Oh this was such a cute read. if you want to read a book with heavy vibes of How to lose a guy in 10 days but queer? then pick this book!

"At first. It's weird you know? Hard to explain. Like if aliens landed tomorrow and we had to explain how we as a society go through a whole courting process that involves apps and how shallow we are, and how we have sex without the desire to procreate, you'd realize how weird all of this is."
"You're imaging very rigid aliens," Eli tells her. "You don't think they'd be more relaxed?

In The build-a-boyfriend project we get Eli, a trans man who has just been dumped by his boyfriend of seven years and wants nothing to do with dating and Peter, a timid man who hasn't had much experience dating but is willing to give it a try. Their first meet cute is an absolute disaster. Peter arrives late, is on his phone half of the time and doesn't ask any follow up questions. Eli is ready to never see him again. However, when Peter apologies for his behavior, Eli sees an opportunity not only to teach Peter how to date but also, use Peter as inspiration for an article for his paper. Of course, things are more complicated than that but you will have to read the book to find out!
I really appreciated this book commentary on dating as a queer person, especially if someone grew up in a small town where it was hard to find friends and allies. I also loved that Peter never made it a big deal that Eli was a transman, it was like that's you and I just like very part of you.

"And Eli's realizing just how much he appreciated that.
Peter taking the time to show Eli his world.
The rest of the club might've come here for Harry, and make no mistake, his playing is nothing short of amazing.
But as far as Eli's concerned, it might as well be Peter bu there on that stage, just standing, smiling. Not doing anything at all."

I alternated between listening and reading and can recommend either media. Audibook was narrated by Logan Rozos who is a new to me person but did a good job!

This was such a cute and sweet read! Definitely a great book for those that love a good fake dating storyline with realistically flawed characters and tender storytelling. This was my first book by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I cannot wait to read all of Mason Deaver’s books after this!

Eli feels stuck in his job as an assistant at a former news/serious online articles turned listicle website. He desperately wants to become a staff author, but was passed up on multiple occasions for promotion. Even worse, he is stuck working alongside his ex, who has happily been promoted and has easily moved on from their relationship. But it gets worse after he has a disastrous blind date with Peter, a gorgeous and awkward coder. When his boss hears about this date, he suggests to Eli that he should write a story about how he can turn Peter into a better boyfriend. Eli decides to play along with this, so he can write an even deeper article about Peter. As they go through their fake dating lessons, real emotions start to mix around with the fake ones - and it’s hard to figure out what is real and what isn’t.

This was a slow burn that was absolutely worth the wait. I couldn’t help but fall for Eli and Peter’s love story - it was so genuine and hopeful. I cannot say enough how much I loved both these characters. They’re complex, nuanced, and a bit messy, but so authentically real. The audiobook narrator was also fantastic - would absolutely recommend the audiobook version, if you can!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ARC!

Overall this was a cute book. I wasn't a big fan of the setup for the fake dating and could immediately tell the third act break up was going to be a little rough for me to listen too.

Overall I loved Eli's journey throughout this book and his amazing family and friend group. Peter was a sweet cinnamon roll you immediately fell in love with.

This is a cute one! I enjoy reading queer romances like this to understand different experiences. The trans main character reflects on their career and what they want from life — this is a very relatable story for anyone going through this! It kind of feels like a twist on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in some ways with the journalist writing about their fake relationship. It’s very sweet and adorable story. Definitely recommend this one! Some of the slang and writing took me out of the story but not a dealbreaker for me.

I enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator was immersive. I do feel like I wish they would change intonation for the different characters speaking though.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this book was super cute! I think it’s one of the few books where it benefitted from being single POV versus dual. I definitely recommend!

“If you want something badly enough, you have to fight for what you think is right, what you think will make you happiest.”

I really enjoyed I Wish You All the Best, so I was excited to get an advance copy of this! Mason Deaver’s writing is exceptional, and the stories they tell are important. Their characters are flawed but beautiful, and this was really lovely.

Eli is relatable in his work and dating struggles. He’s forced to see his ex at work and dating apps can be a struggle as a trans man. He has a great support system in Rose and Patricia and his mom. He’s reluctant to get set up with Peter, but in the end it turns into a way for him to pitch an idea to work and help Peter in dating. I love a fake dating trope and I like that this felt a little different.

They’re both easy to root for, even though Eli is effectively lying to Peter about the article. Even though their first date is disastrous, Peter still comes off as sweet and naive. There are moments you want to shake Eli so he tells Peter how he feels, but the work pressures are understandable. He tries to frame it as Peter’s journey in dating while touching on how different it is for queer folks depending on where they grow up. It’s this beautiful commentary on how it’s not about playing catch-up but understanding that he’s just on a different path.

Logan Rozos narrates the audiobook and it’s truly excellent. He embodies the emotions in the book, bringing it to life. His voice is soothing and so nice to listen to. I also loved that each chapter has a movies associated instead of songs like we usually see. It felt unique and was a perfect additional touch.

This was a cute rom-com but I didn't fall in love with the characters. The writing felt repetitive at times and the third act conflict felt predictable. I couldn't bring myself to like Eli. I didn't like how he treated Peter and how he would refer to what they were doing as him fixing Peter. I just found it hard to believe that these two would actually be together after everything that happens.

I typically enjoy the fake dating trope but didn't care for it much here. Eli isn't completely honest about the article he's writing. He tells Peter he's writing a serious article, which he does, but doesn't tell him that he's also writing a clickbait article about their disaster date and what follows.

I did enjoy the pop-culture references and movie titles in the chapters. I listened to the audio version so I'm not sure if they were used as the actual chapter titles. I thought the narrator did a good job. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC!

I really loved this 🥺 Eli & Peter are so different but work so well together and they kept me invested throughout the entire story! Even with it just being in Eli’s pov, Peter still felt like a fully fleshed out character and I fell in love with him so fast 🥰 I took off half a star because the 2 articles storyline stressed me out lol I’ve watched way too many hallmark movies with that exact plot line and it never turns out well and surprise, this one didn’t either 🙈 but I loved the epilogue and would’ve loved even more of these two! The narrator was really great too, really kept me entranced!

This book is a heartfelt, if occasionally uneven, exploration of identity, ambition, and love wrapped in an unconventional dating experiment. While the plot can feel a bit complex and the tonal shifts between light romance and deeper themes clash at times, there are moments of genuine warmth and connection and the growing bond between Eli and Peter. The story finds its pace when it becomes more tender and sincere. These small moments give glimpses of emotional resonance that help the plot and the narrative overall

I listened to the ALC thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult, HarperAudio. The narrator captures the characters’ personalities with clarity and distinctiveness. However, the pacing and inflection sometimes made it difficult to follow. I had to keep going back or adjust the playback speed a few times.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult, HarperAudio for the ALC.

4.5⭐️
2🌶️
3🎧

Eli x Peter • Fake Dating • Dating Lessons • HEA

This story was pure cozy joy. It found the perfect balance of angst and comfort with the characters. It was so character driven and transformative and just a delight to read.

As someone who is a huge fan of the fake dating trope, this set up is not it. Eli was difficult to root for with his manipulation and parts of his personality. This was exasperated by the fact that Peter is a sweet cinnamon roll and is shy and innocent. There were parts of this that I enjoyed like the spicy scenes were very fun. I enjoyed the transmasc rep. There were some fun romcom vibes that I enjoyed as well. Though I do wish that the audiobook narrator would have chosen different voices to represent Peter as I don't necessarily think because he was shy means he was feminine presenting. overall this book was not for me but I do believe it will find the right readers.

Thank you to Mason Deaver, Harper Audio, and NetGalley for the advance listening copy of The Build a Boyfriend Project!

I really enjoyed this story and was especially drawn to Eli as the main protagonist. While he definitely had moments of creating and wallowing in his own problems rather than actively solving them, I appreciated the realism in that. His struggle with communication felt authentic—frustrating at times, but also very true to life. What I admired most about Eli was his willingness to listen to feedback and grow. That level of introspection and openness added a lot of depth to his character. Eli’s relationships with his mother, sibling, and stepfather were another highlight.

Now—Peter. I adored Peter. He was just the sweetest mix of shy and sincere, and every scene with him made me smile. He was flustered but determined, kind-hearted, and genuinely wanted to make others happy. His and Eli’s chemistry was lovely, and their resolution at the end was tender and satisfying.

I will say the twist/climax played out more or less exactly how I expected from the beginning, but that didn’t lessen the emotional impact or enjoyment. The resolution was heartfelt, and I was fully rooting for Peter and Eli by the end.

Also, I thought the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life with energy and emotional nuance. The narration added to the experience and made it easy to stay immersed in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love Mason Deaver's work. They create such relatable, flawed, and soft characters. They are careful and meticulous with their character building, which creates incredible depth throughout the story.

I'm a sucker for a fake dating story, and I loved the twists and variation that Deaver crafted within this beloved trope. This is a slow burn, but when it did get spicy, whoa, we didn't hold back. As always, I love Deaver's queer rep in their books, and was no different. The nuance, complexity, and care that gets put into these queer characters is a joy to read.

I also appreciated the pacing towards the resolution in this story. The theme of second chances was evident throughout and how our MCs waded their way back together (this is a romance novel after all- HEA expected!) seemed incredibly realistic.

If you're a vibe/seasonal reader like me, this book takes place in San Fransisco during the Fall. There are significant scenes during Halloween and American Thanksgiving. This is a great coffee shop or lazing in the park read. This book has a coziness to it, so find somewhere with blankets and dive in!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the advanced copy of the audiobook. Narration on the audio was great!

This is a self-aware fake dating romance with a lot of depth and heart!

Eli is looking to write an article for work that will advance his career. After a blind date with Peter goes horribly awry, his boss suggests teaching Peter to be a boyfriend as material for an article. Eli goes with it and Peter agrees, but instead Eli is getting to know Peter and writes an article on Peter’s experiences growing up queer in the South.

The more time Eli & Peter spend together, the more they start to catch real feelings and the fake dating starts to get pretty real for them. What happens when Eli’s boss takes the article into his own hands?

I really loved these characters and their trans-affirming, sweet, queer romance.

I ventured out of my normal reading habits, and I listened to a romance book that was told in 3rd person. I know crazy, right?!?!? I really liked the blub, and I want to continue to read voices different from mine.
Getting into the story, this is about 2 people who needed a kick in the butt to live the best life. I loved seeing how they both grew and changed. Eli was great, but Parker is my sweet golden retriever book boyfriend. He is so awful and awkward at first meet, but you just can't help but love him. The main characters have some funny and good time moments, there are some sexy times(after 80%), and there were really some heart to heart moments. I loved how the chapters had titles and how they played into the characters. They are movie titles added to Parker's to watch list because Eli is a movie fanatic, and he wanted to share in that. Ahhh. So sweet. There is a bit of a 3rd act breakup, but honestly, it was needed. Also, I can't decide if I loved the narrator or not. I had to speed it up to stay focused, and his voice was a little ' Eeyore' like. The story ended in a happy for now with no epilogue. I know it's not a romance book requirement, but it should be. I want to see them 5, 10 years from now. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I would read more from this author.

I received this book as an ALC, but my review is completely independent and reflects my own thoughts, feelings, and opinions.

This book was a freaking delight.

We are introduced to Eli, a late twenty-something trans man stuck in a soul-sucking job and just generally in a life rut. He's set up on a blind date with Peter, a socially awkward gay man who does not grasp the bare basics of dating. Their first date is a train wreck, but it does create the premise of the book: The Build A Boyfriend Project.

I won't give too many things away that are integral to the story, and while the thing that drives the third act breakup was predictable, it was certainly still entertaining to read.

I listened to this book and Logan Rozos did an amazing job giving this story life.

Thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for an advanced recording of this book.

4 stars.

Mason Deaver's "The Build-a-Boyfriend Project" is SUCH a great book! It felt so different from the other romances I have read, earnest and realistic and lived-in in a way that felt true to life. The story takes a while to get going, but once it did, I could not put it down. It is heartwarming, sweet, accepting, downright lovely queer romance that I won't soon forget. It is funny and tender in all the right places. I adored Peter so, so much. What a precious soul. I just loved him so dearly. Eli is a bit of a complex mess. He is a difficult protagonist to root for for a lot of this story because you know he is purposefully deceiving Peter, but somehow, you want him to succeed and do better because he was worked hard for his career and has the best intentions at heart (ie, instead of just writing the BS article his boss wants him to pen, he also writes an article about Peter's experience growing up gay and Korean in the South). Eli's obsession with movies really spoke to me as a cinephile and former movie reviewer. I loved Deaver's explanation about how films connect with people and how this connection to movies reminded Eli of his dad. The writing about this aspect of the story is so good and so believable! It warmed my cold lil' heart to see the power of cinema on full display in this book. Eli and Peter's chemistry starts off disastrous and cringe-worthy (in a good way, I promise!), but winds up becoming so endearing and so cozy and so lovely! Their back-and-forth banter gets stronger the more their characters grow, both together and individually. There is all around excellent queer representation here! My one complaint is that you can see the ending coming a mile away and know there's no way of stopping it from happening. The audiobook narration by Logan Rozos is also excellent. I truly loved this book, and I cannot wait to buy it! Please read it ASAP!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mason Deaver, HarperAudio Adult, and HarperAudio for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book!! All opinions in this review are my own.

Mason Deaver is an author I have been reading and following since their first book, I Wish You All The Best, was released in 2019. When I saw that they were debuting an adult romance, I was unbelievably excited!! I went into this trying to reel in my expectations and excitement because sometimes when authors branch into different genres and/or categories, it doesn't always translate well to their writing style. I am so beyond pleased to state that I ADORED The Build-A-Boyfriend Project!!

I knew from the description that this book was going to be MESSY!! Messy it was. I love how authentically real these characters feel. I loved Eli's complexity and the growth he works towards throughout this book. I loved Peter being soft and anxious (he is so Autistic coded, and as an Autistic reader, he was so relatable!!) Mason Deaver's writing is just as good as I remember, if not better!!

I'm very excited to see what they produce next. If they continue writing adult romance, I think I could die happy!! Seeing trans people get our happily ever afters makes me sob every single time!!

Not enough words would be able to sum up this book. So I will leave you with this: pick this up on August 5th, 2025!!

After getting out of a 7 year relationship, Eli agrees to go on a blind date with Peter. The date is a disaster - Peter showed up over an hour late, barely spoke, etc. Eli never planned on seeing him again, but Peter shows up at his office to apologize. Despite the fact that Peter is 30-years-old, he had never been on a date before and was overcome by nerves.

In order to get promoted to a staff writer position at his company, Eli pitches an article about teaching Peter how to be a good date (the boyfriend project). Eli is also intrigued because Peter grew up in Georgia and did not have much of a chance to explore his sexuality. He ultimately ends up wanting to write about Peter's experience being a Korean gay male in rural Georgia.

What a whirlwind of a story! From a disastrous first date to a fake dating pact, this book had all the hallmarks of a classic romcom. I found Eli to be a relatable character with his sarcastic humor and bleak outlook on dating life. I liked that while he was not hopeful for himself, he was Peter’s biggest cheerleader. Eli and Peter’s relationship went through many ups and downs in the book. I enjoyed the fact that their issues were realistically worked through. Especially the big one.

The audiobook was a delight to listen to. I enjoyed the way Eli’s humor and Peter’s soft-spoken earnestness were depicted by the narrator. The audiobook enhanced my enjoyment of the story. It was clear and high quality. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!