Reviews

The Book Boyfriend by Jeanna Louise Skinner

lifeand100books's review against another edition

2.0

Upon reading the synopsis for this book I was totally enthralled: a plus-sized bookshop owning heroine who falls in love with a man who's been imprisoned within the pages of an old book. I loved the originality of the story, but wished it had been edited better. Parts of the story dragged on and on with nothing much happening to move the story along. The emotional journey of Jonathan and Emmeline is written more in their own heads than as chemistry between them. I wanted to see them talk to each other about their growing feelings and grow as a couple together.

The ending confused me SO MUCH.

Spoiler

Who the villain is and why she's a villain? I didn't understand why she felt so strongly about hating Emmeline. Her familial relationship is so distant to Jonathan. And Jonathan didn't even know about the baby that connects them. It seemed like a really odd reason to be so vengeful. Especially when she was supposedly such good friends with Emmeline. If she had that much hatred and jealously over Maggie's love of Emmeline, why wait all those years to do something? Why continue to flourish your friendship?

wonderland_wanderer's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

racheldida's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

suzanneruth's review

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mkbeam's review

I can only suspend disbelief so far for a romance novel. The events of the book were not held together with any sort of logic or character motivation. I finally stopped because the bookshop was attacked and burned, then Emmy went to break up with the book boyfriend. He was leaving like she asked and she out of nowhere changed her mind and decided to have sex with him instead. Wtf. 

phitney's review

emotional lighthearted 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

3.0

glyneth's review against another edition

3.0

I liked this book better until the end. Serious spoiler ahead, do not read if you don't want to know the ending!

Spoiler

The turncoat friend at the end, with her husband, came out of nowhere, and I felt like it was grafted on just to end the book quickly. I did not catch ANY hint of anything prior to Lizzie's sudden betrayal in the writing.

I enjoyed that the heroine's schizophrenia ended up not being "magically cured" in the end, so it was good to see that sort of rep on page. I don't know how accurate it is, however.

coffeeteabooksandme's review

2.0

2.5 ⭐️ I really appreciate the mental illness and body image representation in the MC. Pretty much the rest of the book just didn’t click for me. There are a lot of great reviews - it was just a miss for me. I ended up skimming large portions just because many sections didn’t really seem to add to the overall plot.

heirloom321's review

funny hopeful relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

clericalerrer's review

slow-paced

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

3.0