Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka marks the married writing duo’s fourth adult romance novel, following their well-received works like The Roughest Draft and The Breakup Tour. This time, they’ve created a delightful love letter to fantasy readers and the transformative power of fiction, wrapped in an enemies-to-lovers package that both embraces and gently subverts the tropes we’ve come to love.
Plot: When Fandom Collides with Real Life
Jennifer Worth lives for escape. Her refuge is the fictional world of Elytheum Courts, a romantasy series featuring brave, chivalrous, and occasionally winged fae warriors. After being unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend Jordan (who helpfully delivers a box of her possessions to her workplace), Jennifer impulsively decides to attend the Elytheum Experience, an immersive fan convention dedicated to her favorite books.
Her fantasy escape takes an unexpected turn when she discovers Scott Daniels—her publishing coworker and workplace nemesis—is also attending. Scott has historically dismissed Jennifer’s enthusiasm for fantasy romance, making their professional relationship tense at best. But the Scott she encounters at the convention seems different: confident, flirtatious, and mysteriously attentive to the very books he once disdained.
What unfolds is a week of rivalry, revelation, and reluctant attraction as Jennifer and Scott compete in a scavenger hunt where the prize is a private dinner with an actor playing her favorite character, Lord Valance. As Jennifer navigates her growing feelings for her reformed nemesis, she must confront the gap between her fantasies and the more complicated reality of love.
Character Development: People, Not Pages
The authors’ greatest achievement lies in their character work, particularly Jennifer’s emotional journey. She begins as someone who measures real relationships against fictional standards—an understandable coping mechanism that nonetheless keeps her dissatisfied with her love life. Her growth feels organic as she gradually recognizes that real connection might not match her fantasies but can offer something equally valuable.
Scott’s evolution is similarly compelling. Initially presented as the typical dismissive literary snob, his layers are peeled back to reveal someone struggling with his own insecurities—a man who changed his dreams after experiencing rejection and who fears vulnerability so much he’s avoided deep connections.
What makes their relationship work is the genuine connection that develops as they share their authentic selves, not the idealized versions they present to the world:
“I guess I was sick of feeling rejected by the people and things I thought were supposed to be my whole life. I hoped that in love, I could have it all—someone to share a life with, yet who wouldn’t have the power to hurt me if I didn’t let them. All I had to do was not give them very much of myself, and then I wouldn’t feel it when they rejected what little I’d given.”
Strengths: What Makes This Book Shine
1. A Loving Tribute to Readers
Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka captures the heart of what it means to be a passionate reader—how books become more than entertainment but rather lifelines, identity-shapers, and communities. Jennifer’s relationship with Elytheum Courts is portrayed with respect and understanding rather than mockery, which feels refreshing in a literary landscape that often belittles genre fiction, particularly romance and fantasy.
2. Immersive Convention Setting
The Elytheum Experience is vividly rendered—from the elaborate costumes to the themed foods and character actors. Anyone who’s attended a fan convention will recognize the blend of excitement, community, and immersive escapism that these events provide. The scavenger hunt that structures the plot keeps the story moving while allowing natural opportunities for character development.
3. Authentic Supporting Characters
The supporting cast adds depth to the story, particularly:
- Amelia, Jennifer’s friend who helps organize the Experience but finds herself disillusioned with her dream job
- Erik, Jennifer’s actor roommate who’s competing with his brother for the role of Valance
- Laurel and Brit, two new friends Jennifer makes who share her love of Elytheum
Each has their own arc that mirrors or contrasts with Jennifer’s journey, reinforcing the novel’s themes without feeling forced.
Weaknesses: Where the Story Stumbles
1. Pacing Issues
The middle section of the novel occasionally drags with repetitive interactions at the convention. While these scenes develop the relationship between Jennifer and Scott, they sometimes feel like variations on the same notes rather than progressive steps forward.
2. Convenient Conflict Resolution
The final conflict—Jennifer’s fear that her relationship with Scott is too perfect to be real—feels somewhat manufactured, and the resolution comes quickly without fully exploring the deeper issues at play. Given the thoughtful character development throughout, this rushed conclusion is a bit disappointing.
3. Underdeveloped Fantasy Elements
While the book references the Elytheum Courts series frequently, we get only glimpses of the actual content. A deeper exploration of the fictional series might have strengthened the parallel between Jennifer’s favorite stories and her own romantic journey.
Themes: More Than Just Romance
The novel thoughtfully explores several meaningful themes:
- The tension between fantasy and reality in relationships – Jennifer’s journey represents our collective struggle to reconcile what we dream of with what we can actually have.
- The power of stories – The book celebrates how fiction helps us process emotions, find community, and even envision better versions of ourselves.
- Vulnerability as strength – Both Jennifer and Scott must learn that protecting themselves from potential hurt also shields them from potential joy.
- Finding magic in the ordinary – Perhaps the most poignant message is that real-life love, with all its imperfections, can be more magical than any fantasy.
Writing Style: Accessible Yet Thoughtful
Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka’s prose strikes a nice balance between accessibility and depth. The first-person narration from Jennifer’s perspective is conversational and sprinkled with references that will delight bookish readers. Their dialogue sparkles, particularly in the banter between the main characters, which evolves naturally from antagonistic to flirtatious.
However, there are moments when the writing becomes repetitive, particularly in Jennifer’s internal monologues about fantasy versus reality. Some judicious editing could have tightened these sections without losing their emotional impact.
Comparable Titles and Reader Appeal
Fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers or Olivia Dade’s Spoiler Alert will find much to enjoy here. Both feature book-industry settings and meta-commentary on romance tropes while delivering satisfying love stories of their own.
Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka will particularly appeal to:
- Readers who identify as part of fandoms
- Lovers of enemies-to-lovers romances
- Anyone who’s ever been called “too romantic” or “unrealistic” about love
- Those who appreciate romance with meaningful character growth
Final Verdict: Fantasy Worth Visiting, Reality Worth Staying For
Book Boyfriend by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka isn’t perfect—it occasionally falls into repetitive patterns and rushes its conclusion—but its heart is unquestionably in the right place. Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka have crafted a story that celebrates the transformative power of fiction while reminding us that real love, though messier than fantasy, offers its own kind of magic.
Jennifer’s journey from fantasy escape to real connection will resonate with anyone who’s ever used fiction as both shield and compass. In the end, the novel suggests that perhaps the greatest fantasy isn’t finding a perfect fae warrior, but rather discovering someone who helps you find the magic in your everyday reality.
The book is a warm, thoughtful romance that, like its characters, doesn’t need to be perfect to be thoroughly worth your time.
“It’s all because of this place. This incredible experience you put together. Thank you.”
“I’m so glad,” she says, a little teary. “You give me hope.”
In that exchange lies the true power of Book Boyfriend—a reminder that stories, whether on the page or in our lives, give us the hope to risk our hearts on possibilities that might seem too fantastical to be real.