Oh my God. I LOVED this book. Slamming straight into the top of my list of favourite romance novels (and I read a LOT of them). The Boyfriend Candidate was properly, properly funny and dazzlingly romantic at the same time. I was completely here for the Roy Kent energy, the loveable cast of side characters, the green dresses, the librarians, the Parks and Recs references… honestly, it was like this book was written for me, just all my favourite things mashed together, a complete joy. Laughed, cried, swooned - an absolute dream of a novel. My first Ashley Winstead and now I’m off to track down everything she’s written.

Incredible! I absolutely adored this story. I was hooked on Alexis and Logan's story from the beginning.
The political side of this book took me by surprise too, I actually found myself rooting for them and felt tense when the results were in.
The side characters were also fantastic - I wish I had a sister like Lee and a friend like Zoey!
Overall a fantastic read, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a romance with a good pace, interesting Storyline and great characters.

Oh. My. God. This book!

Let me start by saying that I know absolutely nothing about how the American political system works so I was going into this blind. OK, so this guys is running for governer? That means less than nothing to me. But the premise sounded good and I decided it was probably worth a read.

Man, am I glad I gave this one a shot. This could actually be my favourite book of 2023.
Logan was perfect, everything I always love in the male lead. Plus, as a very sweary Brit myself, I definitely had a bit of extra love for him.
I read so many books were the female lead is a shy, introverted wallflower but the way Alexis' discovery of herself and what she is capable of has blown every other version of this out of the water.

It's been a long time since a book has made me cry (read: at least a month) but this had me sobbing and cackling in equal parts.

I honestly cannot recommend this book enough! I'm off to devour everything this author has done so far!

5 stars!

Sometimes a one night stand is all you need to lure you into politics! Alexis Stone agrees to fake date Logan Arthur after compromising photos of the two went viral. With the gubernatorial elections coming up in three months time, Logan cannot use another momentarily discretion, so Alexis, the introverted, shy assistant librarian, says yes to a whirlwind, political adventure.

This was an eventful, fun romance with a lot of miscommunication to let the two main characters burnnnnnnnn. I loved the political plot inserted to legitimize the fake dating trope. The Boyfriend Candidate is full of damage control, diplomatics, and winning over the public’s goodwill - but both Logan and Alexis fight for a greater cause, so it was easy to root for them!

The author put a lot of effort to make this romance both exciting (what is a political romance without some twist and turns, right?) and thoughtful (because it can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the times). Logan as well as Alexis had some personal issues to overcome, but I especially liked how Alexis started off as a typical wing-woman, the shy supportive character that nurtures the people around her. As the fake girlfriend of the gubernatorial candidate, she could have easily been turned into an accessory to polish Logan’s public image. But for once Alexis was the leading lady instead of secondary to the male character. She pushed the agenda, changed the narrative, and took control of her happiness. She didn’t need for Logan to show up and change her live, she was capable all by herself, even though she didn’t believe she could.

While The Boyfriend Candidate wasn’t unpredictable, it did surprise me for not always following through with the usual romance tropes. The fake dating didn’t involve lying to Alexis’ inner circle, the one bed trope came along, but not in the way expected, and starting with a one night stand still turned into an amazing slow burn.

I really liked this one!

4.75 ⭐️

The Boyfriend Candidate is a funny, sweet and charming rom-com that will leave you feeling giddy and in love with the characters. The book follows Alexis who is a school librarian, who in an attempt to become more confident attempts her first one night stand at a bar. There she meets Logan, who’s the complete opposite of her, someone who speaks his mind no matter the consequences and does it with a lot of swearing 😂. The chemistry between the two is heating up but just as they reach the hotel room a lightening storm hits and they are forced to run outside, where they’re caught by paparazzi, leaving Logan fleeing the scene. Pictures are leaked of the two of them which is bad for Logan’s reputation as he’s running for the Texas governors seat, so the two of them have to embark on a fake relationship as to not impact his chances of winning. But are things really as fake as they both pretend they are, or are real feelings hidden behind the facade?

This book had me giggling and giddy the entire way, I absolutely loved the banter between Alexis and Logan. The journey of Alexis’ self love was really heartwarming, seeing her open up and own what she wants instead of always trying to please others. She’s a really inspiring character and I loved seeing her confidence grow throughout the book. Logan was completely charming and you could see how he always prioritised Alexis and said/did little things to show how much he cared. I will think about this book constantly, Ashley you are incredible!

Thank you so much to @netgalley, @ariafiction and @ashleywinsteadbooks for the copy of this book, all opinions are honest and my own.

So insanely captivating!!!

This book has everything I love in my rom-coms, from slow-burn romance to engaging and relatable characters. Alexis was so comforting as a character, and I loved her progression throughout the book and how she developed individually. Books that tackle complex parental relationships & grief also stand out for me, and I think Ashely Winstead did this beautifully!

I would like to thank netgalley and Aria & Aries for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Everything I could ever want in a romance.

Hands down, definitely in my top 10 romances of the year!
Was I sceptical that a thriller author would be able to give me all the romantic feels? Yes. Was I proven wrong? Definitely!!
This story was amazing, I could not put this down. The pining! Oh my word, the pining had me feel for the characters. The chemistry was palpable through the page and even though this is only told from Alexis' perspective, it did not take away from how Logan was feeling. We as the reader could see it through Alexis' eyes.

It was magical, sweet, endearing and quite funny. I love Logan! One of my favourite book boyfriends and these two complemented each other so well!

I loved this book! Seeing her find her voice and step out of the shadows made for the perfect storyline. I loved that the ending did not have the typical fairytale end where everything works out as planned but showed that sometimes different can be even better. Thanks for the opportunity to read, I recommend!

Great Rom Com that will have you laughing out loud! I requested the ARC from Netgalley as I found the synopsis interesting and this book did not disappoint! Brilliant plot!
Alexis is a shy school librarian and after being dumped for being boring in the bedroom... she meets Logan! Logan reminded me of the main character from the film 'The Ugly Truth'. Basically, my kind of book boyfriend! Would have given the book a 5 star of it was dual POV.

“I, Alexis Rosalie Stone, was going to have my first one-night stand.”

"I've been a book nerd all my life. Escaping into reading's my happy place, so libraries were always safe,”

This romcom was … AMAZING!!!! Wow !!! This was exactly the kind of read I needed to get more into the whole summer romcom vibes !!! Do they even exist ? After reading Logan and Alexis’ story … I believe that they do. Imagine a one night stand turned in an unexpected way. An introverted and shy librarian, put on a spotlight because the man she was caught almost having a one night stand is the man currently running for governor in Texas. And a love story full of rules to make a fake dating trope more real than ever before. It was so so good!!!! The plot itself was engaging and interesting. The political campaign, involving both main characters was convincing and real. The romantic relationship between them … even better !!! The sweetness and intimacy they share every scene without actually going down and dirty (there is a spicy scene, don’t worry about it!!), was so good and heartwarming and I loved it !!! The possessive “staking his claim” vibes Logan gave … great!!! The way he behaves in a certain scene with her ex … adore it !!! And throughout it all … just a guy trying to make his home a better place for everyone living in it, who meets someone that turns out to be more important to him than any other campaign he could ever run for !!!

"I happen to think, when you know, you know. And who could spend ten minutes with Alexis Stone and not want to keep her? I mean, you'd have to be a supreme fucking twat to let her get away.”

"Ever since the night we met, I've been trying to figure out what your eyes reminded me of. I finally decided they're honey-brown with green flecks. A constellation trapped in amber. The gold is brightest when you're happy."

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Head of Zeus in return for an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this. Alexis is reeling from her break up (from the world’s biggest arsehole) and heads off to find herself a one night stand. Due to a freak accident, she finds out that her unlikely conquest is actually running for election, and is well-known playboy Logan. With pictures of them splashed across the papers, Logan and Alexis are forced into a pretend relationship for the duration of the campaign.

Forced proximity, fake-dating, miscommunication, it’s all in there plus a little bit of spice. I really liked Alexis and Logan as characters, they’re both passionate about what they do, and needed to find each other to help find themselves.

There were only a couple of things I didn’t like:
- Chapter titles. This is an advanced copy so this may change by publication, but I didn’t feel they added anything to the story, they may as well have just been “Chapter One, Two, Three” etc, rather than random words of each chapter. I didn’t see the point and found it a bit off-putting.
- bits of the miscommunication in the plot annoyed me and it seemed really out of keeping with the character we’ve been told Alexis is. She’s not a risk-taker, but took two major risks in the plot that she’d explicitly said she wouldn’t do, and I just found that a bit flakey and out of sorts

But anyway, I really enjoyed it, the plot, the characters, the writing and the pace. Yay!

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead is a fun and charming romantic comedy that follows Alexis Stone, a shy school librarian who decides to step out of her comfort zone after being dumped for being too meek. In her quest for adventure, she meets Logan, a charismatic stranger, and they have an instant connection. However, their one-night stand is interrupted when a fire breaks out, and they become the subject of public attention.

Winstead skilfully blends humour and romance as Alexis and Logan navigate the fallout of their unexpected fame. The author crafts a delightful story filled with witty banter, amusing situations, and the excitement of a fake relationship. The chemistry between the characters is palpable, and their contrasting personalities create a captivating dynamic.

The Boyfriend Candidate is a light-hearted and entertaining read that explores themes of self-discovery, taking risks, and the power of love. Winstead's writing is engaging and humorous, making it an enjoyable escape for fans of romantic comedies. With its delightful premise and lovable characters, this novel offers a delightful and feel-good journey that will leave readers with a smile on their faces.

a cute and charming romcom that was delightful.

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

ashley winstead will forever own my heart. everything she writes is gold and addictive and if i had to only read one author forever it would be her. that is my review x

I love learning new things about myself.

When I read thrillers I can’t turn the page fast enough, I’m so eager to get to the twist and get my “ah ha” moment. When I read romcoms I’m usually laughing so hard I just want to go slower to laugh a bit longer .

Who’s with me?

Now, can an author be both thrilling and funny? You betcha! We all know Ashley Winstead, right? There is not a soul in the world who can scare the life out of me and also have me doubled over laughing like Winstead can .

What do you think, when you think of a “shy” librarian?

I think about a freak in the sheets.

right?

What happens when said librarian is told she’s awful in bed? No, there is no murder in this book kids but I like where your head is at 🤣

Revenge Sex !

Or even better, one night stand kind of revenge sex ! But after an unexpected fire alarm this is not what ends up happening to Alexis because she just ended up in the oh so sexy arms of future (possible) Texas Governor, Logan ….. and it was all caught on camera .

What is it with guys named Logan? Or Brads and Chads? Will they call you an Uber the morning after? Probably not, make sure to keep your phone charged!! It’s like you almost know where this one is going to go, yet, I promise, you don’t.

This is a laugh out loud, can’t catch your breath, kicking and screaming with your legs flailing in the air kind of book. I loved every last word of it. My preferred genre is definitely thrillers but when it comes to Ashley Winstead I would be happy to read a phone book if that is what she decided to write next.

I could go on and on but all you really need to know is that if a thrill chasing wild woman who really doesn’t believe in happily ever afters could love this book as much as I do, you will too.

Go on now, it’s time to pre-order

Three and a half stars.

Alexis Stone is a librarian. After her boyfriend cheats on her and accuses her of being boring in bed she determines to prove him wrong by having a one-night stand, her first. Little does she know that the guy she almost has a one-night stand with, saved by the fire alarm at the hotel where they were about to hook up, is actually Logan Arthur, a half-British hotshot running for Texas governor against the incumbent Republican candidate. Logan has been trying to clean up his act after being accused of being more serious about chasing women than politics so when a photo of him carrying Alexis out of the hotel goes viral his campaign asks her to be his fake girlfriend. After all, Alexis' big sister Lee is a State Senator so they could have met through her, and being a librarian is a worthy occupation.

Soon Alexis is being taken to exclusive bougie hair salons and being bought fancy clothes (all very Pretty Woman which both Logan and Alexis acknowledge). I was really enjoying this. But then Alexi went from some sort of cardigan-wearing, only has friends over sixty, mouse-like woman into a woman that all the men have been in love with, and all the women find fascinating. It felt like Alexis' back story had served a purpose and it had been abruptly jettisoned.

Also, as a British person, it pains me to hear Spurs ever described as the Hotspurs, its Tottenham, Tottenham Hotspurs, or Spurs. Also there's a reference to Logan's Britishness which talks about him always eating fish and chips and brisket - I'm fifty-six years old and I don't know what brisket is, we'd just say roast beef.

Anyway, rant over. Alexis is sweet, she definitely finds her voice during Logan's campaign. Also she and Logan keep committing each other to campaign activities like being the keynote speaker at a rally, or making a commercial for Alexis' mother's animal sanctuary. It's pretty clear right from the start that Logan is completely smitten but Alexis just thinks he's a really good actor :)

It's a political, meet-cute rom-com.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Ultimately this is fun and lighthearted reading and you will definitely race through the book!
The story is a slow burn and fake dating trope and whilst I do enjoy the fake dating types of romance a slow burn doesn’t agree with my impatient side.
Logan and Alexis as a couple work well and due to the circumstances of their initial meet they’re obviously attracted to each other so the will they / won’t they seemed a little pointless…. These two needed to find their own way a little and be happy with the direction of their lives, Alexis certainly needed to get a back bone so there was character development in just not sure all the pieces fit quite right, there wasn’t enough anticipation and antics in the fake dating.

I received this ARC for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

⭐️4 🔥1.5
The boyfriend Candidate is a slow-burn, fake-dating romcom. The story revolves around Alexis, a shy and people-pleasing school librarian, who finds herself caught in a media storm after an attempted (but interrupted) one-night stand with Logan, a gubernatorial candidate (yes, I learnt what this is from this book). Photos leak of Alexis, being carried in the arms of Logan, the up-and-coming, audacious young politician challenging the Texas governor's seat. To limit the scandal's damage to Logan's campaign, his team convinces Alexis to fake a relationship with Logan. As they navigate this charade, their connection deepens, leading to heartfelt moments and unexpected twists along the way.
I did find the miscommunication between the characters frustrating. There were many occurrences where open communication would have solved 95% of the problems. I think this fits Alexis’s character, given her previous inability to assert herself. However, this didn’t really fit as well for Logan and I found myself annoyed with him continuously almost telling her what he wanted.
<img src="https://media.tenor.com/R6ORZih7ZXIAAAAC/communicate-i-was-trying-to-communicate.gif"/>
That being said, I genuinely enjoyed how he kind of lost his head around her, and their chemistry was adorable. They are a very believable endgame couple.
Neither character really changed for the other. However, they both seem to find each other and strive to be the best versions of themselves. I think that this is really what finding a life partner is. I love how they supported and pushed each other and both brought out the strengths and confidence of the other person.
The Electoral campaign was interesting and I liked how Alexis gets involved and wasn’t just on the sidelines. While it provided an interesting backdrop, it occasionally overshadowed the character interactions I eagerly anticipated. Character interactions that I started to get really excited about tended to occur towards the end of the chapter, and then I’d find it ending only to begin another chapter on another event of the campaign trail. Despite this, the anticipation it created fueled my desire to continue reading, as I anxiously awaited the long-awaited moment when Alexis and Logan would finally come together.
Although I am more familiar with Australian politics than American politics, I appreciated how the book touched on real issues, lending it depth and believability. The author's inclusion of these elements added an interesting layer to the story. I think it gave the book depth and believability.
I love the representation of librarians and also the covering of banned books
<img src="https://media.tenor.com/6rjJb7RzsYQAAAAi/librarians-are-freedom-fighters-librarians.gif"/>

It’s probably important to keep in mind that not only am I not very patient with slow burn, but I also tend to prefer things that are spicier than this.
<img src="https://media.tenor.com/m1Ll2tz-hr4AAAAi/machiko-rabbit.gif"/>
I’m an impatient bitch, what can I say 😅
So spice occurring when it did <spoiler> partial at 76% then finally 93%</spoiler> did nearly end me but the tension leading up to that did tide me over.

Safety notes: there are some OM moments, which weren’t my favourite, as she does go on some dates with another guy during their fake dating.
<spoiler> Logan doesn’t know she agreed to the secret date initially and finds out. He then says it’s okay. Alexis and OM share a kiss. </spoiler>

If you’re a fan of slow-burn, he falls first, or fake-dating, then this is really enjoyable and addictive read. I loved both characters' growth, their chemistry and how they honestly seemed to be the best version of each other when together.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

This was such a wonderful surprise of a book! I loved the tropes: failed one night stand to fake dating to lovers, politician/school librarian, amazing chemistry, grumpy/sunshine.

This was such a fun read! The sizzling tension between these two characters made the slow burn and the eventual ‘fuck it’ moment so satisfying. Logan is a delicious main character. My heart swooned when he ran to her after the storm to check that she was okay. I loved these two together and really enjoyed how they encouraged each other to find their true passions.

Highly recommend!

Deliciously funny and sexy romance. Intriguing characters, and a well written storyline. Would recommend. Will read more from this author!

This book was such a wild ride with loads of chemistry and sexual tension and a pair of characters that I loved for each other. Watching Logan and Alexis thrust together in an effort to protect both their reputations after an unfulfilled one night stand draws more attention than they would like was absolutely delicious. The attraction rages between them but both need to remain professional in their fake dating relationship and respect the boundaries they set. Logan is a fairy tale of a politician, fighting hard for all the right causes and telling it how it is (perhaps with a bit more colourful language than his team would like). Alexis has always made herself agreeable to make sure people like her but with Logan, she becomes more passionate and willing to state what she wants and how to get it (strictly professionally, of course) and it was great to see her character coming into her own and having Logan’s unwavering support to do so. They make a super sweet couple and this is definitely a slow burn with so many obstacles standing between them but it was a top read and I loved the playful wars between these two. The world needs more books like this!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

I so enjoyed reading this book, completely sold on the unlikely relationship between Logan and Alexis. Often this type of scenario lacks realism but the way their relationship started helped me to envisage them as a couple and invest in them. I can see it as a film, which doesn't often happen for me. The twists and turns were well constructed and although the romance was a little more detailed and steamy than I usually go for, they were still tasteful and I didn't switch off. A great read.

// thank you so much to the publishers and the people at net galley for giving me a copy of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review!!

it took me a long time to write this review because I couldn't figure out how to put my love for this book into words. if i had to compare it to anything, i would say this book is the closest to the magic of 'red, white and royal blue'—but it's such an underrated an unique read. I absolutely loved the characters, especially the main girl. the emotional arc she goes on, discovering what matters to her, that she can demand things and make changes, but doesn't always have to, was genuinely heartwarming. i absolutely loved the romance too, i read this entire book in one go and I was screamin and gigglin all the way through. there was no contrived drama and the love interest got his own satisfying character development—what more could I ask for?

honestly, I think this book sells itself short. especially the synopsis and cover make this book seem hallmark-y and contrived when it's the complete opposite. this is one of those romance books where the story is about more than just two people. it's a story about optimism, about hope and change. it's a story about politics being a space for everyone, about inserting yourself into conversations that you may not initially be a part of. and that was really beautiful to read about. I'm still not sure if I agree with the ending to this book (plot-wise, the romance was amazing), but honestly, it was unexpected and i respect the author for taking a more unconventional route.

i hope to see everyone reading this book soon, i can't recommend it enough!

Alexis & Logan’s one-night stand couldn’t have been any worse, until he asks her to fake date and help him in his campaign running for governor! They are faced with a few hurdles along the way and they just might find the answer is closer than they expected! Such an enjoyable light-hearted book. Alexis and Logan are both super relatable and I loved reading their story!

The Boyfriend Candidate is a whip smart, funny, slow burn romance with some of my favourite tropes (fake dating, opposites attract and forced proximity to name a few). Throw in some heartfelt politics, a few uplifting causes and a bunch of loveable characters, and you’ve got yourself a charming contemporary romance!

Although a bit predictable at times, this was a ridiculously easy read with a captivating plot. I devoured it in two sittings! There was no slow build up or long winded prologue - you’re thrown straight into the story from the off, which was a huge thumbs up from me.

Alexis being the sweet librarian with a big heart and even bigger insecurities was the protagonist we needed, especially when the plot added further depth and she showed a fiery side during heated debates and causes she felt passionate about. Throw in Logan, your traditional tall, dark and handsome guy, with a sharp tongue and a hotheaded personality, and you’ve got yourself a pretty hot couple.

I did feel a little disappointed at the end of some chapters - the ones that left me wanting more, that felt a bit unfinished or cut short. This might just be the romantic in me, or that I loved the chemistry between Logan and Alexis so much I couldn’t get enough. It’s a relatively short book, so I absolutely would have devoured a few extra/longer chapters to stretch out the scenes, but I’m a greedy reader who loves a slow burn, so that might just be me!

As a big romance reader with a ton of different titles on my shelf, I often find I get bored by the third act and start to drift off. I’m glad to say I was hooked right til the end with this one and could not put it down - this was such a treat to read and one I definitely recommend!

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

This was my first Ashley Winstead book and it was cute, charming and surprising.

The Boyfriend Candidate follows quiet and meek school librarian Alexis who wants to do something different with her life and put her self out there. To have more adventures. The book starts with her in a bar dressed to the nines and completely out of her comfort zone.
👏🏻👏🏻 so off with a bang 🤣 or not…

Enter Logan. The complete opposite to Alexis, foul mouthed, filterless and loud just wants a drink but steps in to save Alexis from a suitor that is socially unaware.

After a night of drinks and long conversation and Alexis deciding she wants to have her first night stand, the hotel that her and Logan end up at catches fire just as things in the hotel bedroom start to heat up and they have to evacuate. Logan carrying Alexis after she twists her ankle in the rush down the fireescape stairs, bolts when he realises that there are cameras on the street leaving Alexis bewildered.

The next day, Alexis is breaking news. The ‘woman’ who political candidate by the name of Logan Arthur saved is in the photos splashed across the media.

The photos will either sink Logan in the polls or boost his popularity and also affect Alexis’ job so Logan’s team come up with a solution. Fake date until election day! I mean what could go wrong 🫣

✨

I really enjoyed this one. Logan was a grumpy FK but a total cinnamon roll. I would love to see the add for the Animal Home haha I visualised it and it made me LOL Alexis had loads of character growth and really came out of her shell. Her relationship with her sister was super cute and it was great to see at the end how much they respected each other.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

If you love:

✨ Cute and sweet romance

✨ Fake dating

✨ Slow burn – Spice right at the end. Small but just right 🔥

✨ Insta lust

✨ Political Campaigning


Thank you @netgalley and @ashleywinsteadbooks for the ARC opportunity in return for honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s a fun lighthearted rom com with likeable characters and good plot. Bit of a slow burn but done really well. Tropes included: fake dating, slow burn, miscommunication.

I absolutely flew through this book and really enjoyed the pace and writing. Who doesn’t love a man losing his mind!

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I could not have loved this book more!
Although I have very limited knowledge of American politics and governors/senators etc, this was 100% not a politics book and 100% a laugh out loud, swoonworthy, empowering romance novel that hits in all the right places.
I'm now going to seek out this author's previous books to read.

i thoroughly enjoyed this book as it was exactly what i needed😌
i liked the plot, the characters (not the sister though lol) and the romance. i read reviews saying the politics aspect was not accurate, but since i’m not educated on american politics, i will not comment on that.
ofcourse there were the unnecessary miscommunication trope and 3rd act breakup which i didn’t like, but who does🤷🏻‍♀️

(thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!)

This was really cute and I loved the shy librarian/bold politician dynamic.

Overall this was a fun story, that kept me engaged, was easy to read, and flew by all too fast!

I didn't have any expectations of this going in as I've not come across the author before but I absolutely loved it, and read it in less than 24h.

I really enjoyed Alexis's journey, not only her huge growth in confidence but also that it came along with an acceptance of herself and what SHE wanted, not what she thought others thought she should want. I felt like she stepped into herself, and that was really enjoyable to read.

I also loved the relationship between her and Logan, the way he pulled her out of herself without even trying. I liked that he didn't coach her into being braver or more confident, she just became those things with him because he saw her.

The only thing lacking in this for me would be getting to read things from Logan's POV. It was fairly clear where he was at but I'd have enjoyed something of a peek into his mind, especially as he was so clearly gone for Alexis. You've got to love a guy who just loses his mind for a girl.

Overall thoroughly enjoyed this and will definitely read more books by this author.

I don’t read much romance but absolutely loved this! I was totally into Logan and Alexis and really love this authors writing style. I’ve read her thrillers before which have both been 5 stars and was so pleasantly surprised that she absolutely nails romance as well! I just wish Fool me once was available on Kindle! I’ll read anything this author writes.

Thanks to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alexis is trying to force herself out of her comfort zone after her ex told her she was boring in bed. However, her determined attempt to have a one-night stand does not work out even remotely as planned, and actually turns out to be the unintentional first step to some important self-discovery.
First thing to note: I'm British. That isn't often a factor in my book reviews, but is in this case, because I thought Logan was written extremely well. His (often profane) choice of words was very easy to imagine in a British accent. Also, my attitude towards American politics in novels is the same as my feelings towards 'The West Wing': it's a great thing to hang a plot on and use for character development, but I really don't care how realistic/idealistic it is. So both of those definitely worked for me. I also loved Alexis's development, as she discovered she did have a backbone and redefined the relationships around her, and the obvious attraction and slow burn between her and Logan built up beautifully. I was completely drawn in to this novel; it's the first I've read by this author but it definitely won't be the last.

I devoured The Boyfriend Candidate in the very best way possible! Alexis Stone is turning over a new leaf. Desperate to put her broken heart behind her, she steps out into Austin’s single scene determined to land herself an unforgettable one-night stand. While her one-night stand doesn’t quite go as planned, meeting Logan sets Alexis’ life on a path that she never expected. Suddenly, Alexis is thrust into the public eye as Logan’s new boyfriend. Her quiet librarian life used to be all that she thought she wanted, but finding her own voice and letting her heart lead the way is showing Alexis there might just be a different story out there. I laughed, I was teary, but mostly I was tired from staying up too late to read. I couldn’t put The Boyfriend Candidate down and think author Ashley Winstead has done a phenomenal job. The Boyfriend Candidate will be this summer’s favorite romantic comedy, laced with real topics and complex ideas!

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: "The Boyfriend Candidate" by Ashley Winstead - A Rom-Com with a Dash of Politics

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)

"The Boyfriend Candidate" by Ashley Winstead is a delightful rom-com that will leave you laughing out loud and rooting for the relatable protagonist, Alexis Stone.

As a shy school librarian, Alexis is content with staying out of the spotlight. But after a humiliating breakup, she decides to step out of her comfort zone and embark on a one-night stand. Enter Logan, a gorgeous and audacious stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Sparks fly between them, but their budding romance takes an unexpected turn when they are caught in a compromising situation during a freak lightning storm.

What follows is a hilarious and unconventional proposition: Logan, a hotshot politician running for governor, and Alexis must pretend to be in a relationship to save his career and her job. As they navigate the world of politics and media scrutiny, they find themselves drawn to each other more than they anticipated.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is Alexis's character development. Watching her grow and learn to put herself first is incredibly empowering and relatable. However, some readers may find the romance aspect lacking. The relationship between Alexis and Logan felt rushed, with time jumps and moments of telling instead of showing their connection. The focus on politics and the campaign occasionally overshadowed the development of their romance, leaving readers wanting more intimate moments between the couple.

"The Boyfriend Candidate" is recommended for fans of literary fiction with a subplot of romance and rom-com lovers who enjoy a mix of humor and political intrigue.

In conclusion, "The Boyfriend Candidate" is a fun and engaging read with a relatable protagonist. While the romance may take a back seat to the political plot at times, the book still delivers an entertaining and heartfelt story that will keep readers entertained until the end.

4.75/5 stars

Alexis' boyfriend breaks up with her for not being interesting enough in bed, so she is determined to be more interesting and plans to have a one night stand. She has her sights set on very attractive stranger Logan, but a fire alarm at their hotel stops them and Logan ends up carrying Alexis outside, to the interest of some papparazi. What Logan hasn't told her is that he is running for Governor of Texas and a one night stand would really ruin his image. He asks Alexis to fake date him to help save his campaign - but will it end up turning into more?

I LOVED THIS. Ashley is such a good writer, the book is compelling but also fleshed out. Not only was I routing for Alexis and Logan but I genuinely cared about Logan getting into the seat, especially in Texas as it's so true to life that he would struggle to get left wing politics to land there. Both MCs have fleshed out support networks around them and I learnt so much about all of the characters through this story.

Alexis is basically me in book form, so I was probably always going to feel an affinity towards her. I loved her journey throughout this story as she learns to love herself more for who she is, and also finds her voice through her relationship with Logan. Logan is infinitely likeable - he is absolutely not a typical "bad boy" romance MC which I am infinitely grateful for. I was a bit wary when the love triangle got introduced but I felt it was handled well and didn't portray Will as a boring Doctor who was just not interesting enough for Alexis, which I am so grateful for as someone marrying a real life Will.

The third act drama makes total sense to me in this - fake dating always allows for a bit more will they/won't they and I can overlook the lack of communication because they agree to not catch feelings when they first start dating so you understand why they don't talk about it.

Would have maybe liked a bit more steam as we wait a while for it, which is surprising given how much sexual tension there is throughout the book. It's a little bit too perfect a steamy scene for me as well given Alexis doesn't have a varied sexual history, but it's not enough to put off my enjoyment.

It was also so refreshing to come away from this book not really knowing what Alexis looked like. Yes we still get a lot of appearance comments about Logan, and yes he's totally ripped (despite I swear having no time to go to the gym), and yes he is particularly ... large but I felt his personality was different enough to a typical romance MC that I could overlook this, especially given Alexis' body etc weren't really referred to so I could imagine her how I wanted to.

It dawned on me at about 70% that this was maybe not the first in the series and I have just realised that is correct - there is a story about Alexis' sister Lee that comes before this. We get some more character development for Lee in this story, but I don't think you need to have read the first one to enjoy this - we were just missing a little bit of Lee and Ben's relationship background (or rather it was referenced heavily and that is maybe odd until you realise there is a whole book about them so the author really knows them!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I really enjoyed this one, It was very sweet and funny, and I found the characters very likeable and engaging.

The thing I most enjoyed in this book was Alexis's character development throughout. It was lovely watching her journey of self-discovery. I also enjoyed how the author played with some classic romance tropes and the subplot of Alexis' relationship with her sister. The extra layers of attention to broader relationships and themes really paid off in giving this book heart.

Set in a political campaign the book had a lot of political talk and politics in it. Which I appreciated. Sometimes romance novels set with a political backdrop tend to be a bit vague and handwavy when it comes to the political views and/or platforms of their characters. I think political vagueness is intended to give the characters a broader appeal to a range of political viewpoints but can feel hollow and shallow. I'm glad this book doesn't shy away from giving the characters strong opinions and platforms we know exactly what Logan's platforms are and, it feels very genuine to his character. It wouldn't make sense for a man who is described as saying what he thinks, even when there is a risk of offending if he only stuck to vague issues that had no teeth. I see no problem with having politics in romance, the personal is political after all. However, there are those who may be turned off by this element of the book.

There were a few things I did not love about this book, though I feel a lot of them are personal preference-based and aren't inherent flaws in the book. Firstly, The insta-love aspect of the romance didn't sit with me. But im not a big fan of love at first sight and this book had elements of that. I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if the feelings developed more on the page as they got to know each other. it always feels a bit shallow when it seems to start the moment they feel an instant attraction. I can see the miscommunication trope being an issue for some reads. I found it a little frustrating, combined with the insta-love it really cheapened the characters connection, because we saw all the ways they physically clicked but the miscommunication got in the way of seeing them click emotionally. I was also not a fan of the sex scenes in this book, I'm sure most people will be fine, but it was kind of boring and didn't sound fun at all. I ended up skimming, them. The way the weather was used to drive the plot forward kind of was a little over the Top. I love whimsy but for me, it didn't land at all it made me strongly aware of the hand of the author, making weather events to move the plot along.

Overall though I did enjoy this book, and I think it will appeal to people who like strong character growth, interesting engaging characters, tropes like fake relationships, forced proximity and deep themes about love and family and identity.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher Aria or Aries for the ARC.

This was a cute and kinda cozy read!! I didn’t know it would dwell that much into politics but i still enjoy it! Logan was soooooo cute and supportive of her. I loved him! Rudy (lol) i liked her. The journey she took to now herself and what she wanted was really nice and captive!

I adored this book so much. Although it is a romance, it brings so much attention to important issues, like the underfunding of education, book censorship and corporate lobbying. I liked the political setting, the campaigning process, how much work goes into achieving change in a state like Texas when it seems impossible. I liked the duo of Alexis and Logan, they worked really well together and the chemistry between them was amazing. It was great that Alexis found herself and figured out what she wanted to do. I never thought bluntness could be attractive, but Logan’s was quite that. The end was not what I expected, but it mirrored reality and still left open a door for possibilities.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

Read if you like politics and fake dating tropes! Alexis meets Logan in a hotel bar ready to have her first one night stand but after a freak storm and a fire alarm they are caught by the media in a compromising position and it turns out Logan is running for the Governor of Texas. They begin to have a fake public relationship to try and save his campaigns from rumors. I liked this book enjoyed the short chapters and found it easy to read. It may have a little too much talk of politics for some people which could take away from the story. I liked both main characters and thought they were pretty well developed along with most of the side characters. I didn't really love the character of Alexis's sister thought she pushed her too much to be someone she really wasn't. All in all I would give this book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 and would recommend. I want to thank NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

💭 ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
Ashley has done it again. An addictive romance that got me sucked in from start to finish. I was instantly invested and adored both Alexis and Logan. Their characters were built up so well I felt like I was inside this story. I loved how this book showed that sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone will give you so much reward in the end. That with the right person, your life will fall into place. It’s a light and quick read that will be perfect for a summer beach day!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🤓 ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ:
Short chapters
Fake Dating
Good Character built
Addictive read
Quick & light read

ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ:
𝘈𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯, 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘬—𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘥!—𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦-𝘶𝘱 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬-𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥?

𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘭-𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘣𝘢𝘳. 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴’𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦! 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘴. 𝘊𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘴 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘴.

𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘴: 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘓𝘰𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘳’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘢 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥: 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭, 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘺…𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴.

The Boyfriend Candidate is a fantastic read with various romance tropes throughout, such as meet-cute, second chance, miscommunication, chemistry tensions and friends to lovers. I was highly engrossed throughout the entire read, the plot was written perfectly with great detail included throughout, it was a completely captivating read, that I just wanted to end perfectly!

This book is told from the perspective of the main character Alexis, who is an introverted and shy part time librarian, who has recently separated from her ex who had cheated on her and attacked her self esteem, as a goal for herself to behaviour out of character she tries to find someone in a bar to have a one night stand with to prove she isn't the "bore" her ex deemed her to be, this leads to her meeting Logan, a gorgeous, power hungry, Texan/British character who is well known for not having a filter. As the night unfolds a future PR nightmare for Logan rears its head, leading Alexis and Logan down an interesting partnership

I absolutely devoured every word of this book and found myself feeling super proud of how far Alexis character had come throughout the book, the character building and writing throughout is fantastic and honestly I would of loved to have met one of Texas' most amazing power couples, the way that each of the characters dealt with the various curveballs thrown their way was interesting, but did leave me frustrated on a few occasions, just wishing they would communicate better, but I feel that these were included within the plot to built the angst and stress and make the final a-ha moment one of great joy!

"The Boyfriend Candidate" is a rom-com written by Ashley Winstead.

The story follows 27-year-old Alexis Stone, a shy and introverted school library assistant whose ideal evening consists of sitting at home, quiet and comfortable, watching a romantic comedy or reading a romance. Away from the spotlight and unwanted attention. However, when she is dumped by her boyfriend, under the guise of being boring in bed, she slowly comes to the decision that she needs to change and become more adventurous. Exactly one year later, on the first anniversary of the separation, Alexis opts for what she thinks is the ideal solution: a one-night stand. Convinced of her idea, she goes to the bar of an exclusive hotel, only to be targeted by a pushy stranger and fall prey to doubts. It is at this point that Logan, a stranger as attractive as he is prone to swearing, intervenes and saves her from the situation. The two end up having drinks together, and Alexis soon realizes that Logan, with his bold and unfiltered personality, is exactly her opposite. Attracted and swayed by the man's brazen personality, Alexis instinctively proposes that they spend the night together, as was her plan. Just as she is about to have the desired one-night stand, however, the hotel is struck by sudden lightning and catches fire, forcing everyone to evacuate. In her haste to escape Alexis is injured and Logan picks her up, carrying her down the street to the rescuers, where people are waiting with cameras ready to take pictures. And it is at this point, surprisingly, that Logan flees, leaving her alone. Alexis is bewildered and tries not to think about the incident, until suddenly photos of her and Logan appear everywhere on the Internet. That is how she discovers that Logan is actually Logan Arthur, the stubborn Democratic candidate running for governor of Texas. The compromising photos could ruin Logan's reputation and candidacy, as well as jeopardize Alexis's job, but here's the solution: he and Alexis will have to pretend to be engaged in a relationship until election day, two months from now. I mean what could go wrong, right?

I loved this book so much! Funny, captivating and fast-paced, it won me over and entertained me from beginning to end, making me laugh and relaxing a lot.

I found the author's style to be compelling, sizzling and full of joy, with descriptions, situations and dialogues really effervescent and effective. The fast and brisk pace, combined with the presence of short chapters, kept me glued to the pages, with no dull moments. I really had fun while reading, feeling lighter and not thinking about anything else.

I loved Alexis, the protagonist and only first-person pov. Alexis is a 27-year-old shy and introverted school librarian's assistant. She prefers to stay at home, alternating between watching romantic comedies and reading romance, rather than going outside and interacting with people. She struggles to open up; in fact, she has very few friends, for whom she would do anything. She is a sweet and kind person, fixated on good manners, always inclined to behave appropriately, even with those who do not deserve it. She tries to be good, wants to be good, doing her best for everything and everyone. This is a character I enjoyed so much, rich in depth, with beautiful development. Alexis lives with the uncomfortable thought of never being enough, of having something less, and by now she has resigned and accepted the idea. I really enjoyed the analysis of this aspect and felt connected to her. Alexis makes a fantastic journey of discovery, realization, and healing, which I loved a lot. Also I loved the complicated relationship with the family, the way it is shown.

Logan, by contrast, is the exact opposite of Alexis. A 33-year-old Texan of British descent, he is the Democratic candidate running for governor of Texas. A bold and outspoken man, reckless and impudent, prone to speak his mind without filter. And to swear a lot. However, under this insolent armor, he too has his frailties and wounds, he too needs to heal. Logan is a character who has gripped me since his first appearance and who made me freak out a lot. My only "pain" was the lack of his pov because yes, he is great and I wanted him a lot. But okay, removed this personal whim of mine that doesn't affect the overall rating, I enjoyed it too much.

The romance that develops between these two is something fantastic, which made me freak out a lot! The dynamic of fake dating, with Alexis and Logan pretending to date in order to save her job and his campaign, is a trope that I absolutely love and was handled beautifully here. In addition there is a slow burn that made me sweat a lot. The two get to know each other throughout the book, to really talk, leading to a fantastic development of their relationship. The chemistry between Alexis and Logan is explosive, the banter is brilliant and the spicy very tasty.

I found very interesting the attention given to the school system and the figures of educators, as well as the reflections on the irresponsible censorship of certain books.

All in all, I found it a very funny, light and bright romance and can't help but recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A heartwarming rom-com that's so easily bingeable, featuring favourite tropes of fake dating and slow burn romance.

'I'm in love with someone I can never have'.

Synopsis
Alexis is a librarian at her school, she's a shy 'mouse' - until she decides she wants to change that. A one night stand is her solution, as she scouts the bar for a man who could be it, she meets Logan. But before anything further can happen, a lightning strike hits the hotel and everyone is evacuated. Logan runs off after, leaving Alexis baffled.

The next morning, the news stories hit - turns out that Logan is a local politician, running in a campaign to be Governor. To avoid backlash for Logan and his campaign, Alexis agrees to become his fake girlfriend: covering up the news stories and putting on a show for Texas.

Can they play the show of fake dating without real feelings getting involved?

Thoughts
I absolutely devoured this, the story had such a good, interesting plot, I loved the characters and the slow burn romance between Logan and Alexis. Seeing Alexis come out of her shell from the mousy librarian to someone who advocates for educators, no matter how nervous it made her feel, was such lovely character development.

Of course, with fake dating tropes, there are series of misunderstandings and miscommunications, and this included that - but it made it so much sweeter at the end. Seeing Logan, his grumpy self, turn into a cinnamon roll for Alexis was adorable.

'One night stands - even unfinished ones - were a hell of a drug'.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this copy. This review is voluntary.

Single POV, first person, opposites attract, slow burn, open door.

When school librarian Alexis Stone decides to step out of her comfort zone and embark on a one night stand, she meets Logan, a political candidate running for Governor. Just as they make it to their room for the night, the hotel catches fire in a freak storm, and photos of Logan carrying her out of the hotel go viral. Logan's team propose that they fake date, to avoid rumours of Logan's playboy ways.

I really enjoyed this story, and seeing Alexis grow as a person and really find herself throughout her story. Whilst I normally prefer dual pov, I really loved seeing how Logan felt about Alexis through his actions, rather than his own monologue. There was some interesting side characters that I would love to see more of in future books.

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for the advanced copy to review. All opinions are my own.

being with you feels like a dream, and I want to stay inside it

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

After getting dumped for being lousy in bed Alexis took that as a wake-up call. She’s never had a one night stand but decided to give it a shot. Enter Logan, a very handsome stranger who unbeknownst to Alexis is a politician. After pictures of their late night rendezvous leaks his team comes up with a fake dating strategy to improve his image for the upcoming governor’s election. What could possibly go wrong?

This is the first book I’ve read by Winstead and I absolutely loved it! I was a bit hesitant because I’m not familiar or for that matter interested in American politics but that aspect of the book wasn’t an issue for me. It’s more about important topics and debates rather then the boring logistics, voting and numbers.

It’s not just Logan campaign, Alexis gets involved to. Bringing her own insights and an entirely new focal point to the campaign. I loved seeing her grow in her new role and eve though she’s not thrilled about the spotlight make the best of the situation. She’s such a good character. The entire book is told from her perspective which I think was a smart move by the author.

Things I loved:
•The fake dating trope
•Relatable characters
•The humor and fun banter
•Its spicyyyy

Alexis went out looking for a guy and found....more. She connects with Logan but when a fire breaks out at the hotel and he's photographed rescuing her, she discovers that they both kinda missed telling the truth about themselves. Turns out he's a candidate for Governor and now his campaign team wants the two of them to pose as a couple for the duration. Well, you know what's going to happen, don't you? This is, indeed a trope but here you've got some suspense- will Logan win? Know that there are some speeches and that Alexis' metamorphosis from "mouse" to campaigner is a stretch but that this is still entertaining. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Will make a good beach read.

Loved, loved, loved this story: it's original, highly entertaining and well written.
The characters are fleshed out, I rooted for them. I laughed and smiled.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

‘The boyfriend candidate' is a romance that begins with a fake relationship during a political campaign. A fun and enjoyable read that is certainly enjoyable if you recognize a good cliché.
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Tell me I'm not the only one who sees the title of this book and just wants to read it. Because that's really what happened. And the truth is that I didn't need to know anything else, just with the cover and the title I read it, but if you read the synopsis you will also want to read the book. I am completely sure. But it is also a very addictive book with a very well developed story and that made me enjoy every page I read.

I don't know why, but lately I am reading a lot of romance books within the world of politics, is it a sign? I don't know, but what I do know for sure is that I enjoy them a lot. To me generally politics is a topic that interests me a lot, and especially the strategy part too, so in that sense I enjoyed this story a lot because I think the strategic part is very present and I greatly enjoy it.

Also, obviously, it is a fake dating story and as a cliché lover, I must enjoy it. And although it is a cliché that has been used a lot, I feel that here it has a different point. Well, it's that actually the characters that this book has are the ones that give the unique touch to the story that is necessary to be able to read a typical story but at the same time that makes you feel that you haven't read it yet.

I think that one of the things I enjoyed most about the book is the touch of humor it has, because it is not a humor of having funny scenes or comedy as such, but it is the touch to the narration that has that freshness and the dialogues have that point of humor that is very enjoyable.