The accidental Boyfriend is a cute YA love story that has all the right ingredients to make this a hit. We meet Jess, a young writer with a secret she is hiding and Gabe, a young actor with a secret he can't tell. Throw in an escalator, a first kiss, some rules and you have " The Accidental Boyfriend" by Lori Freeland.. I was pulled in right away and loves the dual POV chapters, I would definitely recommend this book to by teen, as the spice level is low, Thank you to NetGalley and Booksgosocial Publishing for this ARC copy
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The Accidental Boyfriend is so much more than a romance book. I almost think the cover is a bit misleading because I was not expecting the heaviness of alcoholism, abandonment, and early-onset Alzheimer’s. While the story centers on a fake relationship between reluctant teen author Jess and teen TV heartthrob Gabe, the thing that I appreciated about this book was that these two characters are both grappling with complicated family dynamics and how to navigate them while figuring out who they are and what they want to be. While I found parts of this book not quite believable, there was a lot to really like. Jess is a young girl with strong boundaries regarding her physical relationship with Gabe, so the romance is appropriate for younger teen readers who enjoy romance.

The Accidental Boyfriend by Lori Freeland was a heartfelt and surprisingly layered read. While it delivers on the cute and swoony romance front, it also doesn’t shy away from deeper issues—grief, identity, and emotional healing. I appreciated how the characters, Jess and Gabe, had their own personal struggles but still managed to support each other and grow by the end. Their chemistry was adorable and genuine, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.

That said, the ending left me a little uncertain—I wish it had taken a slightly different route to feel more satisfying. Still, it was an enjoyable story that balanced charm and emotional depth without being too heavy.

Definitely a good pick if you’re into romance with a touch of real-life complexity!

It has been years since I've read any YA, and after reading The Accidental Boyfriend, I remember why I used to love this genre!
I was hoping for a "lighter" read as I've read a lot of heavier, adult fiction recently. What I got what a well-written novel, with relatable characters, fun banter and age-appropriate romance.

It wasn't so light in the end, as the romance came with a good side of angst. Both protagonists had their own set of issues, and neither of them seemed able or willing to deal with those. Which actually felt very fitting, considering their age (17 - 18) One of my pet peeves is teenage characters displaying 28 y-o maturity levels - I want characters that react like they're actually teenagers! Cue avoidance, miscommunication and the occasional cringey moments. All of those felt very real.

The FMC's anxiety issues made me remember what it was like to feel as if a problem is so overwhelming no solution actually exists (spoiler alert : it does!). I also thought that the issue in question was original and also a very moving aspect to the story. Maybe even my favourite part.

The MMC is lovely. Just a lovely young man. Kind, respectful, honest about his feelings... Would that all young women could find these qualities in their significant others.

The dialogue feels natural, full of banter but also allowing for moments of emotional vulnerability.

My only criticism of the story would actually be the adult characters - who actually do behave like immature teenagers! Seriously, not one responsible or nurturing adult around these two kids? Or even one in possession of basic effective communication skills? Yes, it helped with the story, but as a mother myself, it made me sad.

All in all, I really enjoyed this title and will definitely be looking out for more from the author. And start reading YA again.

Audience : I would recommend it to kids aged 16+. There is no intercourse (the FMC is very clear she is not ready and the MMC equally clear he will wait until she is), however the MMC is previously experienced, and we are privy to his inner thoughts (which are what you'd expect for a healthy 18-y-o male). Again it always stays on the nice side - he likes her, finds her beautiful and sexually attractive.

This story brings all the feels. I read it in one setting. The characters are well developed, as are the side characters. The book goes back and forth between the main characters pov. This style lets you see all sides of the story in a way the connects everything.

This read like a 2010s teenage celebrity relationship drama in a teen magazine, and not the good kind. I tried so hard to resonate with the characters but in the end I failed to like any one of them, particularly Gabe and Vi.

If this wasn't an ARC, I definitely would've dnfed after the non-consensual kiss Gabe unceremoniously planted on Jess's lips in the beginning. I get that it was the baseline of the story but lack of consent is not romantic.

Jess and Gabe were quite immature as a couple [and individuals]. I get that they're young - and technically they are kids - but Jess's severe lack of awareness or knowledge about certain stuff was astounding. I doubt whether their relationship makes it past age 25.

The adults in their life were quite toxic. Though I don't think every character in a book should be flawless - if that were the case then every book would be the same - but I am of the opinion that Vi should've been booted out of Jess's life. She was very toxic towards Jess and came off as self-absorbed and it's baffling that Jess's dad didn't think much of it.

These are entirely my opinions of the book and I wouldn't want to stop someone else from reading it. If you want to give it a shot, go for it.

A big thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I read it in about a day I didn’t expect the truth about Jess’ mum at all and I thought Jess and Gabe were perfect together!

A cute, tropey YA romcom with a teen novelist and child actor (both are 17 I believe). It didn't take long to read but unfortunately I just didn't vibe with book. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the characters (especially all the crappy adults in the main characters' lives!). I likely couldn't really connect with the story as an adult reading a (IMO) younger YA book. There were parts that were sweet and funny but overall it just wasn't for me.
2.5* rounded to 3* for Goodreads.
Thank you to Net Galley and Lavender Latte Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
I was instantly interested when I read that it was similar to Better Than The Movies. This one took me quite a bit of time to really get into though, I felt like I was able to guess exactly where the book was going with each new chapter. Which I guess is to be expected of a romance genre book but still. It felt like a lot of books I’ve already read. I did enjoy the glimpses of different struggles from our main characters though. Even though it felt predictable I did still enjoy it once I really got into it.

I loved this book so much!! I am a sucker for fake dating as it is one of my favorite tropes and the family issues they both went through and the way they grew with each other and supported each other was superb!! I definitely think that people who like Lynn painters YA books would enjoy this!! It’s a quick and easy read and I enjoyed every minute of it! I definitely hope to see more from this author!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book!!

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This was adorably cute and very fun! It also had great depth with the characters family relationships.

loved this fake dating and then falling in love. loved the banter between them and that he accidently became her boyfriend.

I’m sorry, but I could not finish this. It seemed like a huge mix of popular tropes and it just wasn’t working out for me. The writing for this book was also very bland, and it seemed to tell but not show. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This was such a sweet and funny young adult novel! I loved how the author was able to include humor while also include emotion, depth, and healing. Both Gabe and Jessica are going throug rough times, especially surrounding family, adn it was such a beautiful way how they were able to connect and grow.

I loved this book and cant wait to hopefully read more by this author I absolutely loved this book and think it's great for anyone looking for a YA novel that will give you ALL of those feels.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the e-arc of this in exchange for an honest review!

The characters are a homeschooled physically slightly scarred FMC and the teen emotionally scarred MMC heartthrob of the drool worthy abs.

Their "Meet Cute" provided so many potential moments for these two opposites.
Unfortunately, felt that the introduction of David and Vi (secondary characters) to the story and their relationship to the leads made it confusing to the point was fixated on that rather than the story between the main characters.

It didn't get any clearer as the story progressed. Also, know there's going to be angst but too much can spoil a light read.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, BooksGoSocial, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


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This was a fun read that pulled at the heartstrings and had 2 surprising twists! Jess and Gabe while having formulaic personalities at certain points (I.e. famous heartthrob boy and girl who doesn’t think anything she does is good enough) their storylines and backstories were so interesting it keep me engaged the entire book. There were some editing errors throughout the book but nothing crazy. Once again the twists, especially one in particular, caught me off guard in the best way possible!! While there was a third act breakup, which I’m typically not a huge fan of, it didn’t take away from the book for me. Overall I thought it was a cute and fun read and I would definitely read other work by this author.

The plot was good, but some of the descriptions threw me off. In places it felt like a sentence was missing.

Overall it was a cute ya romance. Cheesy Christmas movie vibes. Fake dating to real couple trope was done well. I liked the individual character struggles, though I felt like some of it was unnecessary/ added just for the sake of it in an attempt to tie it all in - like Vi’s secret relationship with the father.

It wasn’t anything special, and it won’t be making it on my top list of books to recommend.

When I started reading, I expected a heartwarming romance—but what I got was so much more, and I absolutely loved it. While the story was somewhat predictable, it remained cozy and engaging throughout. The author did a terrific job of conveying emotions; I felt every single one so vividly. This book made me laugh, cry, and even feel angry (a bit too angry), which only made me love it more.

What truly sealed the deal for me was the portrayal of Jess' anxiety and Gabe's insecurities. Their struggles felt incredibly real, making them all the more relatable. Another thing I appreciated was that, despite the many conflicts, nothing felt clichéd or annoying. Another thing I liked was how the story handled multiple conflicts without feeling clichéd or overwhelming. Instead, it made the characters’ struggles feel even more real.

So, if you're a fan of opposites-attract and forced-proximity romances where he falls first and hard, this should totally be in your TBR.

Thanks NetGalley and Lori Freeland for that opportunity to read that book.

First of all, a huge thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an e-ARC! 😊

I'm a sucker for fake dating, and I absolutely loved how both characters had each other’s backs when it mattered most. Their story was adorable, and it was heartwarming to see them navigate their struggles together. The book was fast-paced and easy to read, making it an enjoyable experience. 💕

That said, the drama behind their personal struggles sometimes pulled me out of the cozy, feel-good atmosphere I loved about their romance. While I appreciate emotional depth, I found myself wishing for a little less intensity in that aspect.

Overall, a sweet and engaging read, perfect for fake dating fans! ✨

This was such a cute book! Gabe’ and Jess’s meet-cute was so adorable!! I love how each chapter began with a diary passage or a line from the tv show Gabe’s mom was famous for. Both characters had some family issues/trauma and they were handle with care. They weren’t immature when it came to them handling the situation. I did not expect the twists at all. I think it helped with the character development.


Really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this book to others.