It pains me to say that this is my least favorite Sophie Gonzales title so far. I've really enjoyed her previous work, but the overall concept and vibe of this just didn't work for me, and in fact brought me back to some cringier moments of my youth. The basic premise is that our MC, Ivy, writes y/n and self insert fanfic, about her favorite fictional character and magically brings him to life. This is interspersed with the flashbacks to her best friendship with her neighbor, Mack. Unfortunately, you lost me at y/n. And that's okay! This isn't for adult readers. But still, I know there are teens that do find this cringey. And worse than that is the fact that I found both Ivy and Mack to be insufferable. Ivy in particular is a tough character to root for. She doesn't ever take accountability and has horrible problem-solving skills. Mack is just a straight up bad friend at times. The only character I enjoyed was Henry a side character who needed more page time. The character that was brought to live did add some humor, and Mack and Ivy both grew quite a bit but I wasn't totally satisfied by the end. This was disappointing and probably not a fit for our library, but I'm absolutely note done reading Sophie Gonzales!

The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is a lighthearted and funny read that pokes fun at rom-com tropes while delivering a surprisingly heartfelt story. The characters are messy but endearing, and the witty dialogue keeps things moving. While some parts feel a little over-the-top, the humor and charm make up for it. It’s not perfect, but that’s kind of the point. A fun, easy read for fans of romantic comedies—4 stars!

I love how much this books loves and understands fandom. How the things you love can become a part of you, and can become a way for people to understand you. I loved how this leaned into absurdity and made fun of itself in a way you only can when you love what you are making fun of. I wasn't sure about the premise, but I'm so glad I gave this a chance.

I wish that ivy and Mac hadn’t ended up getting together. There didn’t really seem to be romantic chemistry there but they made great friends and partners in crime. Overall a very cute book about a fanfic come to life.

THIS BOOK IS SO FUNNY
Sophie Gonzales gave such a nuanced story of young love and friendship in Perfect on Paper and this story had all that PLUS it was pee your pants funny.
What a crazy plot that somehow just worked.
Everything about this was 5 stars.

Thanks to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I think I’m at the age where a romance staring a 16 year old is not for me. Only one chapter in and the parents have no real faith in their daughter and she has no confidence in herself and I knew I’d personally need to DNF. However; I’ve always enjoyed Sophie’s examples of bisexuality in writing so if you are into YA romance, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.

I love Sophie Gonzales, and this book was not at all what I expected. But, it was fun.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales is a hilarious and super relatable rom-com that totally surprised me in the best way! It follows Daisy, a girl who’s trying to prove that perfect guys don’t really exist by creating a list of qualities she wants in a boyfriend, basically, her dream guy. But things get complicated when she starts falling for someone who doesn’t quite check all the boxes.

What I loved about this book is how funny and real it feels. Daisy is super sarcastic and self-aware, and the way she navigates her feelings is super relatable, especially if you’ve ever been caught up in the idea of perfect relationships. The romance is cute but also messy in the best way. It’s not all insta-love, and the way Daisy has to figure out what really matters when it comes to love was super refreshing.

There’s a great balance of humor and heart, and the pacing is spot on, fun, light-hearted moments mixed with a few deeper themes about what makes someone “perfect” for you. The characters are all pretty well-developed, and even though Daisy starts off with a very clear idea of what she wants, she learns a lot about herself and what she really needs.

Sophie Gonzales' The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is a witty and heartwarming exploration of identity, relationships, and the search for love in the digital age. The novel follows a young woman as she navigates the complexities of dating apps, self-discovery, and the idea of “the perfect match.” Gonzales cleverly blends humor with emotional depth, creating a relatable and engaging story that feels both contemporary and timeless. With sharp dialogue, authentic characters, and a thoughtful message about expectations versus reality in relationships, this book is a fun yet meaningful read for anyone who's ever wondered about the nature of love and connection.

This was cute. Some really funny moments but the concept was really really out there and kinda cringey.

Interesting premise but the book didn't hold my interest. I didn't love the characters. The execution and pacing felt off for me. I've read other books by this author and liked them but this one felt flat to me. I didn't engage with the characters, I found them overdone and honestly annoying. I couldn't get engrossed in their story as I didn't 't find them all that interesting. I'm sorry to say I DNF at 50%.

Fun, cute, quick read!

Enemies to lovers and the perfect amount of sarcasm.

I loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

This was super cute and a delightful story! I appreciated the plot and felt like the characters were very dynamic!

4-Star Book Review: The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzales
Sophie Gonzales delivers another heartfelt and engaging romance with The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist. This delightful story about navigating love, self-discovery, and the messiness of human connection is perfect for fans of modern romantic comedies. Here are my top five reasons to pick up this book!


Top 5 Reasons to Read The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist:
Authentic and Relatable Characters - The characters in The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist are not just words on a page; they are people you can relate to. Each is fully fleshed out, with flaws, quirks, and insecurities. You'll find yourself rooting for them, even when they make mistakes because they feel like friends you've known for years.
Sharp and Witty Banter - Gonzales is a master of dialogue, and this book is packed with laugh-out-loud moments that feel like they could be happening in your living room. The humor is not forced; it's natural, and the characters' conversations are snappy and meaningful, keeping you entertained from start to finish.
A Unique Spin on the Romance Trope - This book takes the classic 'opposites attract trope, where two people with contrasting personalities or backgrounds are drawn to each other. It adds complexity, creating a love story that's as much about personal growth as it is about romance. It's refreshing and keeps you guessing.
Themes of Self-Acceptance and Growth - Beyond the romance, The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist is a beacon of hope. It explores deeper themes like accepting imperfections in yourself and others, leaving you with a sense of uplift and inspiration. It's a thought-provoking read that lingers long after you close the final page, reminding you that growth is always possible.
Compelling LGBTQ+ Representation - Gonzales continues creating LGBTQ+ characters and relationships that are not just token representations but fully fleshed out and integral to the story. The representation feels authentic, and the story highlights the joys and struggles of navigating identity and love.


Why Not 5 Stars?


While The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist is an absolute joy to read, there are a few areas where it falls just short of perfection. While executed fantastically, the plot can feel slightly predictable, especially towards the end, which might seem formulaic to seasoned romance readers. A few more twists or surprises would have elevated the story. The main characters shine, but some of the supporting cast feels one-dimensional. Spending more time fleshing out their backstories or arcs would have added more depth to the story. Lastly, the pacing in the middle section drags slightly with repetitive scenes that don't move the plot forward. Tightening this section could have made the story feel more cohesive.


Final Thoughts:
The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist is a must-read if you're looking for a heartwarming, funny, and swoon-worthy romance with meaningful themes. Despite its minor flaws, it's a beautifully written story that reminds us that love—whether for ourselves or others—is never perfect, making it unique.
I would recommend it to Fans of Casey McQuiston and Talia Hibbert and anyone who loves witty, LGBTQ+ romances with plenty of heart.


Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The premise is wacky — not to mention thick with irony. “The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist” is by the readers, for the readers. Anyone who grew up with a Wattpad or AO3 era will appreciate it — writers and readers alike. Basically, the girls who get it, get it. And the ones that don’t? They will be scratching their head at the coffee shop AU and orbs-laden text.

As someone connected with the book world, I found many of these moments to be funny. The excerpt Ivy read straight from her fanfiction with all sorts of ironic lingo from Not The Best Wattpad works?

"There's only one bed," Weston says. "And I'm furious about it, because the last thing I would ever want to do is sleep anywhere near you."

"But if I sleep down there, it's significantly harder for us to accidentally give in to our latent desires and kiss in the night!"

Tell me that’s not fantastic.

Antics aside, “The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist” struggled when it was, in fact, grounded in reality. The main conflict between Ivy and her ex-bestie Mack was tedious; with clearer communication, the two could have easily resolved their differences. Instead, they let pettiness, jealousy and stubborn-ness into the mix, wrecking absolute chaos on their friendship and the plot.

The entirety of Past (when Ivy and Mack were friends) and Present (when fanfic boy came to life) format was spent unraveling this, with more complexity and avoiding resolution than probably necessary. And when there was some semblance of a solution in the Mack Department, it was hardly satisfactory.

The same goes for the entire ending of “The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist,” actually. The elements of fantasy are fun, but when it eventually comes to a crux: what next? After the plot stalls, there is a slew of wacky (scratch that: wackier) antics to force it to go somewhere, escalating the urgency and stakes of the magic involved.

In a book where the magic system operates solely on the the reader’s ability to suspend belief

Do I recommend “The Perfect Gut Doesn’t Exist?” Honestly, it’ll take a certain type of person. And not in the oh-that’s-just-how-book-taste-works. It’ll quite literally be the dreams of an ex-Wattpad writer or young tween on a silver platter. If you’re willing to suspend your belief in reality and communication for a quick 304 pages, you’ll be golden. If not, Gonzales has a fantastic catalog of queer rom-coms that might be suited to your taste.

This book was written in 1 POV but each chapter switched between the past and the present, the past being about 8 months ago. With the alternating chapters and only getting a bit of the story each time we saw a past chapter, a lot was left waiting, and honestly, I was a bit impatient.

This book starts with a coming out, Ivy coming out as bi to her best friend Mack, a lesbian. Her coming out is the start of her wanting to share her romantic feelings for Mack, but quickly we're sent to the "present" chapter, where Mack is not a part of her life anymore, besides being a neighbor. Then, the TV series character that Ivy is always writing fanfic about appears in her house and she has no idea what to do, who she can confide in, and what is really happening.

Through the chaos of figuring out how this happened, how to manage when Ivy's parents return home to a strange man in the house, and the fact that it seems like he's living out the fanfics Ivy has created, Mack is brought back into the small circle of friends Ivy has (her best friend, Henry, that took over Mack's part in Ivy's life, overall) to try to do damage control and figure out the next steps.

I'm not sure if it is my lack of involvement in fanfic, the constant switch between past/present, or just the overall confusing plot of the character coming to life, this just didn't hit for me. I definitely think it has its audience, but I'm not as excited as I hoped to be!

Silly and cute but wow were the characters annoying. I don't know what's going on in the teen fanfictions world but who on earth is reading million word vaguely self-insert fics with a popular character paired with an original character? A ridiculous notion. Also, I was way more interested in the falling out and getting back together of the two real characters Ivy and Mack. Unfortunately, there was far too much of Ivy being too stupid to live taking up all the space.

This was sort of enjoyable but also fell flat. I just didn't love the characters and the execution of the story. The synopsis sounded so good too and I have enjoyed this author's previous work, but this one just didn't wow me unfortunately!

I mean this with all the love I possess in my soul for Sophie Gonzales as a writer (and it’s a lot) but this was so fucking awkward. Not the writing, the writing was great, and so was the plot. But oh my god. This is the big flashing don’t meet your heroes (especially as you write them) warning sign because jeeeeeez did I really feel for Ivy in this. The embarrassment and loneliness, and everything was so felt, and it gives me shivers to just think about it.

I have lived a fandom life, longer than I would like to admit, and as much as all writers, fic, or otherwise would like to see their characters come to life this is like a cautionary tale.

Weston is not what Ivy thinks he is, and tbh he’s kind of annoying (don’t worry she thinks so too), but despite all of that this book is laugh out loud funny at times, as she navigates the world around her and the way in which she has created Weston and how little he fits into it.

This book was a fun romp with a bit of hope and heartbreak thrown in for good measure, it had me covering my face with both hands, hiding from the world, laughing the next and really routing for the kids to figure it all out in the end.

While not as good as If This Gets Out or Never Ever Getting Back Together, this book, about the awkwardness of the teenage years and being alone, and friendship is one I will treasure, and Sophie will always be on my list.

I would love to interview Sophie on my podcast. This book is perfect for fans of Heartstopper. The romance is so freaking good!!