This was a cute bi romcom about friendship vs fandoms and learning how to maintain a friendship without liking the same things. This subject felt unique to read about, but in the end it fell a little flat. An easy and fun audiobook to listen to in a day or so though. Not mad I read it, but probably won’t remember it much in a few months. 3.5 rounded up!

Also I think the cover image could have been a liiiiittle more sapphic, because the character on the left is a cute little masc girl (the MC) but the cover looks pretty straight at first glance!!

🌈Queer rep: FF main couple, bi female main character. Secondary aromantic asexual male character. Brief mention of a nonbinary person.

I don't usually read Young Adult titles with teen romance but the premise of this one seemed interesting so I made an exception. This book had characters with nerdy hobbies and friends trying to navigate growing up, changing, and exploring what that means for their friendship. I feel like the three friends this centers around are written very well and are likable, each in their own way. Even when they don't agree with each other you can see all the sides of their arguments and it was nice to read in the main character's head of her being self-aware of some of her flaws and being okay with them. I will say that there is one male character that is written in a way that made me want to stop reading but I think they were supposed to be written that way based on what is going on in the plot.
I also really enjoyed the audio narrator. They did a great job at telling the story in a way that kept me immersed and wanting to listen to more.

Such a fun concept. Wishing for a character to be alive then finding said character alive in your house? Hilarious. It forces the MC to deal with an ex friend. We have chapters set in the past showing us how they had their falling out. The book started fun and light, with romance trope and stereotypes, but then it became something entirely different, I really didn't see it coming. It was a good book.

In "The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist," offers readers a refreshing and insightful take on the age-old quest for the ideal romantic partner. Through a blend of personal anecdotes, practical advice, and thought-provoking reflections, this book challenges conventional notions of perfection in relationships and encourages readers to embrace authenticity and imperfection in their quest for love.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its relatability. Instead of presenting an unattainable standard of perfection, the author acknowledges the messiness and complexity of human relationships. By sharing their own experiences and vulnerabilities, they create a sense of camaraderie with readers, reassuring them that they are not alone in their struggles and insecurities.

Moreover, "The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist" offers valuable insights into the importance of self-love and acceptance. The author emphasizes that true happiness in relationships stems from a deep sense of self-worth and fulfillment, rather than seeking validation from others. Through empowering exercises and reflective prompts, readers are encouraged to cultivate a positive relationship with themselves, laying the foundation for healthy and fulfilling connections with others.

Another standout feature of the book is its practical guidance on navigating the complexities of modern dating. From deciphering mixed signals to setting healthy boundaries, the author provides actionable tips and strategies for building meaningful connections in today's digital age. Whether you're navigating the world of online dating or navigating the intricacies of a long-term relationship, "The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist" offers invaluable advice for readers at every stage of their romantic journey.

Overall, "The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist" is a must-read for anyone seeking love and companionship in today's world. With its blend of warmth, wisdom, and wit, this book offers a refreshing perspective on relationships that is both empowering and enlightening. Whether you're single and searching or happily coupled, this book is sure to inspire and uplift you on your quest for love

I grabbed this audiobook from Net Galley because I thought it looked good, unfortunately it just didn’t do it for me. It took me awhile to get through. I think it was the whole concept of fan-fiction. I don’t think I’ve read any before and it’s not something that’s interests me too much. I wasn’t in love with the characters either. Like the story was explained but it wasn’t detailed enough for me. I think Henry was the most interesting character to me. I did like that it was told in two different time frames then and now with the same characters. I liked that there was a sapphic aspect but it was such a small part.
The narrator fit the story.
Maybe would recommend it but to a much younger reader than myself haha.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing my to read this book.

I enjoyed this one but am not sure that I would buy it now that I've read it. But I do have some ppl to recommend it to!

The concept of the “perfect person” you created backfiring is something I always think about when I’m reading fanfic. I’m always saying “there’s no way I would enjoy this in real life” and I loved to see this book execute it.
The fanfic side of things makes this such a funny scenario.
I could not imagine waking up to my favorite character laying in my bedroom with me.
The audiobook is so silly I'm dying laughing. Ivy's anxiety is so me. A bear broke into the house? Probably.
A freak storm will crash my parents' plane and they're dead now? Perfect sense to me. Can't cook? Same.
Hopelessly queer and can't read a room? Yeah.

Ivy’s anxiety impacts her relationship with one of her best friends in a very real way. Add on top of that, figuring out your queer identity while realizing you love your best friend? Anxiety is cranked up to level 10000.

I laughed out loud to this audiobook multiple times (in between being called out for my abandonment issues). It’s definitely worth the read.

This one was fun and honestly a little creepy! The concept of her character coming to life was until he started messing with reality and the I was like???? It was a very interesting concept. There was no explanation for it, which honestly I liked because we weren’t bogged down with them trying to figure out why it was happening. There were just the right amount of love triangle-ness that ended in a very sweet sapphic second-chance romance.

I love Jeremy Carlisle Parker’s narration, so I knew the audiobook would be a fun listen, and right I was. I listened to it in about a day and found myself not wanted to hit pause. I’ll definitely be checking out more by this author!

This was a super interesting book. I plan on buying on for a relisten. You think you know what you're getting in this book... but your wrong. And it's awesome 👌

3.5-3.75 stars

I’ve really been enjoying pretty much everything I’ve read from this author. This book pulled me in pretty quickly, but it got weird (and then weirder) quite fast as well. I definitely appreciated the exploration of all kind of relationships, fandom, fan fiction, story tropes, etc. (as well as the humour that went along with many of those pieces), but ultimately, I’m not sure I was totally sold on the magic realism elements of the story. Regardless, I still quite enjoyed it, and it was fun to read something that I can’t quite compare to anything else I’ve read recently.

High schooler Ivy Winslow has the house to herself while her (sometimes overbearing) parents go on a week-long trip. She plans to binge-watch her favorite fantasy TV show, H-MAD, with her best friend Henry and avoid her former best friend and next door neighbor, Mack. But after trying to write a new installment of her H-MAD fan fiction during a big storm the first night her parents are away, Ivy wakes up to find Weston, the gorgeous and very fictional main character of H-MAD, in her bedroom claiming to be her soul mate.

The book is told in dual timelines. The present where Ivy and Mack aren’t speaking and the past leading up to their friendship breakup, and it was less of a romance than the author’s other books. That said, there’s definitely romance woven through the story along with the question of whether or not a perfect fantasy mate is better than the real thing. And there’s the great LGBTQ+ representation readers expect from the author. But the story is more a coming of age tale about Ivy who needs to figure out who she is in the world and what she really wants.
This one read as younger YA to me. I think teens who love fan fiction will enjoy the journey of figuring out why Weston materialized and all the tropes that play out. I also think younger teens will enjoy Ivy’s journey towards figuring out how to be honest about her feelings and how to mend a friendship. I’m not sure that same journey will resonant as much with adult readers—which is fine since they’re not the intended audience.

I would definitely recommend the audiobook. The narrator, Jeremy Carlisle Parker, does a great job capturing Ivy’s state of mind through both timelines.

Fresh & funny! Love the mix of rom com with a little fantasy. Thank you to McMillan for the ARC of this book!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This follows Ivy after she has brought her favorite character to life. The book/audiobook is out now (release on 3/26/2024). This was a solid read. Definitely a good pallet cleanser amidst heavier books. The narrator was easy to listen to and I found that I was able to listen on double speed with no issues which is something that is important for me on audio. I personally cannot stand listening to a book on normal speed for some reason. I enjoyed the fanfic references as someone who admittedly read too much as a middle schooler/teen. There were nods that made me laugh out loud at time. For some reason, I did find Ivy to be grating and the last quarter of the book kind of went 0 to 100 in a way that gave me whiplash. Overall, enjoyable and would definitely recommend especially if you are a fanfic lover but it wasn't a standout for me.

I really enjoyed this! It was every “what if…” come to life. Imagine your fanfic comes to life and at first it’s great, but then you don’t know what’s real and what’s not. It’s such a great concept. I was a little annoyed at a certain point, which took it down a Star, but other than that, I really enjoyed it!

Listen... I know that I wasn't the target audience for this book, so therefore my opinion isn't the main one you should listen to. However... gosh was this book frustrating and just way too strange for me to fully enjoy.

Now, I definitely remember the days of being a teenager and how we would always blow everything out of proportion, so I understand where the fight between Ivy and Mack came from (miscommunication makes the most sense in YA books - change my mind). All of their personal grievances and crushes are not where my issue came from.

My biggest issue was the fact that Ivy was so dedicated to keeping Weston around even though the entire time she knew him, she seemed irritated by him. There was not a single moment that they were together other than when he was blatantly complimenting/flirting with her that she seemed to have any true feelings for him that were positive. Otherwise, she just seemed stressed out or annoyed by him. SO WHY WAS SHE SO DETERMINED TO KEEP HIM AROUND AT FIRST?

While I know this story was supposed to be unbelievable, it was truly SO unbelievable at times that it really took me out of the story and made for a subpar listening experience. There are way better YA books out there, so I'd say keep this one at the bottom of your TBR.

P.S. WHY ARE TEENS TALKING ABOUT OMEGAVERSE!?!?!?!

Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan Audio | Macmillan Young Listeners for allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were so cute and relatable.

This is an adorable LGBTQ+ romantic comedy. The elements of fantasy sprinkled throughout the story gives readers a cozy kind of feeling.

Cute and very fandom-y. The most teenage book ever. I don't know that I bought the chemistry between the leads, unfortunately, but it was fun and you'll probably get a kick out of it if you wrote too much fanfiction in high school.

Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist

by Sophie Gonzales
narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker

Rating: 4/5
Genre: LGBTQIAP+ | Teens & YA

I really really enjoyed the book! An amazing sapphic and fantasy novel. This is a friends to enemies to lovers, and it has all the teenage angst you need in a book. Ivy is a typical nerdy girl with a huge crush on her best friend. While she’s trying to figure out between her love life and her hobbies, her fanfic superhero from her favorite tv show comes alive!

I enjoy the book, and the narrator did great!

Thanks Netgalley for the review copy

This was an entertaining book to read. It is silly, cute, and wholesome. I found myself relating to Ivy and her coping through life with writing and trying to express herself in a way she can’t always outside of text. The way Sophie Gonzales developed Ivy through the book and made you care so much about her was great. I also found the pacing to be lovely and kept me reading the book all in one go. If you’ve enjoyed any of Sophie Gonzales’ books you’ll love this one too.