of the MCs and this book didn’t really change that opinion. I do completely get why she didn’t tell him, but I will say that (slight spoiler) when she does decide to tell him, she does it in a terrible way and that his reaction is somehow simultaneously justified and way too harsh. I don’t know, I just know that I didn’t like it.

Overall, I do really recommend this book, especially if you love your romance books to feature a lot of emotional depth!

This friends to lovers book is an emotional and sweet read. I enjoyed the use of the past and flashbacks to tell a more of a story as well as the interactions between the main characters and the MMC’s daughter. Furthermore, I enjoyed the spunkiness of the MFC and the supportive friendship circles found in the book.

***4 stars, upped to 5 stars for the audiobook***
I started reading the ebook, but then received the audiobook from the publisher to review also, so I continued with the audiobook. I have been a huge fan of Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek, Fringe, The Affair!) for many years, so I was excited that he was the MMC narrator for the audiobook and he did NOT disappoint! I think I would be enraptured and hang on his every word if he narrated a dictionary, his voice is that mesmerizing. Emily Ellet expertly narrates the FMC and she also does a wonderful job with the various other female characters, giving each a distinctive voice and character. I so thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook, I was so sad too have it end!
The author, Jenny Holiday, creates a wonderful story of two imperfect people, who are struggling on their own, but find strength in their friends and created families, when they learn that they can lean on those around them for support. Although a humorous, and at times light hearted rom-com, it deals with complex topics of grief, loss, changes in life dreams, toxic family and mental health (anxiety and eating disorders). The descriptions of the scenery, the locations and food create vivid imagery that adds to the reading experience. Being a Minnesota native, I absolutely LOVED that the story features MINNESOTA and many local attractions and it was fun to learn more about the slang and different foods/culture/hockey from our Canadian neighbors in the north. The story, to me, lost a bit of focus towards the end when there is a falling out over the "Canadian Boyfriend" of Aurora's youth (it seemed like a very weak reason to have such a huge argument--would be more understandable had there been a misunderstanding in thinking that it was someone else currently, not a youthful fantasy). The book ends, however, on a strong note, with Aurora and Mike (also WHY does the book use his full name all of the time?) finding their own individual strengths in order to create a better future together. I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the eARC! I had been interested in previous Jenny Holiday books, but this was my first time reading one of her books and I was SO impressed.

Both of the main characters are realized, dynamic and relatable. The relationship between them felt so natural and I loved them together.

All of the heavier topics and emotions were handled extremely well, a man who goes to therapy and understands his privilege?! Incredible. The spice was fine, but I loved the characters so much that I wanted more. This was such an amazing read and Joshua Jackson killed it with the narration.

This was a cute read from Jenny Holiday, about a socially anxious girl's imaginary Canadian Boyfriend who (modeled after a real person of course), ends up being the Dad to one of her dance students. Overall I really liked this book and it did touch on some pretty heavy subjects but I think I was hoping to be more attached to the characters in the story. Still a good read and I look forward to reading more from Jenny Holiday in the future.

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

There is a lot of publicity and hype for this book and I can see why. It's a dual POV romance between a recently widowed hockey player and his step-daughter's dance instructor. It's a plutonic friends to 'undefinable' situation, where he's leaning on her to help raise his kid while he's travelling for games and there are obstacles slowing down their progression to more than "helpmate." And I think that's why this works, in a way. They very much gel together as helpmates, roommates, and are quickly quite trusting and vulnerable with each other. The set up for this book is really just a hook but it's not as much of the plot line as I was anticipating (and secretly hoping for). There's a lot of practical therapy talk in here, from both parties, so just be aware. The 3rd act drama was melodramatic and highly predictable, so I lowered my rating to match the irritation I felt.
A very easy read that uses a light hand to address heavy topics like grief, eating disorders, and bad parents.

Thanks for the ARC!

Was disappointed by this one. I didn't feel like there was any chemistry between the FMC & MMC. Made it tough to finish. I also don't know why the FMC referred to the MMC by his full government name the entire book lol that was odd.

Canadian Boyfriend:⁣
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Thank you @readforeverpub partner for my gifted copy.⁣
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Let’s be honest. I was never entering my hockey era, because technically, I never got out of it. My favorite movie growing up was D2: Mighty Ducks. I can, til this day, still recite this movie line for line because we’re team USA and we’re going all the way. So when I found out that Joshua Jackson aka Charlie Conway aka number 96 himself, was narrating a Jenny Holiday book, I knew that I couldn’t just read it. I had to listen to the audiobook. It did take a while for me to get it, but it was worth the freaking wait. (My husband got me this Connie Moreau shirt for Christmas and it’s one of my absolute favorite shirts) ⁣
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Now, Jenny Holiday is one of my favorite romance authors ever. She really helped me fall back in love with romance with the Matchmaker Bay Romance. We get the typical fun banter, deep hitting conversations (loss of a wife, ED) and steamy fun. ⁣
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Audio of course was amazing. Emily Ellet had me crying laughing. She hit every nuance perfectly. There’s one way to read this, and it’s audio (if you’re an Audie) ⁣
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What I didn’t like: third act breakup. Is it really a breakup? Regardless, I love that everyone called Mike Martin out on his childish ways and the HEA was perfection.

I’m not gonna lie I LOVED A Princess for Christmas and when I saw a new book by this author hit the shelves I was really looking forward to it especially with a title like “Canadian Boyfriend”. TBH I went in blind and ended up really enjoying it but there were definitely yikes, creepy, and ick moments lol

As a teenager, Rory was very secluded, lost in her world of professional ballet. One day at work in the mall, she serves a boy visiting from Canada named Mike Martin. Fast forward 15-20 years and Mike’s daughter is taking dance lessons with Rory, although the last thing Rory wants Mike to know is that she pretended he was her boyfriend all through high school and college…

There were a number of reasons this book gives the “ick”... #1 she calls him Mike Martin about 60% of the time she names him (not Mike, his full name) #2 overall super creepy to write her notes to him. Like I get it if he was a famous singer or something like I GET it. But this guy was just some random guy she met at the mall…. Like WEIRD. #3 Now, I’m not one to put a timeline on grief and I know everyone moves on at different times but for Mike and Rory to start something up so soon to his wife dying was so weird to me. It was so fast that I actually thought maybe him and his wife were separated or they were only together for XYZ reason but no… they were very much in love. Just felt odd to me but that’s probably subjective.

Anyyyyway, I read through this so fast and really ended up liking it despite the icks so I gave it 4 stars lol

I really enjoyed the first half of this book and felt so invested in the characters. The second half unfortunately wasn’t quite so good for me and I found it became a little repetitive and caused me to lose interest a little. The second half brought it down to a liked but didn’t love. I’ve really enjoyed this author’s other books though so will definitely read more from her again in the future.

This was another great book from Jenny Holiday! I would definitely recommend to fans of the authors previous novels!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Such a cute hockey romance! I loved the heartwarming story between Aurora and Mike as they navigate both their different lives but come together in the end.

Sooo where's my Canadian boyfriend?? Because Jenny Holiday has made a great case for making one up only to find out that they are real and ready to swoop me off my feet (: Seriously this book is SO CUTE! And it's not just hockey romance/sports romance vibes (not that there's anything wrong with that) but there's a lot of working through grief here and self-care via mental health or just by doing small things that make you happy. Reading this book made me happy and it has so much to offer readers in my opinion.

Aurora, Rory, is a dance teacher who's working multiple jobs and who deals with panic attacks and internalized food issues/size issues thanks to her mom and ballet life. She's so lovable and relatable which makes her one of my favorite main characters in a book. Mike is a professional NHL hockey player, still reeling from the death of his wife and just coming back to his career and the normal routines of his life which include bringing his daughter to her dance lessons - something she's been missing since her mom died. There he meets Rory and the two definitely have a connection, not just sexual tension or chemistry but she sees how he's hurting and she wants to help him. He acts as that same support in this book for her too and I love how their friendship builds until it becomes something more. This book teaches great lessons and it's fun, heartwarming, cozy, heart wrenching at times, but in a healing way. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good romance book that doesn't shy away from the hard parts of life. You are going to love Rory and Mike and of course Olivia! Plus the side characters are also great and people anyone would be lucky to have in their lives.

I feel like every single book I read from Forever is just amazing. I'm so thrilled I was able to receive a digital ARC of this one from Forever via NetGalley. Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday published at the end of January so it should be available at your local library, bookstore, or wherever you usually get your books! It's also out on audio if that's your preferred format. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you read the author's note, Jenny says this will be her one and only sports-themed romance so really do you want to miss out on it?? No, you don't!

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Grand Central Publishing for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a teenager, Aurora worked at a mall coffee shop and spent her days daydreaming about a fake boyfriend she met once. Now as a dance teacher, that fake boyfriend had re-entered her life, in the form of one of her student’s dad, Mike. They interacted for less than 5 minutes but he has haunted her life ever since. Mike, who is newly widowed, is just trying to do what’s best for his daughter and keep his head above water. When he meets Aurora, he starts to fall but something his holding back. Will they figure it out or be kept apart?

This was a fantastic read. I absolutely loved the brief history the two had and the reunification throughout the story. There was a perfect mix of humor and sadness and aching for these two idiots to fall in love and get their shit together. Mike and Aurora had their twists and turns but it was a very cute story. Also, Aurora’s mom is a complete bitch and I wanted to string her up a few times. Highly recommend.