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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
3.5 STARS
In The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales, fanfic writer Ivy Winslow has the house to herself for a week while her parents are away. Her plans to hang out with Henry, her best friend, and binge-watch her favorite fantasy TV show while avoiding Mack, her former best friend-turned-enemy, go awry when Ivy wakes up to find Weston, the gorgeous, fictional main character of H-MAD, in her bedroom, claiming that he’s her soul mate.
Gonzales’ writing is lively, crisp, and vibrant, with detailed descriptions. She develops her complex, fascinating, messy, and conflicted characters through funny, snarky, emotional, sweet, witty banter and interactions. I love that you never know exactly where her characters will be at the story’s conclusion. You hope, but you don’t know for sure because she throws surprising twists and turns into the story—she takes the time to develop efficiently—that makes you doubt that the characters will get the happy ending you want for them.
Somehow, Ivy’s fanfic writing brings Weston from her stories to life. But after spending time with him, Ivy discovers that the qualities and tropes she swoons over in her stories are not quite so romantic in reality. Even worse, having her fanfic/TV crush come to life causes her incredibly frustrating real-world problems. To figure out why Weston is here and how to either get him back to where he belongs or help him settle into life in the real world, Ivy teams up with Henry and Mack, grudgingly, after avoiding her is more challenging than she thought it would be. Now that Mack is in her life again, Ivy must reconsider whether Weston—this “perfect guy” she created—is the one who’s perfect for her or if she’s been blind to the person who is genuinely ideal for her all this time.
Gonzales explores Ivy and Mack’s and Ivy and Henry’s relationships by alternating between the present and flashbacks. She smoothly manages these transitions without affecting the novel’s pacing and tone, which is surprisingly a bit dark at times but works for the story. I love Ivy’s relationship with Henry and how they could be honest with each other as friends should be, but people find it difficult to achieve most of the time. I wish we could have seen more of Ivy and Mack’s friendship before the fractures started to show. Their relationship is primarily antagonistic or in the early stages of falling apart. We don’t get to see much of the happy, healthy, deep friendship we presume they used to share—a crucial part of the story that was missing. But sometimes, seeing people at their worst and how they interact tells you more about who they are and whether they can make it through the good and bad times. Gonzales’ character interactions are one of the best parts of her writing and books. More interactions between Mack and Ivy would have improved the development and exploration of their friendship/relationship. It was missing for me in the novel.
The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is nothing like I expected, which shouldn’t surprise me because Gonzales always gives me an entertaining read— unlike anything I’ve read or thought it would be. However, my expectations for this one were so high, and I wanted something more romance-focused throughout the book. Give Gonzales all the kudos for writing the story she needed and wanted to tell, even though it may not have been the story I was hoping for or expected. That said, I did mostly enjoy the journey her multilayered story and flawed, hot-mess characters took me on. A thoughtful, funny, suspenseful, sweet, witty, angsty, and fast-paced YA romance, The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is an entertaining read that explores friendship, unrequited love, first love, fandom culture, sexual identity, coming out, belonging, romantic escape, and writing.
An advanced review copy was provided by Wednesday Books via Netgalley for review.
In The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist by Sophie Gonzales, fanfic writer Ivy Winslow has the house to herself for a week while her parents are away. Her plans to hang out with Henry, her best friend, and binge-watch her favorite fantasy TV show while avoiding Mack, her former best friend-turned-enemy, go awry when Ivy wakes up to find Weston, the gorgeous, fictional main character of H-MAD, in her bedroom, claiming that he’s her soul mate.
Gonzales’ writing is lively, crisp, and vibrant, with detailed descriptions. She develops her complex, fascinating, messy, and conflicted characters through funny, snarky, emotional, sweet, witty banter and interactions. I love that you never know exactly where her characters will be at the story’s conclusion. You hope, but you don’t know for sure because she throws surprising twists and turns into the story—she takes the time to develop efficiently—that makes you doubt that the characters will get the happy ending you want for them.
Somehow, Ivy’s fanfic writing brings Weston from her stories to life. But after spending time with him, Ivy discovers that the qualities and tropes she swoons over in her stories are not quite so romantic in reality. Even worse, having her fanfic/TV crush come to life causes her incredibly frustrating real-world problems. To figure out why Weston is here and how to either get him back to where he belongs or help him settle into life in the real world, Ivy teams up with Henry and Mack, grudgingly, after avoiding her is more challenging than she thought it would be. Now that Mack is in her life again, Ivy must reconsider whether Weston—this “perfect guy” she created—is the one who’s perfect for her or if she’s been blind to the person who is genuinely ideal for her all this time.
Gonzales explores Ivy and Mack’s and Ivy and Henry’s relationships by alternating between the present and flashbacks. She smoothly manages these transitions without affecting the novel’s pacing and tone, which is surprisingly a bit dark at times but works for the story. I love Ivy’s relationship with Henry and how they could be honest with each other as friends should be, but people find it difficult to achieve most of the time. I wish we could have seen more of Ivy and Mack’s friendship before the fractures started to show. Their relationship is primarily antagonistic or in the early stages of falling apart. We don’t get to see much of the happy, healthy, deep friendship we presume they used to share—a crucial part of the story that was missing. But sometimes, seeing people at their worst and how they interact tells you more about who they are and whether they can make it through the good and bad times. Gonzales’ character interactions are one of the best parts of her writing and books. More interactions between Mack and Ivy would have improved the development and exploration of their friendship/relationship. It was missing for me in the novel.
The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is nothing like I expected, which shouldn’t surprise me because Gonzales always gives me an entertaining read— unlike anything I’ve read or thought it would be. However, my expectations for this one were so high, and I wanted something more romance-focused throughout the book. Give Gonzales all the kudos for writing the story she needed and wanted to tell, even though it may not have been the story I was hoping for or expected. That said, I did mostly enjoy the journey her multilayered story and flawed, hot-mess characters took me on. A thoughtful, funny, suspenseful, sweet, witty, angsty, and fast-paced YA romance, The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist is an entertaining read that explores friendship, unrequited love, first love, fandom culture, sexual identity, coming out, belonging, romantic escape, and writing.
An advanced review copy was provided by Wednesday Books via Netgalley for review.
✰ 4 stars! ✰
I loved the premise! A fanfic writing MC? I was immediately intrigued. I found it interesting to see how the typical tropes would translate to Ivy's real life. Weston following the enemies to lovers fanfic was definitely not romantic!
The characters were also great, the conflicts were relatable and made sense, and I liked the ending. In general, I thought it was a fun read and would recommend it to people who are into fandom stuff (like me) to enjoy pointing out references.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the premise! A fanfic writing MC? I was immediately intrigued. I found it interesting to see how the typical tropes would translate to Ivy's real life. Weston following the enemies to lovers fanfic was definitely not romantic!
The characters were also great, the conflicts were relatable and made sense, and I liked the ending. In general, I thought it was a fun read and would recommend it to people who are into fandom stuff (like me) to enjoy pointing out references.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-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
oh the epic highs and lows of high school escapism and codependent homoerotic friendship
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The Perfect Guy Doesn’t Exist starts out pretty cute and funny. Ivy had a break-up with her best friend/crush last year, and has been deeply into her fandom. Her favorite show is H-MAD, a show about magical teenagers, and she’s been writing fan fiction. One night after her parents are gone on a trip….her favorite character appears in bed with her.
With the help of her new best friend Henry, and her old best friend-turned-nemesis Mack, they try to manage the situation and figure out why this fake, magical character has appeared.
For about three-fourths of the story, it was funny and light-hearted, going back and forth between the present and the past. And then….at the climax, nothing happens? Ivy had a deep, heavy discussion with her fan fiction character, Weston, all about her feelings for Mack. But then she and Mack never really discuss what went on with them. It’s a two sentence “I like you,” and “I like you too” then the end.
Overall, I loved the LGBTQ representation, and I’m a fan fiction reader for life, but the one felt like the author lost steam and just quickly wrapped it up.
Thank you to Wednesday books for the review copy.
With the help of her new best friend Henry, and her old best friend-turned-nemesis Mack, they try to manage the situation and figure out why this fake, magical character has appeared.
For about three-fourths of the story, it was funny and light-hearted, going back and forth between the present and the past. And then….at the climax, nothing happens? Ivy had a deep, heavy discussion with her fan fiction character, Weston, all about her feelings for Mack. But then she and Mack never really discuss what went on with them. It’s a two sentence “I like you,” and “I like you too” then the end.
Overall, I loved the LGBTQ representation, and I’m a fan fiction reader for life, but the one felt like the author lost steam and just quickly wrapped it up.
Thank you to Wednesday books for the review copy.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes