What do you think?
Rate this book
Boy Friends
Not yet published
Expected 21 May 26A cosy, contemporary queer romance perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Rainbow Rowell.
Luca has secretly been in love with his best friend Simo for as long as he can remember. But when an anonymous message on the town noticeboard announces that SIMO AND LUCA ARE IN LOVE, the two boys are forced to confront their true feelings for one another.
Luca has secretly been in love with his best friend Simo for as long as he can remember. But when an anonymous message on the town noticeboard announces that SIMO AND LUCA ARE IN LOVE, the two boys are forced to confront their true feelings for one another.
Paperback
Expected publication May 21, 2026
About the author
Kai Spellmeier
8 books14.7k followersKai Spellmeier studied Literature in Berlin and Edinburgh. He writes unapologetically queer books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 12, 2025
you’ll love this book if you like:
- sorrowful poets with good hair
- book-shopping as a form of therapy
- Gilmore Girls
- chocolate chip muffins
- boys helplessly in love
- complex family dynamics
you’ll hate this book if you dislike:
- dogs
- the sea
- slow burn romance
- Cate Blanchett or Josh O'Connor
- sorrowful poets with good hair
- book-shopping as a form of therapy
- Gilmore Girls
- chocolate chip muffins
- boys helplessly in love
- complex family dynamics
you’ll hate this book if you dislike:
- dogs
- the sea
- slow burn romance
- Cate Blanchett or Josh O'Connor
March 31, 2026
When you've been using Goodreads for a while, like I have, and reading YA stories, then you’ve probably come across one (or many) of Kai Spellmeier’s reviews. I know I did when I first started using the platform. I devoured his reviews and ended up adding so many of the books he’d read to my TBR—everything from Adam Silvera, Adib Khorram, and Shaun David Hutchinson to Zack Smedley and William Hussey. So when I saw that Kai had written his own book, Boy Friends, I was eager to read it.
I’ll admit, it took me a little while to get into the story. The ARC formatting didn’t work in my favor (those double sentences kept popping up), and the lack of a tense shift during the first flashbacks threw me off a bit. But the more I read, the more I got invested in Luca and Simo’s story. It’s clear that Kai is an avid reader, and it has the feels of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Heartstopper. The bones of Boy Friends are strong: there’s a wonderful relationship between Luca and his very young gay dad, Luca's secret love for Simo, the strained relationship between Simo and his parents, Simo grieving his older brother without talking about it, and the secret message on the notice board.
I did wish for a bit more consistency in some places (Luca never questioned why his dad took his mum’s last name, even though they never married?) and wanted to connect a little more with the side characters (where did Miss M. go for a long time??). I also would have loved spending a bit more time with the boys in certain scenes, rather than cutting them off so quickly. Even though the writing is really beautiful, the cut off scenes made the story sometimes a bit too fragmented for me.
Overall, though, Boy Friends is an adorable and wholesome story, and I loved Kai’s beautiful descriptions of that small coastal town. Those last chapters made me blink and blink until I couldn’t stop the tears. And that ending… I can’t wait to read the second book of this duology that comes out in 2027!
Actual rating somewhere between 3.5 and four stars, but of course rounded up to four.
Thank you Bloomsbury UK and NetGalley, for this great ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
I’ll admit, it took me a little while to get into the story. The ARC formatting didn’t work in my favor (those double sentences kept popping up), and the lack of a tense shift during the first flashbacks threw me off a bit. But the more I read, the more I got invested in Luca and Simo’s story. It’s clear that Kai is an avid reader, and it has the feels of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Heartstopper. The bones of Boy Friends are strong: there’s a wonderful relationship between Luca and his very young gay dad, Luca's secret love for Simo, the strained relationship between Simo and his parents, Simo grieving his older brother without talking about it, and the secret message on the notice board.
I did wish for a bit more consistency in some places (Luca never questioned why his dad took his mum’s last name, even though they never married?) and wanted to connect a little more with the side characters (where did Miss M. go for a long time??). I also would have loved spending a bit more time with the boys in certain scenes, rather than cutting them off so quickly. Even though the writing is really beautiful, the cut off scenes made the story sometimes a bit too fragmented for me.
Overall, though, Boy Friends is an adorable and wholesome story, and I loved Kai’s beautiful descriptions of that small coastal town. Those last chapters made me blink and blink until I couldn’t stop the tears. And that ending… I can’t wait to read the second book of this duology that comes out in 2027!
Actual rating somewhere between 3.5 and four stars, but of course rounded up to four.
Thank you Bloomsbury UK and NetGalley, for this great ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
2026-new-releases
November 5, 2025close enough, welcome back simon vs. the homo sapiens agenda
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you love Heartstopper… *gestures vaguely*
The romance was a bit meh for me to be honest. I actually enjoyed Luca and Simo’s separate storylines more but it was a super easy read overall.
Luca’s father was my favourite character and I aim to achieve as much sass as that man has in my own life.
The ending had a slight cliffhanger… not sure if that means a book 2 or?
I received an advanced copy for free through the publisher (Bloomsbury) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The romance was a bit meh for me to be honest. I actually enjoyed Luca and Simo’s separate storylines more but it was a super easy read overall.
Luca’s father was my favourite character and I aim to achieve as much sass as that man has in my own life.
The ending had a slight cliffhanger… not sure if that means a book 2 or?
I received an advanced copy for free through the publisher (Bloomsbury) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 3, 2026
I was really curious about this book. I love reading queer YA romances as they're always so heartwarming and this book seemed right up my alley.
But as I was reading the book, my disappointment grew with every chapter. Luca and Simo are both dealing with their own issues. Luca when he realises his father has been lying to him all his life and Simo with his parents' thoughts on sexuality. After a very public message about how they would be in love with each other on top of being friends, they have to face their feelings and deal with the opinions of the town.
All of this sounds like a good base for the story. But it all just kinda stays surface level. Especially Simo's struggles with accepting his sexuality and what he thinks his parents will think of it feel like they disappear within seconds. He behaved like there had never been any doubts or struggles at all and besides one short conversation, we don't get much more from his parents. The drama with Luca's family also doesn't really go anywhere. There's another big reveal but as it's literally the last sentence of the book, it feels like it's there for shock value instead of to add anything to the story.
Their relationship was cute but I would've loved to see more of their friendship throughout the years. For two people who are supposed to be attached to the hip, there were so many things they had never even talked about which made their friendship hard to belief.
I do think the book had potential but we either needed less side plots or more pages to focus on actually developing the plots to make the book work,
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review.
But as I was reading the book, my disappointment grew with every chapter. Luca and Simo are both dealing with their own issues. Luca when he realises his father has been lying to him all his life and Simo with his parents' thoughts on sexuality. After a very public message about how they would be in love with each other on top of being friends, they have to face their feelings and deal with the opinions of the town.
All of this sounds like a good base for the story. But it all just kinda stays surface level. Especially Simo's struggles with accepting his sexuality and what he thinks his parents will think of it feel like they disappear within seconds. He behaved like there had never been any doubts or struggles at all and besides one short conversation, we don't get much more from his parents. The drama with Luca's family also doesn't really go anywhere. There's another big reveal but as it's literally the last sentence of the book, it feels like it's there for shock value instead of to add anything to the story.
Their relationship was cute but I would've loved to see more of their friendship throughout the years. For two people who are supposed to be attached to the hip, there were so many things they had never even talked about which made their friendship hard to belief.
I do think the book had potential but we either needed less side plots or more pages to focus on actually developing the plots to make the book work,
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beautiful!
There was no doubt that a book written by Kai would be soulful, cozy and full of beautiful scenes!
Luca and Simo's story has a Heartstopper and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda vibe - boys having their first crush, coming to terms with themselves and navigating their fears, their friendship and the curveballs of teenage life while struggling with their feelings.
The small town setting is wonderfully done, it feels like a gateway to the past sometimes, with the "everyone knows everyone" Lombard society, the small island where the boys escape to be with their thoughts, the one cafe and one restaurant in the whole town.
Complicated families is another theme, with one twist after the other. I particularly loved Luca's interactions with his father, they are very honest and hilarious.
It's a book full of heart with a dual POV of two boys who hopelessly love each other and you can see it in every interaction!
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC!
There was no doubt that a book written by Kai would be soulful, cozy and full of beautiful scenes!
Luca and Simo's story has a Heartstopper and Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda vibe - boys having their first crush, coming to terms with themselves and navigating their fears, their friendship and the curveballs of teenage life while struggling with their feelings.
The small town setting is wonderfully done, it feels like a gateway to the past sometimes, with the "everyone knows everyone" Lombard society, the small island where the boys escape to be with their thoughts, the one cafe and one restaurant in the whole town.
Complicated families is another theme, with one twist after the other. I particularly loved Luca's interactions with his father, they are very honest and hilarious.
It's a book full of heart with a dual POV of two boys who hopelessly love each other and you can see it in every interaction!
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
★ thanks to netgalley for providing me an arc of this, in exchange for an honest review! ★
This book follows 10 year long best friends Luca and Simo. Luca has been secretly in love with Simo for as long as he can remember, but he’s convinced the feeling isn’t mutual… until one day, an anonymous post on their town message board claims that Luca and Simo are in love. From there, everything unravels. The story follows the emotional fallout as both boys are forced to confront feelings they’ve been avoiding.
Read if you like:
➛ best friends to lovers
➛ slow burn
➛ sexuality/self-discovery
➛ complex family relationships
➛ small town vibes
➛ first loves
Now onto my thoughts.
I need to be honest: this book frustrated me. A lot.
I was hooked at the start. The premise is strong, the story feels full of heart, and I was especially drawn to Simo. He has this quiet, melancholy depth, and there are hints of internalised homophobia that make his character feel layered and real. He was easily the standout for me, as I tend to connect with characters like that, and I thought he had a lot of potential, (we'll get to him later)
I also quite liked the setting of Lombard, it was charming. The small-town atmosphere felt warm and accepting in a way that was comforting to read. There were definitely moments of sweetness throughout.
Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill from there.
I didn’t hate this book, but I also don’t think it was particularly good. The biggest issue for me was the writing, I don't know if it was because I had an arc copy so I don't know if that played a part but this felt like more of a formatting issue, The story at it's core felt fragmented and disjointed, like I was missing key pieces of the story. I even checked if this was the author’s debut because it reads like one and was surprised to see he has written multiple books in the past. And then another issue I had was that the writing was constantly laid back, and included modern references but then the author would just chuck in some random metaphor that didn't work and was extremely jarring.
Another major problem was the lack of emotional buildup, it just isn’t there. Simo’s arc, which should have been the heart of the story, resolves far too quickly and without the depth it needed. It goes from tension to acceptance so abruptly that it didn’t feel believable, especially given how his character was set up. Like WHY does Simo suddenly feel like it's okay to love Luca, Where is the self-reflection? Where is the struggle? I genuinely couldn’t tell you.
And that’s what makes this so frustrating.
Because the potential was right there. The setup promised something meaningful, but the execution didn’t follow through. It felt like big emotional moments were skipped over, like I was missing crucial pieces of the story. I kept waiting for it to slow down and really dig into the characters, but it never did. I am not sure if I am conveying this properly.
But for example, I didn't feel like there was enough set up in the beginning. If I don't know your before, why should I care about you after? Luca has supposedly been in love with Simo for 10 years, but it never feels like that. It’s told to us, sure- but it doesn’t come through strongly enough in his character or actions. I get that Luca has other things going on in his life, but his feelings for Simo should have felt more central, more ingrained in who he is.
And the ending… yeah, that didn’t work for me either. It felt underdeveloped and lacked proper foreshadowing.
Overall, I’d give this 2.5 stars. I can see this working for readers who are newer to queer romance or just romance in general, but for me, it just wasn’t fleshed out enough to fully invest in. I probably won’t be continuing with the sequel.
This book follows 10 year long best friends Luca and Simo. Luca has been secretly in love with Simo for as long as he can remember, but he’s convinced the feeling isn’t mutual… until one day, an anonymous post on their town message board claims that Luca and Simo are in love. From there, everything unravels. The story follows the emotional fallout as both boys are forced to confront feelings they’ve been avoiding.
Read if you like:
➛ best friends to lovers
➛ slow burn
➛ sexuality/self-discovery
➛ complex family relationships
➛ small town vibes
➛ first loves
Now onto my thoughts.
I need to be honest: this book frustrated me. A lot.
I was hooked at the start. The premise is strong, the story feels full of heart, and I was especially drawn to Simo. He has this quiet, melancholy depth, and there are hints of internalised homophobia that make his character feel layered and real. He was easily the standout for me, as I tend to connect with characters like that, and I thought he had a lot of potential, (we'll get to him later)
I also quite liked the setting of Lombard, it was charming. The small-town atmosphere felt warm and accepting in a way that was comforting to read. There were definitely moments of sweetness throughout.
Unfortunately, it kind of went downhill from there.
I didn’t hate this book, but I also don’t think it was particularly good. The biggest issue for me was the writing, I don't know if it was because I had an arc copy so I don't know if that played a part but this felt like more of a formatting issue, The story at it's core felt fragmented and disjointed, like I was missing key pieces of the story. I even checked if this was the author’s debut because it reads like one and was surprised to see he has written multiple books in the past. And then another issue I had was that the writing was constantly laid back, and included modern references but then the author would just chuck in some random metaphor that didn't work and was extremely jarring.
Another major problem was the lack of emotional buildup, it just isn’t there. Simo’s arc, which should have been the heart of the story, resolves far too quickly and without the depth it needed. It goes from tension to acceptance so abruptly that it didn’t feel believable, especially given how his character was set up. Like WHY does Simo suddenly feel like it's okay to love Luca, Where is the self-reflection? Where is the struggle? I genuinely couldn’t tell you.
And that’s what makes this so frustrating.
Because the potential was right there. The setup promised something meaningful, but the execution didn’t follow through. It felt like big emotional moments were skipped over, like I was missing crucial pieces of the story. I kept waiting for it to slow down and really dig into the characters, but it never did. I am not sure if I am conveying this properly.
But for example, I didn't feel like there was enough set up in the beginning. If I don't know your before, why should I care about you after? Luca has supposedly been in love with Simo for 10 years, but it never feels like that. It’s told to us, sure- but it doesn’t come through strongly enough in his character or actions. I get that Luca has other things going on in his life, but his feelings for Simo should have felt more central, more ingrained in who he is.
And the ending… yeah, that didn’t work for me either. It felt underdeveloped and lacked proper foreshadowing.
Overall, I’d give this 2.5 stars. I can see this working for readers who are newer to queer romance or just romance in general, but for me, it just wasn’t fleshed out enough to fully invest in. I probably won’t be continuing with the sequel.
March 7, 2026
I need to be honest. Kai is my friend. So, I was planning on writing a great review either way because.. that’s what friends do. I had no clue if the book will be any good and I was kinda scared of figuring out what to say if I didn’t like it or thought it was just mediocre.
So, I’m quite frankly shocked I inhaled it in almost one sitting. I had no idea I was even able to do that anymore, being a mom to a baby.
I think what I love most about this book, is that it was… easy. It doesn’t weigh on you, maybe the opposite. I think it feeds you, in a way. Books sometimes try too hard to make you go somewhere, feel whatever it is they want you to experience. This book had this quiet quality that allowed you to exist alongside it. You feel for the characters, but they don’t try to push you out of yourself.
It was warm and comforting, honest, and idunno, just full of love. It spilled out of it, waves and waves of emotion. And I’m not just talking about romantic love, but love in general. For books, for the value of history, for the meaning of family, for the strength and complexities of a community. For love, love for love. Maybe respect for it, too.
It wasn’t without its flaws, the book. But it didn’t matter much, even while I was seeing them.
I’m not one for straightforward reviews so that’s what you’re gonna get from me:
I, as honestly as I can, am giving this beautiful bool 5 fluffy stars.
So, I’m quite frankly shocked I inhaled it in almost one sitting. I had no idea I was even able to do that anymore, being a mom to a baby.
I think what I love most about this book, is that it was… easy. It doesn’t weigh on you, maybe the opposite. I think it feeds you, in a way. Books sometimes try too hard to make you go somewhere, feel whatever it is they want you to experience. This book had this quiet quality that allowed you to exist alongside it. You feel for the characters, but they don’t try to push you out of yourself.
It was warm and comforting, honest, and idunno, just full of love. It spilled out of it, waves and waves of emotion. And I’m not just talking about romantic love, but love in general. For books, for the value of history, for the meaning of family, for the strength and complexities of a community. For love, love for love. Maybe respect for it, too.
It wasn’t without its flaws, the book. But it didn’t matter much, even while I was seeing them.
I’m not one for straightforward reviews so that’s what you’re gonna get from me:
I, as honestly as I can, am giving this beautiful bool 5 fluffy stars.
February 7, 2026
4.5/5 stars
Boy Friends is a beautiful story about two boys as they figure out how to go from friends to boyfriends.
At it’s heart, this is a small town romance that focuses on love yet it is unafraid to delve into deeper topics such as grief, sexuality, and complicated family struggles.
Kai Spellmeier has wonderful prose which is especially shown in his delightful descriptions of the small town our story is set in, and more importantly shown in his writings on love. He describes love in many different ways, from the experiences of queer love, to the love of a parent to a child, and even the love we’re too scared to admit we harbour.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did!! However, as I began to read through the book, I became enraptured by this story, and truly didn't want to put it down. The main characters were so lovable, and incredibly relatable. They were written very well, and fully fleshed out.
I really enjoyed how Spellmeier explored grief, especially through a younger person’s lens. I haven’t read many novels that explore grief in this way so it felt very refreshing! Truthfully, I didn’t expect this book to make me cry but it did and honestly? Not mad at it all.
Additionally, there was a strained family dynamic for both Luca and Simo which we get to explore in different ways. Luca's family dynamic in particular was especially fleshed out in a way that really hooked me into the story. I don’t want to say too much about this particular theme as I truly don’t want to spoil anything but I felt it was very well done.
The romantic elements were really strong as well! I thought the love that grew between the two characters was so cute and really adorable. The further I got through this book, the more the smile grew on my face!!
Overall, this novel was such a fantastic read! It was unapologetically YA, unapologetically queer and 100% a story that deserves all the praise!! The characters, setting and important themes paired with the author's prose made for an excellent read! I truly believe that this book is perfect for anyone of all ages and I can’t wait for more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury UK for this ARC.
Boy Friends is a beautiful story about two boys as they figure out how to go from friends to boyfriends.
At it’s heart, this is a small town romance that focuses on love yet it is unafraid to delve into deeper topics such as grief, sexuality, and complicated family struggles.
Kai Spellmeier has wonderful prose which is especially shown in his delightful descriptions of the small town our story is set in, and more importantly shown in his writings on love. He describes love in many different ways, from the experiences of queer love, to the love of a parent to a child, and even the love we’re too scared to admit we harbour.
I didn’t expect to enjoy this book as much as I did!! However, as I began to read through the book, I became enraptured by this story, and truly didn't want to put it down. The main characters were so lovable, and incredibly relatable. They were written very well, and fully fleshed out.
I really enjoyed how Spellmeier explored grief, especially through a younger person’s lens. I haven’t read many novels that explore grief in this way so it felt very refreshing! Truthfully, I didn’t expect this book to make me cry but it did and honestly? Not mad at it all.
Additionally, there was a strained family dynamic for both Luca and Simo which we get to explore in different ways. Luca's family dynamic in particular was especially fleshed out in a way that really hooked me into the story. I don’t want to say too much about this particular theme as I truly don’t want to spoil anything but I felt it was very well done.
The romantic elements were really strong as well! I thought the love that grew between the two characters was so cute and really adorable. The further I got through this book, the more the smile grew on my face!!
Overall, this novel was such a fantastic read! It was unapologetically YA, unapologetically queer and 100% a story that deserves all the praise!! The characters, setting and important themes paired with the author's prose made for an excellent read! I truly believe that this book is perfect for anyone of all ages and I can’t wait for more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury UK for this ARC.
February 7, 2026
THATS ENDING?!?! HELLO?!?!!?
January 6, 2026
This book was sweet, wonderful, and an amazing spring/summer read, which is why its release date is perfect :). The vibes were Gilmore Girls meets Heartstopper, and, honestly, what more could you ask for? I immediately fell in love with Simo and Luca and their beautiful friendship and budding romance, since I've always been down bad for a well-executed friends-to-lovers trope and this book did it perfectly. Kai Spellmeier's writing is incredibly atmospheric and has gorgeous descriptions that truly transport you into the town of the book. I was so shocked by the epilogue ending until I read some other reviews and realised it's supposed to be the first book in a duology, so I absolutely can't wait until the next one comes out!! This is a perfect comfort read to devour while lying on a picnic blanket in a park or on a beach during a sunny day :).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well I have alot to say about this book, it being my 1st ARC copy and all.
It might've taken me a few weeks to read but I've enjoyed every page. The slow burn of the MMCs is well written and the way they are fighting feelings that they each hold is fun. I liked how it was nearer the end of the book the boys relationship starts to change and with a few snags thrown in the path they still find eachother. I would love to see more about Lucas parents as its clear they are definitely hiding things, but from what I can guess only for love.
Luca and Simo are cute characters and different in many ways and the added side characters including Lucas dad being so supportive when they can't admit it to eachother. I found myself wanting to read more.
This is the 1st book I've read by this author and I can confirm I'll be reading more, the chapters were nicely laid out and short enough for my dyslexic brain to stay focused.
Though I have to say the cliff hanger ending is CRIMINAL!
It might've taken me a few weeks to read but I've enjoyed every page. The slow burn of the MMCs is well written and the way they are fighting feelings that they each hold is fun. I liked how it was nearer the end of the book the boys relationship starts to change and with a few snags thrown in the path they still find eachother. I would love to see more about Lucas parents as its clear they are definitely hiding things, but from what I can guess only for love.
Luca and Simo are cute characters and different in many ways and the added side characters including Lucas dad being so supportive when they can't admit it to eachother. I found myself wanting to read more.
This is the 1st book I've read by this author and I can confirm I'll be reading more, the chapters were nicely laid out and short enough for my dyslexic brain to stay focused.
Though I have to say the cliff hanger ending is CRIMINAL!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First things first: thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for the ARC of Boy Friends. I’m genuinely so grateful I got to read this early, because this book stayed with me in a way YA rarely does anymore.
If you’ve been on Goodreads long enough — like I have — you probably already knew Kai Spellmeier before you knew Boy Friends. His reviews were everywhere when I first started seriously reading YA, and I trusted his taste completely. My TBR owes him a personal debt thanks to authors like Adam Silvera. So when I found out he’d written his own book, this was an instant yes.
You’ll love this book if you enjoy sorrowful poets with good hair, book-shopping as a form of therapy, Gilmore Girls energy, chocolate chip muffins, boys helplessly in love, and complex, slightly messy family dynamics. You’ll hate it if you dislike dogs, the sea, slow-burn romance, or Cate Blanchett or Josh O’Connor — which, frankly, would be alarming.
I’ll be honest: it did take me a little while to fully settle into the story. The ARC formatting didn’t do it many favours, and the early flashbacks threw me slightly. But once I found my footing — once I really met Luca and Simo — I was completely invested.
The bones of this story are incredibly strong. Luca’s relationship with his young, gay dad is tender and refreshing. Luca’s quiet, aching love for Simo feels painfully real. Simo’s strained relationship with his parents, his unspoken grief over his older brother, and the weight of everything he doesn’t say are all handled with so much care. The secret message board is such a simple idea, but it adds an emotional pull that really works.
This is a book that lets feelings breathe. It allows longing to sit in the silence. It allows grief to exist without being rushed or neatly tied up. The small coastal town is described so beautifully that you can almost smell the sea air, and Kai’s love of books is woven into every page. There are echoes of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Heartstopper, but Boy Friends has its own voice — quieter, sadder, and more poetic.
I did wish for a little more consistency in places and more time with some of the side characters, and there were moments I wanted to stay in scenes longer instead of being pulled away. Occasionally, the story felt slightly fragmented. That said, these are small things in a book that is clearly written with so much heart.
The final chapters absolutely wrecked me. Proper blinking-back-tears, sit-in-silence-afterwards kind of wrecked. And that ending? I already know I’ll be counting down the days until book two, even if 2027 feels cruelly far away.
Boy Friends is a gentle, emotional, beautifully written small-town romance that doesn’t shy away from grief, trauma, or complicated love. It’s soft without being weak, sad without being hopeless, and romantic in a way that feels earned.
Five stars, without hesitation.
If you’ve been on Goodreads long enough — like I have — you probably already knew Kai Spellmeier before you knew Boy Friends. His reviews were everywhere when I first started seriously reading YA, and I trusted his taste completely. My TBR owes him a personal debt thanks to authors like Adam Silvera. So when I found out he’d written his own book, this was an instant yes.
You’ll love this book if you enjoy sorrowful poets with good hair, book-shopping as a form of therapy, Gilmore Girls energy, chocolate chip muffins, boys helplessly in love, and complex, slightly messy family dynamics. You’ll hate it if you dislike dogs, the sea, slow-burn romance, or Cate Blanchett or Josh O’Connor — which, frankly, would be alarming.
I’ll be honest: it did take me a little while to fully settle into the story. The ARC formatting didn’t do it many favours, and the early flashbacks threw me slightly. But once I found my footing — once I really met Luca and Simo — I was completely invested.
The bones of this story are incredibly strong. Luca’s relationship with his young, gay dad is tender and refreshing. Luca’s quiet, aching love for Simo feels painfully real. Simo’s strained relationship with his parents, his unspoken grief over his older brother, and the weight of everything he doesn’t say are all handled with so much care. The secret message board is such a simple idea, but it adds an emotional pull that really works.
This is a book that lets feelings breathe. It allows longing to sit in the silence. It allows grief to exist without being rushed or neatly tied up. The small coastal town is described so beautifully that you can almost smell the sea air, and Kai’s love of books is woven into every page. There are echoes of Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Heartstopper, but Boy Friends has its own voice — quieter, sadder, and more poetic.
I did wish for a little more consistency in places and more time with some of the side characters, and there were moments I wanted to stay in scenes longer instead of being pulled away. Occasionally, the story felt slightly fragmented. That said, these are small things in a book that is clearly written with so much heart.
The final chapters absolutely wrecked me. Proper blinking-back-tears, sit-in-silence-afterwards kind of wrecked. And that ending? I already know I’ll be counting down the days until book two, even if 2027 feels cruelly far away.
Boy Friends is a gentle, emotional, beautifully written small-town romance that doesn’t shy away from grief, trauma, or complicated love. It’s soft without being weak, sad without being hopeless, and romantic in a way that feels earned.
Five stars, without hesitation.
March 23, 2026
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for giving me an E-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating 4.25⭐️
Boy Friends was honestly so cute. It was so emotional. This is a very character driven story about two friends Simo and Luca who have been best friends forever. but Luca has had a secret crush on Simo. Then someone in their small town posts on the notice board that Simo and Luca are in love, and this starts a whole tornado of things for these two best friends.
You really get to dive into them and their emotions, and them re-examining just how much they mean to each other are they more then just friends? Will this ruin their friendship or will it bring them even closer together than they’ve ever been before?
Their connection was definitely the heart of the story. They really felt like each other’s person and that emotional closeness carried a lot of the book for me. You also get some family drama with both of them and their different family dynamics. Luca finds out some pretty massive family secrets that have been hidden for 17 years and you get to watch him navigate that shock. He’s a character who’s lived a very sheltered life in this small town with amazing supportive parents so realizing his world isn’t quite what he thought it was while trying to figure stuff out with his best friend hits hard.
Then we have Simo who is also going through a lot of family drama but in a very different way. His family is not nearly as open and you see how they don’t have the best coping mechanisms for dealing with big situations.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars is that the plot itself is pretty light. It leans much more on characters and their emotions which could make it feel slow at points. There were also a few moments where I struggled with certain character choices. That said, I still really enjoyed this read and highly recommend you check it out when it drops. The writing made the emotions feel incredibly genuine and I found myself completely invested in these characters.
Rating 4.25⭐️
Boy Friends was honestly so cute. It was so emotional. This is a very character driven story about two friends Simo and Luca who have been best friends forever. but Luca has had a secret crush on Simo. Then someone in their small town posts on the notice board that Simo and Luca are in love, and this starts a whole tornado of things for these two best friends.
You really get to dive into them and their emotions, and them re-examining just how much they mean to each other are they more then just friends? Will this ruin their friendship or will it bring them even closer together than they’ve ever been before?
Their connection was definitely the heart of the story. They really felt like each other’s person and that emotional closeness carried a lot of the book for me. You also get some family drama with both of them and their different family dynamics. Luca finds out some pretty massive family secrets that have been hidden for 17 years and you get to watch him navigate that shock. He’s a character who’s lived a very sheltered life in this small town with amazing supportive parents so realizing his world isn’t quite what he thought it was while trying to figure stuff out with his best friend hits hard.
Then we have Simo who is also going through a lot of family drama but in a very different way. His family is not nearly as open and you see how they don’t have the best coping mechanisms for dealing with big situations.
The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars is that the plot itself is pretty light. It leans much more on characters and their emotions which could make it feel slow at points. There were also a few moments where I struggled with certain character choices. That said, I still really enjoyed this read and highly recommend you check it out when it drops. The writing made the emotions feel incredibly genuine and I found myself completely invested in these characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Boyfriends by @kaispellmeier
3.75/5 stars 🌟
This book was an amazing little read and was definitely an easy reader! I really enjoyed the storyline and the relationship between our main characters Luca and Simo.
We really got an in depth look into their family dynamics and more which really helped build out their personalities and reasons for how they grew up.
The concept of a small village/island off the beach was fantastic for the storyline as it made the close knit gossipers feel realistic as a small town would know everyone and talk and spread rumours.
Here we have Luca an openly gay man who fancies his best friend Simo but has never openly confessed incase it was to damage their best friend relationship, but even tho they’re best friends they don’t seem to talk about things as normal best friends would for example relationships and sexuality.
His father Maz is also an openly gay man /‘d very accepting and open in his parenting techniques and his mother poppy isn’t really in the picture as much as she’s following dreams of helping animals far off.
Simo’s relationship with his parents is awkward and very distinct due to death in the family. Simo also has some mixed feelings in regard to Luca but this is explained nicely in the book.
We have an unexpected family appearance for Luca, lots of poking into Luca and Simo’s relationship by the town and friends and honestly so much more happens so you’re just gonna have to buy the book when it comes out on May 21st 2026!
Thanks @bloomsburypublishing and @kaispellmeier again and hope you enjoy the book x
3.75/5 stars 🌟
This book was an amazing little read and was definitely an easy reader! I really enjoyed the storyline and the relationship between our main characters Luca and Simo.
We really got an in depth look into their family dynamics and more which really helped build out their personalities and reasons for how they grew up.
The concept of a small village/island off the beach was fantastic for the storyline as it made the close knit gossipers feel realistic as a small town would know everyone and talk and spread rumours.
Here we have Luca an openly gay man who fancies his best friend Simo but has never openly confessed incase it was to damage their best friend relationship, but even tho they’re best friends they don’t seem to talk about things as normal best friends would for example relationships and sexuality.
His father Maz is also an openly gay man /‘d very accepting and open in his parenting techniques and his mother poppy isn’t really in the picture as much as she’s following dreams of helping animals far off.
Simo’s relationship with his parents is awkward and very distinct due to death in the family. Simo also has some mixed feelings in regard to Luca but this is explained nicely in the book.
We have an unexpected family appearance for Luca, lots of poking into Luca and Simo’s relationship by the town and friends and honestly so much more happens so you’re just gonna have to buy the book when it comes out on May 21st 2026!
Thanks @bloomsburypublishing and @kaispellmeier again and hope you enjoy the book x
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dipping your toes back into YA after a long hiatus? Then this is the book for you. Beach town vibes, childhood friends, Gilmore Girl-esque storyline banter, angsty poetry writing boys... You'll blow through this within an afternoon and you'll have a jolly good time.
BUT! To allow a bit of criticism (because I love Kai's reviews and I respect him too much not to be truthful in both my glowing and my constructive review), I did find it hard sometimes to tell the two POV's apart. While Luca and Simo had different personalities, I often caught myself wondering whose narrative I was reading. Sure, after knowing each other for so many years, people tend to sound similar (I, for one, am always picking up my friends quirks, even their idiosyncrasies), but a more distinctive voice in each of their POVs could have raised this book to a five-star. For me, at least.
(There's also a mini dachshund and dog dad recognizes dog dad because c'mon, once you have a sausage dog, you are indeed legally obligated to include a sausage dog in all your books. Looking at myself. Looking at you, Kai.)
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC - looking forward to reading more from you, Kai Spellmeier. (Preferably in English, because my German suuuucks.)
BUT! To allow a bit of criticism (because I love Kai's reviews and I respect him too much not to be truthful in both my glowing and my constructive review), I did find it hard sometimes to tell the two POV's apart. While Luca and Simo had different personalities, I often caught myself wondering whose narrative I was reading. Sure, after knowing each other for so many years, people tend to sound similar (I, for one, am always picking up my friends quirks, even their idiosyncrasies), but a more distinctive voice in each of their POVs could have raised this book to a five-star. For me, at least.
(There's also a mini dachshund and dog dad recognizes dog dad because c'mon, once you have a sausage dog, you are indeed legally obligated to include a sausage dog in all your books. Looking at myself. Looking at you, Kai.)
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC - looking forward to reading more from you, Kai Spellmeier. (Preferably in English, because my German suuuucks.)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5
Honestly I was underwhelmed with this one for a few reasons.
The dialogue was so stilted and at times I just couldn't figure out who was actually speaking.
I wasn't really emotionally connected to the characters either. It kind of felt like being held at a distance and only seeing what the characters wanted you to see? Not sure, but the writing style just didn't work for me.
The story itself was cute but it didn't grab my attention and I can't say I'm keen to read more about these characters either. There was no depth, plot points got forgotten or resolved without any real reason why, it just felt disjointed and super unfinished.
Finally, the actual ARC itself was so badly formatted that it kept throwing me off and it was really hard to stay in the story. I read 100+ ARCs a year so I'm familiar with books that maybe aren't 100% finished, and I'm used to some typos or gaps, but this was so unorganised that it was impossible to overlook! There were repeated sentences, random half sentences, zeros appearing at random... If any editing at all had been done maybe it would have been a better reading experience
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley/Bloomsbury, and this is my honest review
Honestly I was underwhelmed with this one for a few reasons.
The dialogue was so stilted and at times I just couldn't figure out who was actually speaking.
I wasn't really emotionally connected to the characters either. It kind of felt like being held at a distance and only seeing what the characters wanted you to see? Not sure, but the writing style just didn't work for me.
The story itself was cute but it didn't grab my attention and I can't say I'm keen to read more about these characters either. There was no depth, plot points got forgotten or resolved without any real reason why, it just felt disjointed and super unfinished.
Finally, the actual ARC itself was so badly formatted that it kept throwing me off and it was really hard to stay in the story. I read 100+ ARCs a year so I'm familiar with books that maybe aren't 100% finished, and I'm used to some typos or gaps, but this was so unorganised that it was impossible to overlook! There were repeated sentences, random half sentences, zeros appearing at random... If any editing at all had been done maybe it would have been a better reading experience
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley/Bloomsbury, and this is my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Adored the book!
In Boy Friends, Kay Spellmeier artfully maintains a sense of coziness for the reader while at the same time compellingly writing about the difficult and layered feelings experienced by Luca and Simo.
With a delightful small-coastal-town backdrop featuring a crowd that is just the right amount of nosy - in an interested-in-your-personal-business-especially-if-it-involves-romance kind of way, it is the perfect setting for this story.
Both Luca and Simo’s voices ring true. As a reader, I couldn’t help but fall for both of them. The writing is super atmospheric - but the best part about the writing was how I could sense the reassurance and love behind the writing and behind the story. Kay Spellmeier has done an amazing job in this!
Overall, recommended!
4.5 / 5 stars.
And on a different note,
O my goodness that ending though — !!!
When I started reading this book, I hadn’t expected that there would be a cliffhanger on the last page.
Can only hope this means we haven’t heard the end of Luca and Simo’s stories yet ;).
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for providing me with the ARC ♥.
In Boy Friends, Kay Spellmeier artfully maintains a sense of coziness for the reader while at the same time compellingly writing about the difficult and layered feelings experienced by Luca and Simo.
With a delightful small-coastal-town backdrop featuring a crowd that is just the right amount of nosy - in an interested-in-your-personal-business-especially-if-it-involves-romance kind of way, it is the perfect setting for this story.
Both Luca and Simo’s voices ring true. As a reader, I couldn’t help but fall for both of them. The writing is super atmospheric - but the best part about the writing was how I could sense the reassurance and love behind the writing and behind the story. Kay Spellmeier has done an amazing job in this!
Overall, recommended!
4.5 / 5 stars.
And on a different note,
O my goodness that ending though — !!!
When I started reading this book, I hadn’t expected that there would be a cliffhanger on the last page.
Can only hope this means we haven’t heard the end of Luca and Simo’s stories yet ;).
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for providing me with the ARC ♥.
Review of advance copy
I’m going to start by saying that I am absolutely livid that I’m going to have to wait so long for a sequel to THAT cliffhanger as this book doesn’t officially publish until May!
This book was so good I have finally been compelled to create a good reads account. Boyfriends was sweet, charming, witty and unexpectedly complex in the themes it tackled, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day and a half!
The writing was beautifully poetic without being inaccessible and dealt with some difficult subject matter with nuance and grace, keeping this book firmly suitable for a YA audience.
As an adult reader I enjoyed every moment of cosy comfort, falling in love with the whole cast of characters and the seaside town of Lombard. What started off as a simple and sweet friends to lovers romance kept me on my toes throughout with further revelations about the two boys and the residents of the town, I actually gasped at several plot points I never saw coming.
I am only disappointed to have finished this book so quickly and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I hope this book gets all the praise and attention it deserves, it is absolutely beautiful.
This book was so good I have finally been compelled to create a good reads account. Boyfriends was sweet, charming, witty and unexpectedly complex in the themes it tackled, I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a day and a half!
The writing was beautifully poetic without being inaccessible and dealt with some difficult subject matter with nuance and grace, keeping this book firmly suitable for a YA audience.
As an adult reader I enjoyed every moment of cosy comfort, falling in love with the whole cast of characters and the seaside town of Lombard. What started off as a simple and sweet friends to lovers romance kept me on my toes throughout with further revelations about the two boys and the residents of the town, I actually gasped at several plot points I never saw coming.
I am only disappointed to have finished this book so quickly and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I hope this book gets all the praise and attention it deserves, it is absolutely beautiful.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Boy Friends is a cosy queer love story about two best friends who've known each other since they were 7. Luca is secretly in love with this best friend, Simo and the book follows their journey of finding each other in an idyllic fictional town called Lombard, that somehow reminds me a bit of Brighton.
There's a certain poetic style in Spellemeier's writing, which made me enjoy Simo's chapters more, as he delves into his interests in literature and poetry. As for Luca's side of the story, I particularly enjoyed his relationship with his gay father throughout the book, especially with some elements that drew a bit of tension in their dynamics.
Their story reminds me of quiet moments between loved ones, falling in love for the first time, small and familiar comforts and finding someone to call home. An adorable coming-of-age story that touches on friendship, sexuality, grief and love, Boy Friends is reminiscent of your faves such as Heartstopper and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I definitely look forward to reading the sequel with that cliffhanger of an ending!
eARC courtesy of Bloomsbury on NetGalley
There's a certain poetic style in Spellemeier's writing, which made me enjoy Simo's chapters more, as he delves into his interests in literature and poetry. As for Luca's side of the story, I particularly enjoyed his relationship with his gay father throughout the book, especially with some elements that drew a bit of tension in their dynamics.
Their story reminds me of quiet moments between loved ones, falling in love for the first time, small and familiar comforts and finding someone to call home. An adorable coming-of-age story that touches on friendship, sexuality, grief and love, Boy Friends is reminiscent of your faves such as Heartstopper and Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda. I definitely look forward to reading the sequel with that cliffhanger of an ending!
eARC courtesy of Bloomsbury on NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book follows Luca and Simo, two best friends who become the subject of small-town gossip when an anonymous message on the noticeboard claims they’re in love.
Luca is an out gay teen, who has kept his long-time crush on his best friend a secret. But he hasn’t hidden it quite as well as he thought, and Simo begins to question the nature of their relationship and what his true feelings for Luca may be.
This was a sweet read. I liked the setting and the cast of side characters, particularly Luca's dad, Maz, and their new friend Jacob. I liked how comfortable the two main characters were with each other and watching their relationship progress. What I missed was a bitmore yearning,
We’re told that Luca has loved Simo for a long time, but aside from a few lingering looks, I didn’t fully feel it.. They made a cute pair, but there wasn’t quite enough angst there for me, so the eventual development of the relationship didn’t hit as hard as it could have.
If you’re looking for a low-stress, charming read with Heartstopper vibes, then this may be the book for you. I’ll definitely recommend it to my students who like this genre, I just wanted a bit more.
Luca is an out gay teen, who has kept his long-time crush on his best friend a secret. But he hasn’t hidden it quite as well as he thought, and Simo begins to question the nature of their relationship and what his true feelings for Luca may be.
This was a sweet read. I liked the setting and the cast of side characters, particularly Luca's dad, Maz, and their new friend Jacob. I liked how comfortable the two main characters were with each other and watching their relationship progress. What I missed was a bitmore yearning,
We’re told that Luca has loved Simo for a long time, but aside from a few lingering looks, I didn’t fully feel it.. They made a cute pair, but there wasn’t quite enough angst there for me, so the eventual development of the relationship didn’t hit as hard as it could have.
If you’re looking for a low-stress, charming read with Heartstopper vibes, then this may be the book for you. I’ll definitely recommend it to my students who like this genre, I just wanted a bit more.
April 2, 2026
Simo and Luca have a good friends to lovers romance story, with plenty of the book spent processing sexuality for the first time for Simo as he works out what he really feels for Luca. The noticeboard is a nice writing tool used to explore the dynamics of the town and the older lady who lives upstairs lends some extra character to the story. The reveal late on of who out Simo and Luca on the noticeboard and who was responsible for the messages about town was clever. I didn’t like that the book ended on such a cliffhanger and that I’ll have to wait till 2027 to find out how the cliffhanger resolves but it is an interesting plot point to leave dangling and does it’s job in making me want to read the sequel to find out what happens next. I like how the possible relationship between Daniel and Maz is developing also and am curious to see where that goes. I hope we get to see more of both Poppy and the grandparents in the next book. I am glad Simo got to have some heart to hearts with his parents in this book and I hope in the next book that he continues to work through the after effects of Hamza’s death on his family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for an early arc!
Boy Friends is the definition of a cosy ya romance. The small seaside town of Lombard makes the most wholesome setting for this best friends to lovers story of self discovery.
I loved not only Luca and Simo’s journey but also that of their families, however I did feel a lot of the side characters really were just that. They popped up to make our main characters feel something and then disappeared. They were never fully fleshed out so a lot of the time I felt like the story never actually needed them.
I think there are a few things I would hope to see polished when this is officially published but otherwise the concept and the story is so lovely and well written and full of emotional ups and downs. It’s described as being perfect for fans of Heartstopper and I wholeheartedly agree with that!
I was unaware this would be a duology though so the epilogue had me desperately scrolling for the next pages. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but I was shocked to say the least.
Honestly, I wish I could stay in this town forever like when can I move it seems so perfect 😆
Boy Friends is the definition of a cosy ya romance. The small seaside town of Lombard makes the most wholesome setting for this best friends to lovers story of self discovery.
I loved not only Luca and Simo’s journey but also that of their families, however I did feel a lot of the side characters really were just that. They popped up to make our main characters feel something and then disappeared. They were never fully fleshed out so a lot of the time I felt like the story never actually needed them.
I think there are a few things I would hope to see polished when this is officially published but otherwise the concept and the story is so lovely and well written and full of emotional ups and downs. It’s described as being perfect for fans of Heartstopper and I wholeheartedly agree with that!
I was unaware this would be a duology though so the epilogue had me desperately scrolling for the next pages. I’m not sure how I feel about the ending but I was shocked to say the least.
Honestly, I wish I could stay in this town forever like when can I move it seems so perfect 😆
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury UK for gifting me this ARC.
First of all, I want to say that this book is great for fans of 'Aristotle and Dante discover the world' as it has a slice of life vibe. It also does remind me a bit of 'Simon vs the Homosapiens agenda' because of the secret message on the noticeboard.
In my opinion, the story flowed nicely and had me kicking my feet at multiple points. From the first chapter and even the first couple of pages, it is very clear how in love Luca is with Simo.
I loved the characters, they were a great balance due to their banter between each other and the positivity of Luca's father as well as the struggles of Simo's relationship with his parents.
However, I do think that there were some points where the story seemed to forget to develop certain aspects, such as the information on side characters like ventures they took for long periods of time that were just never elaborated on or just mentioned once and then never again.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and i'll be looking forward to reading the sequel in 2027 🙂
First of all, I want to say that this book is great for fans of 'Aristotle and Dante discover the world' as it has a slice of life vibe. It also does remind me a bit of 'Simon vs the Homosapiens agenda' because of the secret message on the noticeboard.
In my opinion, the story flowed nicely and had me kicking my feet at multiple points. From the first chapter and even the first couple of pages, it is very clear how in love Luca is with Simo.
I loved the characters, they were a great balance due to their banter between each other and the positivity of Luca's father as well as the struggles of Simo's relationship with his parents.
However, I do think that there were some points where the story seemed to forget to develop certain aspects, such as the information on side characters like ventures they took for long periods of time that were just never elaborated on or just mentioned once and then never again.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and i'll be looking forward to reading the sequel in 2027 🙂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OK...
I am probably not the 'target audience;' for this, being some decades past Young Adult, but I came to love this and was almost sorry to binge read the last quarter of the story as I wanted MORE...!
The characters are engaging and believable, though could have done with a little more filling out. I also read the first quarter or so assuming the setting was somewhere in the USA - maybe California - but it then became fairly clear that it is England. I really needed an actual location - I found myself trying to fit 'Lombard' to somewhere I know. It would fit several places in Cornwall or, had it not been made reasonably clear that it is England, could have fitted Tenby in south Wales.
This should appeal to its intended audience, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, or 'questioning'
I am probably not the 'target audience;' for this, being some decades past Young Adult, but I came to love this and was almost sorry to binge read the last quarter of the story as I wanted MORE...!
The characters are engaging and believable, though could have done with a little more filling out. I also read the first quarter or so assuming the setting was somewhere in the USA - maybe California - but it then became fairly clear that it is England. I really needed an actual location - I found myself trying to fit 'Lombard' to somewhere I know. It would fit several places in Cornwall or, had it not been made reasonably clear that it is England, could have fitted Tenby in south Wales.
This should appeal to its intended audience, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, or 'questioning'
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an arc of Boy Friends in exchange for a review.
I really really enjoyes this book, if you are a fan of gilmore girls you will probably love this book.
The friends to lovers trope was done beautifully and the characters were so nice to follow. Both had complex relationships with their families and the themes touched (like grief) werr handled really well.
I do wish we would have seen characters have a bigger support system or spend more time with the side characters since it seemed like they just came out of nowhere at some points. I
Since this is going to be a duology i’m sure that will be explored on the second book that I am super excited to read.
All in all this is a super cozy read and a very nice book for younger people !! The romance was very cute :)
I really really enjoyes this book, if you are a fan of gilmore girls you will probably love this book.
The friends to lovers trope was done beautifully and the characters were so nice to follow. Both had complex relationships with their families and the themes touched (like grief) werr handled really well.
I do wish we would have seen characters have a bigger support system or spend more time with the side characters since it seemed like they just came out of nowhere at some points. I
Since this is going to be a duology i’m sure that will be explored on the second book that I am super excited to read.
All in all this is a super cozy read and a very nice book for younger people !! The romance was very cute :)
April 9, 2026
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
I liked this book, and I found the story and themes to be very interesting and compelling.
The best friends to boyfriends trope was executed pretty well, and all the main characters were explored in depth and felt believable. At the same time, though, I would've loved to see more of the side characters, like Jacob or Mairi.
I enjoyed seeing Luca and Simo opening up to each other and talking about things that were considered taboo in their friendship, such as Luca's queerness or Hamza.
The family dynamics were very realistic, especially Simo's, who, by the end of the book, is able to be honest with his parents about his brother and his sexuality.
However, there were some things about this book that annoyed me a bit.
First of all, the reader is thrust into the story with absolutely no context. Characters are mentioned without being introduced, so I was left wondering for a while who some people like Miss M. or Maz were. For example, at the beginning the reader doesn't know a lot about the protagonists, such as how Luca and Simo met or how long they have been friends, which made it hard for me to connect with them for the first chapters.
Furthermore, some scenes felt cut off, like they could've gone longer, and that made the story feel fragmented.
And, finally, the plot twist didn't quite land with me:
I liked this book, and I found the story and themes to be very interesting and compelling.
The best friends to boyfriends trope was executed pretty well, and all the main characters were explored in depth and felt believable. At the same time, though, I would've loved to see more of the side characters, like Jacob or Mairi.
I enjoyed seeing Luca and Simo opening up to each other and talking about things that were considered taboo in their friendship, such as Luca's queerness or Hamza.
The family dynamics were very realistic, especially Simo's, who, by the end of the book, is able to be honest with his parents about his brother and his sexuality.
However, there were some things about this book that annoyed me a bit.
First of all, the reader is thrust into the story with absolutely no context. Characters are mentioned without being introduced, so I was left wondering for a while who some people like Miss M. or Maz were. For example, at the beginning the reader doesn't know a lot about the protagonists, such as how Luca and Simo met or how long they have been friends, which made it hard for me to connect with them for the first chapters.
Furthermore, some scenes felt cut off, like they could've gone longer, and that made the story feel fragmented.
And, finally, the plot twist didn't quite land with me:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a really easy, enjoyable read that I ended up flying through in a day. I especially loved the setting, the description of Lombard was great and felt like I was there with the characters.
Luca and Simo were both likeable and believable, and I thought their relationship was handled well. Maz was probably my favourite character though, and I really liked Luca’s unconventional family dynamic - not something I've read before!
The ending didn’t quite land for me - the final twist felt a bit abrupt and unnecessary - but it’s clearly setting up the sequel, so not a huge issue.
Overall, a warm, character-driven queer romance that I'll definitely read the sequel to!
This was a really easy, enjoyable read that I ended up flying through in a day. I especially loved the setting, the description of Lombard was great and felt like I was there with the characters.
Luca and Simo were both likeable and believable, and I thought their relationship was handled well. Maz was probably my favourite character though, and I really liked Luca’s unconventional family dynamic - not something I've read before!
The ending didn’t quite land for me - the final twist felt a bit abrupt and unnecessary - but it’s clearly setting up the sequel, so not a huge issue.
Overall, a warm, character-driven queer romance that I'll definitely read the sequel to!
December 8, 2025
Boyfriends. A small town romance that doesn’t shy away from difficult themes and addresses trauma in poetic and beautiful way. Kai Spellmeier has created an enchanting tale of two best friends and every word weaves a new thread into the tapestry of their love.
I don’t wanna reveal too much but I do hope that Kai Spellmeier releases a sequel. Luca and Simo’s, and all the other characters’ stories are definitely not finished, especially considering the cliffhanger on the last page :).
5/5 stars
I don’t wanna reveal too much but I do hope that Kai Spellmeier releases a sequel. Luca and Simo’s, and all the other characters’ stories are definitely not finished, especially considering the cliffhanger on the last page :).
5/5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is just a lovely book to read, the subject matter is handled sensitively, whether that be childhood trauma, hidden family, sexuality, all of it is written about with such care.
The story is told from two points of view and this allows for a steady reading pace that lets you learn more about the characters and what makes them tick.
Ultimately its a love story that touches on fear, courage, trust, betrayal and the ending made me very happy but it then smacks you with a cliffhanger that means there is another book to come which i am thrilled about.
The story is told from two points of view and this allows for a steady reading pace that lets you learn more about the characters and what makes them tick.
Ultimately its a love story that touches on fear, courage, trust, betrayal and the ending made me very happy but it then smacks you with a cliffhanger that means there is another book to come which i am thrilled about.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews