Reviews

The Book Boyfriend: A Plus-Size Paranormal Romance by Jeanna Louise Skinner

wildmountainwolf's review against another edition

4.0

I picked this up on a whim. I was intrigued by the cover (hello hotties!!) and the plus-sized, mental illness, and tall FMC diversity. The romance is super slow burn, but enough romance was sprinkled around before the two finally commit. The plot was light but intriguing, which is perfect for a cozy, romance read. Please note, this is a romance and not an erotica so the sex scenes are very minimal. In fact, there is only one. An additional detail I loved was that there was absolutely no mention of pregnancy or having kids.

I’m impressed that this is a debut novel; it’s well-written. My one critique are the time jumps. They are not very cohesive, like a hiccup in the flow of the plot.

marbooks88's review against another edition

4.0

 

This magic filled romance features a Word Witch and a book boyfriend pulled from the pages of a romance book. But will they break the curse in time to find their happily ever after? Emmeline is a wonderful main character. She is brave, resourceful, body positive and a positive representation of someone living with mental health conditions. Lord Jonathan Dagliesh appears to be the perfect book boyfriend, a dashingly attractive royal, but he is struggling with not only a curse but also with the actions of his past. The bookshop setting, complete with a cat, adds to the appeal of the book. There are so many memorable moments,  I especially loved this quote, “There was strength and beauty in scars” and think it is one to remember. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a magical romance.

 

transportedlfl's review

mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

 Thank you to Kate Rock Book Tours and the author for the ebook. These opinions are my own. 

Look at this beautiful cover! The second I heard the book featured a bookstore owner and an actual Tudor knight come straight out of a book, I was completely sold. This is a neat cross between romantasy and magical realism. 

Emmy has just taken over the bookshop where she worked as a teen. And her friend left behind a mysterious note about a special book and a good friend, Jonathan. It turns out Jonathan is a knight from the 1500's imprisoned in a book by a witch. And he tells Emmy that she is a word witch with the ability to free him. 

This was quite the slow burn with so much pining and tension throughout. His past is shrouded in mysteries and secrets. And the story takes all kinds of fantastical twists and turns. It's told with lush prose filled with meaningful metaphors. I paused to admire the writing as much as the plot. 

CW (condensed from beginning of book): suicide attempt, schizoaffective disorder, misogyny and gaslighting, body image issues 

chelyely's review against another edition

5.0

Such a sweet magic story

It's cute, sweet, and magic and has enough of a mystery element that the end makes total sense. The way mental health is talked about is so relatable.

enfilin's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mdeebs's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

1.75

reading_kapibara's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

sengwebb's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

jessorella's review against another edition

I felt like I’d had this book on the go for a while but never felt hugely dragged back to it to find out what was happening. A pacing issue, maybe - I just wasn’t grabbed by it. 

bethehart's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and its premise. The relationships between the women were captivating, and the mysterious nature of the shop added to my enjoyment. Without revealing too much, I had mixed feelings about

the revelation that Lizzie was the antagonist and Maggie being the one to curse Jonathan

. It was somewhat disappointing considering the beautiful moments we witnessed with the female friendships. In my opinion, the book might have been stronger if it had focused on either breaking the spell or unraveling the mystery of who wanted the shop, rather than both. However, I absolutely loved the inclusion of Emmy's illness and how it affected her character. I appreciated how she handled it with grace. Additionally, I adored that Emmy was portrayed as tall and big, and she was admired for her beauty by everyone. Overall, the book was a delight to read.