This book was pretty good, I would definitely recommend

~This was given by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review………..

I was really surprised by this novel. From the synopsis I had started to have some high expectations, but this went beyond them easily!

The Boyfriend Academy is engaging, original, raw, and pushes the boundaries of fiction and reality. A futuristic, dystopian love story that grabbed me from the beginning. It paints this dark, yet not so far away, picture of how delicate it is to be authentically yourself in a society or government who has seemed to decide that for you. Just an all around special novel. Can't wait for you to read it. #TheBoyfriendAcademy #NetGalley

Publishing: April 28th, 2026

I was given access to an advanced reader copy in exchange for my feedback. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper 460, and author J.S. Strange for allowing me to read and review.

Okay wait — this was FUN. Like, kick-your-feet, grin-at-your-Kindle, “why am I this invested?” fun. 💘✨

The Boyfriend Academy takes that chaotic dating energy we all pretend we don’t have and turns it into an actual premise — and somehow makes it both hilarious and low-key heartfelt.

The concept alone hooks you: structured lessons in love, curated charm, manufactured meet-cutes… but obviously nothing goes according to syllabus. What I loved most is that beneath the rom-com setup, there’s a genuine exploration of vulnerability. You can learn lines. You can practice confidence. But you can’t fake connection — and that tension drives the story.

The main character is easy to root for — flawed, a little messy, trying their best. The growth feels earned instead of magically fixed. And the romantic lead? Charismatic but layered. Not just “hot and perfect,” but someone who challenges the whole idea of treating love like coursework.

The banter is sharp. The awkward moments hit just right. And when the emotional beats land, they actually land. There’s a sweetness under the humor that sneaks up on you.

I found this book to be an interesting read. It's set after a time when many people die. So the king decides that men and women should have a place in the world to make children to repopulate. They must go to these special schools to learn how to behave properly. This book was a hard read. It felt like we went back in time, where queer and trans people had to pretend to fit into society. Dylan Cecil is gay. He has to navigate his feelings for the new guy and make a choice that will improve the future. I was a little surprised by the ending, considering how much they wanted to fight back. I could say more on this, but I'm going to leave this here. I enjoyed this book for what it is.

Thank you to NetGalley, J S Strange, and One More Chapter for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for supplying me an ARC of this book! What a fun, addictive, and interesting dystopian read. I love a queer academia setting, and when mashed up with a post-apocalyptic societal rebuild, you have an awesome formula for a great read. The end of the book left me craving what happens next! I hope there will be more soon!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Boyfriend Academy by J.S. Strange
The Boyfriend Academy is a gripping, unsettling, and surprisingly emotional dive into a world where perfection isn’t just expected—it’s enforced. Ganymede’s Academy, with its pristine lawns and spiraling towers, is the kind of place that looks idyllic from the outside, but Strange quickly reveals the rot beneath the surface. Boys aren’t educated here; they’re shaped, molded, and sharpened into the exact men society demands. Strong. Obedient. Useful. Anything less is failure.
Dylan Cecil is an immediately compelling protagonist—quiet, observant, and just trying to survive long enough to graduate and earn the life he’s been promised. But when his friend Blake disappears, the façade of order begins to crack. Strange builds tension beautifully as Dylan navigates whispered dangers, the looming threat of June’s brutal trials, and his growing connection to Roman Edwards, a boy who is as enigmatic as he is magnetic.
The worldbuilding is sharp and chilling, a dystopian system that feels uncomfortably plausible. The emotional stakes rise steadily, especially as Dylan is forced to confront the choice between becoming the man the academy demands or the person he truly is. The pacing is strong, the atmosphere immersive, and the relationships—both tender and tense—add real depth.
My only wish was for a bit more exploration of certain side characters and the broader world beyond the academy, but overall, this is a compelling, thought‑provoking read that lingers long after the final page.
Thank you to J.S. Strange, NetGalley, and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I always enjoy a good dystopian novel, and this one was no different. The premise was interesting and the book was well-executed. Recommended for my fellow dystopian fans.

The Boyfriend Academy by J S Strange — ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book pulled me in with its dark and intriguing premise and kept me hooked with its emotional depth. I picked it up for the dark academia setting and mystery, and it delivered a compelling and layered story.

Dylan’s journey was engaging, especially as he begins questioning everything around him. I loved the atmosphere of the academy and the slow unraveling of secrets. The romance added a softer, emotional layer that balanced the darker themes. Some parts felt slightly slow, but the overall story and character development made it worthwhile. This is great for readers who love dark academia with mystery and emotional tension.

What if becoming the perfect man meant losing yourself completely?✨

Reading from Dylan’s perspective felt deeply personal. His struggle to stay invisible while questioning everything around him hit hard. The disappearance of Blake adds this constant undercurrent of unease, and I couldn’t stop turning pages trying to piece together the truth. Every hallway, every test, every interaction felt like it carried a hidden meaning.

And then there’s Roman Edwards… 👀
Let’s just say the tension there? Immaculate. Complicated. Dangerous. I loved how their dynamic added both emotional depth and stakes to an already intense story.

What really stayed with me, though, is how this book explores identity, masculinity, and control. It asks: Who do you become when the world tells you who you’re supposed to be? And the answer isn’t simple, it's messy, painful, and incredibly compelling.

If you love dark academia, dystopian elements, and slow-burning emotional tension with a side of mystery, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.

✨️Thank you One More Chapter and J.S. Strange for sharing The Boyfriend Academy with me!

This book I was hesitant about because it's such a hot topic. Reading about a school and a dystopian world like this is really interesting.
Real world or fictional, we keep over correcting or swinging into extremes! There is a happy middle ground, but that would make for a different genre of story. This one has a heavy school setting and makes it seem a little more YA, but when this school dictates your entire life and what you see and how you act, it makes sense. This book benefits from the hot news stories and political things going on in the real world and turns a some complicated themes into a fictional world to explore them.

Gorgeous, unique, and well-themed. It felt a tiny bit like the worldbuilding wasn't quite done but in general it was great. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I went in with more "dark academia" expectations. While the story takes place at a school, the plot was more about the dystopian world than the school experience itself. We jump in during the final year of Ganymede's, a finishing school for perfect young men, and learn about our main character, Dylan, as he navigates the final series of tests set before him to prepare for graduation. I love a good school story, and would have liked to see more about the first two years at school. Without spoiling anything, I felt like some of his more traumatic moments took place so quickly on-page that I didn't really feel the emotional impact that maybe they were supposed to have. Overall, I felt satisfied with the character progression and intrigued by the world-building. And I was left wanting more - and I mean that as a compliment! I SO want to know what happens to all of them after the end of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It took a while to get going, but it really got there once it did. Dylan is at a prestigious school for boys to turn them into men; Ganymede's. When his roommate is found dead, he obviously has questions. It's not the first time a student has gone missing, and he's determined to find the truth. When he's paired with a new student who he can't stop thinking about, he knows hes in trouble.

With Roman's help, Dylan learns that he has allies, and finds a way to get closer to the truth, even if it's the most dangerous thing he's ever done. Will it be worth it? Can he survive to graduation with the knowledge he seeks, or will he risk it all for nothing?