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The Boy in the Painting: a why choose portal fantasy romance
When home becomes a person, and you lose them, where are you supposed to go?
Since the sudden and tragic death of her husband two years ago, painter Alice Raine has asked herself that question a thousand times. The only answer she's come up with is an old blue Victorian house three-thousand miles away, situated in the small, coastal town of Meadowbrook.
But grief is not so easily swayed by changes of scenery, though Alice finds that new friends help some. Like Jessa, the extroverted cafe owner who's got a smirk like sin and forces Alice out of her shell. Or Harley, the local librarian with eyes the color of nostalgia, who has Alice picking up her paintbrush again. Even Ori, the grouchy tailor, who also happens to be Jessa and Harley's housemate, has Alice wondering if the door to her heart will stay closed forever like she once thought.
It's fortunate that Alice is desperate for an other-worldly escape, because once whispered thoughts of more fill her head, Alice is pushed down a rabbit hole of secrets that any sane person would try to escape. But Alice discovers that there comes a point in life where you have to make a choice to let go and fall. Not in a bad way, but hopefully into something good.
__
The Boy in the Painting is the first in a MFFM why choose/polyamorous portal fantasy romance duology about a grieving painter, the realm she’s fated to save, and the three shifters who breathe life back into her muse. This means that there are three love interests and the main character will end up with all of them by the end of the series. Book one ends on a cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed in book two.
Since the sudden and tragic death of her husband two years ago, painter Alice Raine has asked herself that question a thousand times. The only answer she's come up with is an old blue Victorian house three-thousand miles away, situated in the small, coastal town of Meadowbrook.
But grief is not so easily swayed by changes of scenery, though Alice finds that new friends help some. Like Jessa, the extroverted cafe owner who's got a smirk like sin and forces Alice out of her shell. Or Harley, the local librarian with eyes the color of nostalgia, who has Alice picking up her paintbrush again. Even Ori, the grouchy tailor, who also happens to be Jessa and Harley's housemate, has Alice wondering if the door to her heart will stay closed forever like she once thought.
It's fortunate that Alice is desperate for an other-worldly escape, because once whispered thoughts of more fill her head, Alice is pushed down a rabbit hole of secrets that any sane person would try to escape. But Alice discovers that there comes a point in life where you have to make a choice to let go and fall. Not in a bad way, but hopefully into something good.
__
The Boy in the Painting is the first in a MFFM why choose/polyamorous portal fantasy romance duology about a grieving painter, the realm she’s fated to save, and the three shifters who breathe life back into her muse. This means that there are three love interests and the main character will end up with all of them by the end of the series. Book one ends on a cliffhanger. HEA guaranteed in book two.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2026
About the author
G.B. Bancroft
4 books30 followersG.B. Bancroft is an events producer by day and indie author by night. She loves all things magical, gritty, and romantic, and is a voracious mood reader. Originally from New York, she’s currently enjoying a few-year stint in sunny California with her husband and her grumpy orange tabby, Miso.
You can find her @authorgbbancroft on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.
You can find her @authorgbbancroft on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story was so beautifully written. The grief displayed js so real and raw. The story kept me sucked in all the way through and especially towards the end, had me on the edge of my seat. There were several moments where I cried, the emotions hit hard. The spice was done SO WELL, whew! I was so invested in each of the characters on their own and then their relationships with each other. The world building was so intriguing.
April 9, 2026
It’s progress. It’s something. And something is far better than nothing.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2.
This story was such a love letter to grief. At the end of the story I am angry because I'm not feeling warm and fuzzy or like anything is resolved as per cliff hanger. Sometimes you read content warnings and go into a story and it doesn't really have an impact. For this one I will say take heed, especially if you've recently lost a loved one, that wound is still fresh or you're depressed. This story lingers, steeps, boils in the grief and you'll literally feel like you have a downer monkey on your back. It brought my mood down I had to read another book while reading this one.
I’m always so angry, underneath. I can only ever admit that to myself. It’s stuck beneath layers of sinew and flesh, fortifying my bones, flowing through my veins. It poisons my breath, tightens my throat.
I'll give credit where it is due
Alice is described as being snarky. It's the same way that a character will be described as being sassy in a blurb and I'll probably roll my eyes and not get that book because that becomes the characters whole personality. I didn't find her to be snarky. At times she came off as being unnecessarily rude. Case in point the door opening thing with Harley. Somebody opens a door for you and you constantly eye roll at that you don't deserve said person. I don't know why but the door opening in particular I was pissed on Harley's behalf.
Yo! Miscommunication/no one talking about what happened in the past to get some healing and closure was used so much and I just wanted to scream.
As per kawaida, since it's a poly romance we had to have the she's-not-good-for-us character aka Ori. Being mad all the time just for the sake of being mad all the time then all of a sudden from around 87% we have communication break through, 92% we have I am ready to love you all to end at 100% cliff hanger after major third act event?! Nkt.
If you cut out the over extended grief plot, there is no need for book 2. I can guess a bit about the content of book 2 but I am sure both books could have been compressed into 1 book.
I mean, Alice needs to see a therapist. Then Alice+Ori need to see a therapist, then Ori+Harley need to see a therapist, then Jessa and the whole group need to see a therapist just to ensure all our bases are covered and no one is feeling left out and they can actually communicate like adults instead of carrying secrets, grudges and resentments like teenagers.
Atleast my hunch was partially correct, G.B.B. is an army wife (she mentions deployment in the afterword but whichever branch it is, I'm glad her husband is alive).
So overall, started off well, good incorporation of a favourite classic, muddled middle and ending. Won't be reading book 2.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book from the author, and oh man did I devour it.
I was instantly drawn into the story from the very beginning. My husband is former military, so instantly starting with Alice's husband getting ready to leave hit hard. I'm lucky that my husband always got to come home to me, but Alice was not as lucky. Then her grandma passed away, like mine did not so long ago, whom she shared a passion for painting like I did with my own grandma? Safe to say Alice felt very close to me.
Alice's journey to Meadowbrook, where she meets Harley, Jessa, and eventually Ori, felt like the thing everyone wishes they could do when drowning in grief and sadness: move somewhere people don't only know you as your past, and love you for the present you. Harley and Jessa show her that she doesn't have to forget her husband, there can still be a place for him and his love amongst theirs. She also remembers that she knew all of them when she was a child, rediscovering that she is the fated champion to Ori, who has to fight his brother Enzo and Enzo's champion to gain his rightful place on the throne. Of course, things don't go that easy for them, and the story ends on a delicious cliffhanger before that is resolved.
This story beautifully combined a why-choose romance with a unique retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I was equally invested in the dynamics between Alice, Harley, Jessa, and Ori, while also caring about the larger story of Arcadia and the tourney that would need to happen when Ori and Alice turn 30. The dynamics between all the characters feel real and part of a larger story, with everyone feeling like they have a proper place. I particularly love that Ori seems reluctant to allow himself to love again. Ori's struggle with feeling forgotten and rejected by Alice when she is HIS champion was raw and felt very realistic given his personality. I love all the characters, and can't wait for them to finally be happy.
I want to give a huge shout out to GB Bancroft for the way she writes about grief and depression. It felt real, but still hopeful. I think its best to just give one of my favorite quotes from the book to prove it: "I’ve come to realize that healing is more a matter of figuring out how to survive, then re-learning how to live, and then re-discovering how to love."
I was instantly drawn into the story from the very beginning. My husband is former military, so instantly starting with Alice's husband getting ready to leave hit hard. I'm lucky that my husband always got to come home to me, but Alice was not as lucky. Then her grandma passed away, like mine did not so long ago, whom she shared a passion for painting like I did with my own grandma? Safe to say Alice felt very close to me.
Alice's journey to Meadowbrook, where she meets Harley, Jessa, and eventually Ori, felt like the thing everyone wishes they could do when drowning in grief and sadness: move somewhere people don't only know you as your past, and love you for the present you. Harley and Jessa show her that she doesn't have to forget her husband, there can still be a place for him and his love amongst theirs. She also remembers that she knew all of them when she was a child, rediscovering that she is the fated champion to Ori, who has to fight his brother Enzo and Enzo's champion to gain his rightful place on the throne. Of course, things don't go that easy for them, and the story ends on a delicious cliffhanger before that is resolved.
This story beautifully combined a why-choose romance with a unique retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I was equally invested in the dynamics between Alice, Harley, Jessa, and Ori, while also caring about the larger story of Arcadia and the tourney that would need to happen when Ori and Alice turn 30. The dynamics between all the characters feel real and part of a larger story, with everyone feeling like they have a proper place. I particularly love that Ori seems reluctant to allow himself to love again. Ori's struggle with feeling forgotten and rejected by Alice when she is HIS champion was raw and felt very realistic given his personality. I love all the characters, and can't wait for them to finally be happy.
I want to give a huge shout out to GB Bancroft for the way she writes about grief and depression. It felt real, but still hopeful. I think its best to just give one of my favorite quotes from the book to prove it: "I’ve come to realize that healing is more a matter of figuring out how to survive, then re-learning how to live, and then re-discovering how to love."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
ARC review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book…. Oh my gods. It has such a chokehold on me. I’m not sure I have the words to describe how beautifully it’s written, how much the characters resonated with me, and how absolutely impeccable the grief and love throughout are presented (often as two sides of the same coin).
You could call it an Alice in Wonderland retelling, but it’s so much more. Our Alice is an artist completely adrift after losing her husband when she packs up and moves to her deceased grandmother’s house in a small seaside town. Her life is empty, she’s only existing…. Until she meets Harley, Jessa and Ori and FINALLY starts feeling again. These three roommates, friends, and (some of them) lovers inspire her and awaken her. But she’s forgotten that they met before. That they loved each other as children and made promises to each other in another world that weren’t kept.
I picked this up because I love portal fantasies and I love good representations of healthy polyamorous relationships. We get both of those here, and they’re all done so well. Each relationship between the characters has its own dynamics and emotions and they’re all so well depicted. We also get fantastic imagery and scene setting, immaculate world building and a fun well explained magic system. There’s an evil to defeat and so much of this book is about Alice and Ori learning to work with each other to be triumphant. Alice, who would sacrifice everything to save these amazing, magical people that she’s come to love.
I hadn’t even made it to the halfway point of the ARC when I fell in love with this story and immediately bought a copy to treasure at home. It ends on a bit of cliffhanger and I’m not sure I’ll rest until this summer when book 2 in the duology comes out.
Thanks so much to the author for trusting me with your story.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book…. Oh my gods. It has such a chokehold on me. I’m not sure I have the words to describe how beautifully it’s written, how much the characters resonated with me, and how absolutely impeccable the grief and love throughout are presented (often as two sides of the same coin).
You could call it an Alice in Wonderland retelling, but it’s so much more. Our Alice is an artist completely adrift after losing her husband when she packs up and moves to her deceased grandmother’s house in a small seaside town. Her life is empty, she’s only existing…. Until she meets Harley, Jessa and Ori and FINALLY starts feeling again. These three roommates, friends, and (some of them) lovers inspire her and awaken her. But she’s forgotten that they met before. That they loved each other as children and made promises to each other in another world that weren’t kept.
I picked this up because I love portal fantasies and I love good representations of healthy polyamorous relationships. We get both of those here, and they’re all done so well. Each relationship between the characters has its own dynamics and emotions and they’re all so well depicted. We also get fantastic imagery and scene setting, immaculate world building and a fun well explained magic system. There’s an evil to defeat and so much of this book is about Alice and Ori learning to work with each other to be triumphant. Alice, who would sacrifice everything to save these amazing, magical people that she’s come to love.
I hadn’t even made it to the halfway point of the ARC when I fell in love with this story and immediately bought a copy to treasure at home. It ends on a bit of cliffhanger and I’m not sure I’ll rest until this summer when book 2 in the duology comes out.
Thanks so much to the author for trusting me with your story.
Review of advance copy
The Boy In The Painting weaves the torment of grief over a lost love with the promise of new loves in small town New York. With a twist. And I absolutely could not stop myself from enjoying every second.
Alessa, nearly three years out from the sudden death of her husband, has taken up residence in her late grandma's home. And taken up an interest in the local community- namely these peculiar, very attractive folks that work at her local haunts who happen to have a brooding, very grouchy, also very attractive roommate.
I have NEVER taken so quickly to loving not one, not two, but three of the main characters. Harley and Jessa have stolen my heart, and I will forever yell the praises of men written by women because HARLEY? HELLO? Submissive soft boy librarian who's anxious until given commands (*cough*) and is one of my favorite parts of the whole book. I thought dommy mommy Jessa would be, it was a closer call than I expected. Ori will have to grow on me more in book two, but I see the vision.
I had recently sworn off contemporary romance, but this was exactly what I needed. Lighthearted and a compulsive fantasy read- finished in under 12 hours 😭 I will be waiting for book two with eager anticipation.
ARC received from BookFunnel. Thoughts and review are my own! 🫶
Alessa, nearly three years out from the sudden death of her husband, has taken up residence in her late grandma's home. And taken up an interest in the local community- namely these peculiar, very attractive folks that work at her local haunts who happen to have a brooding, very grouchy, also very attractive roommate.
I have NEVER taken so quickly to loving not one, not two, but three of the main characters. Harley and Jessa have stolen my heart, and I will forever yell the praises of men written by women because HARLEY? HELLO? Submissive soft boy librarian who's anxious until given commands (*cough*) and is one of my favorite parts of the whole book. I thought dommy mommy Jessa would be, it was a closer call than I expected. Ori will have to grow on me more in book two, but I see the vision.
I had recently sworn off contemporary romance, but this was exactly what I needed. Lighthearted and a compulsive fantasy read- finished in under 12 hours 😭 I will be waiting for book two with eager anticipation.
ARC received from BookFunnel. Thoughts and review are my own! 🫶
February 6, 2026
As I write this ARC review, I am in absolute emotional turmoil so there may be some spelling and grammar mistakes I’ll have to fix later. It’s 11:24 pm. Plus, would this even be an honest review if I wasn’t a little unhinged and feral about it??? Holy hell, that ending. I mean…the whole story. Don’t even get me started about that absolute b$tch, Maven. You’ll meet her and despise her too, don’t worry.
I need someone to roll me up and wring me out because this was a PHENOMENAL story!!!! Took me hours to read and would have been less if I didn’t have to work at my silly little job. This book is going to be in the running for one of my favorites of 2026. I need to read it again.
Oh Alice… our FMC…. The grief she has experienced. It’s so real—I was in tears myself there at the end. I love her as an artist & her journey with our other MC’s. I will literally be her loudest supporter going into this next book of the series. I love our little polycule so much and I just need them all cuddling and happy together. Harley’s so soft but intuitively strong and steady. Jessa with her confidence and that forest chase— had me fanning myself. I was BLUSHING. Ori…. Oh Ori…. I fear we aren’t done experiencing pain yet. But there’s whispers of the boyfriends kissing on the horizon. *sighs*
I simply adore a “why choose” scenario.
The open door spice between characters with various intimacy levels— I’ll have 10 more please. It’s hot, it’s sexy, and watching everyone work through the development of feelings made it all the more painful for the ending. I, as the reader, am YEARNING.
Well done, G. B. Bancroft.
Well done.
Thank you so much for having me on your ARC Team. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of your book.
I need someone to roll me up and wring me out because this was a PHENOMENAL story!!!! Took me hours to read and would have been less if I didn’t have to work at my silly little job. This book is going to be in the running for one of my favorites of 2026. I need to read it again.
Oh Alice… our FMC…. The grief she has experienced. It’s so real—I was in tears myself there at the end. I love her as an artist & her journey with our other MC’s. I will literally be her loudest supporter going into this next book of the series. I love our little polycule so much and I just need them all cuddling and happy together. Harley’s so soft but intuitively strong and steady. Jessa with her confidence and that forest chase— had me fanning myself. I was BLUSHING. Ori…. Oh Ori…. I fear we aren’t done experiencing pain yet. But there’s whispers of the boyfriends kissing on the horizon. *sighs*
I simply adore a “why choose” scenario.
The open door spice between characters with various intimacy levels— I’ll have 10 more please. It’s hot, it’s sexy, and watching everyone work through the development of feelings made it all the more painful for the ending. I, as the reader, am YEARNING.
Well done, G. B. Bancroft.
Well done.
Thank you so much for having me on your ARC Team. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of your book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
if I could, I would give this one a 10* rating!
This is one of my favorite books so far this year! I absolutely adore Alice and Harley, Jessa and Ori just perfect the picture. The boy in the painting is so wonderfully fantastical, I damn near ignored my kids in favor of staying engrossed in this work of art. I highly recommend this! I also recommend tissues for this one.
Thank you G.B Bancroft for sharing your wonderful creation with me, I cannot wait for book 2!
This is one of my favorite books so far this year! I absolutely adore Alice and Harley, Jessa and Ori just perfect the picture. The boy in the painting is so wonderfully fantastical, I damn near ignored my kids in favor of staying engrossed in this work of art. I highly recommend this! I also recommend tissues for this one.
Thank you G.B Bancroft for sharing your wonderful creation with me, I cannot wait for book 2!
March 4, 2026
Actual: 4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC! This review is voluntary and all opinions stated are my own.
I absolutely ADORED this book. I literally just finished it and my brain just keeps shouting how much I loved the characters. I loved the diversity of personalities and how they were so well-thought out and handled. The discussion of grief and the cyclical, ever-present feeling of it no matter how far away you get from the initial tragedy, and how it’s about re-learning who you are in the wake of it. There are so many beautiful sentiments and quotes written in this book.
I want to see Alice’s paintings SO BADLY it hurts.
I have a few icks when it comes to the sex scenes, but they were wholly done well enough that the issues I had with them are definitely based in personal preference. I’m very picky about how sex/intimacy is depicted in books, so objectively I believe they will be other peoples’ cups of tea!
I mean, I’m fully onboard with these characters and cannot wait for the sequel!
Thank you to the author for the e-ARC! This review is voluntary and all opinions stated are my own.
I absolutely ADORED this book. I literally just finished it and my brain just keeps shouting how much I loved the characters. I loved the diversity of personalities and how they were so well-thought out and handled. The discussion of grief and the cyclical, ever-present feeling of it no matter how far away you get from the initial tragedy, and how it’s about re-learning who you are in the wake of it. There are so many beautiful sentiments and quotes written in this book.
I want to see Alice’s paintings SO BADLY it hurts.
I have a few icks when it comes to the sex scenes, but they were wholly done well enough that the issues I had with them are definitely based in personal preference. I’m very picky about how sex/intimacy is depicted in books, so objectively I believe they will be other peoples’ cups of tea!
I mean, I’m fully onboard with these characters and cannot wait for the sequel!
April 3, 2026
I absolutely loved this book! The prose is absolutely beautiful and fits perfectly with the main character being an artist.
I really love the way that Bancroft explores grief and healing through Alice's artist's block and refinding inspiration.
I also really appreciated how the complex relationship dynamics between Alice, Jessa, Harley, and Ori are explored.
There's definitely Alice in Wonderland vibes without being an overt retelling and I appreciated the way those elements are woven in. I'm so curious to learn more about the shifters' realm and see where the story goes in the next book.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a phen menal and unique polyam/why choose portal fantasy. Thanks to the author for the ARC!
I really love the way that Bancroft explores grief and healing through Alice's artist's block and refinding inspiration.
I also really appreciated how the complex relationship dynamics between Alice, Jessa, Harley, and Ori are explored.
There's definitely Alice in Wonderland vibes without being an overt retelling and I appreciated the way those elements are woven in. I'm so curious to learn more about the shifters' realm and see where the story goes in the next book.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a phen menal and unique polyam/why choose portal fantasy. Thanks to the author for the ARC!
March 27, 2026
ARC Review
I am terrible at these but felt very honored to be given an advanced copy. I really enjoyed this book. I love the take on Alice in Wonderland. The lens of grief is really interesting and there are many twists and turns.This book really gets under your skin. It’s very reflective and poignant for someone who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one. I can’t wait for the next one.
I am terrible at these but felt very honored to be given an advanced copy. I really enjoyed this book. I love the take on Alice in Wonderland. The lens of grief is really interesting and there are many twists and turns.This book really gets under your skin. It’s very reflective and poignant for someone who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one. I can’t wait for the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Add to your TBR if you love:
✨ Love after loss
✨ Slow burn and Yearning
✨ Fated mates AND rejected mates
✨ Chosen One but adults
✨ Whimsical magic
✨ Lady Knight, Nerdy librarian, Grumpy tailor
✨ Lost memories
✨ Alice in Wonderland vibes
4.5/5 stars
After losing her husband, Alice relocates to a quiet coastal town, hoping a change of scenery might help her breathe again. New relationships begin to heal pieces of her she thought were gone for good, and a thread of magic tied to forgotten memories that slowly unravels everything she thought she understood about her life.
As strange magic and forgotten childhood ties start surfacing, the story takes on a deeper, more emotional edge. The portal fantasy elements and the hints of a larger, more magical story start creeping in as the book goes on, adding a bit more weight to everything.
This really does feel like a fairytale for adults. There are hints of Alice in Wonderland, but it very much stands on its own. The emotional core is Alice working through grief, and I loved watching her slowly come back to herself. Alice is drowning in grief after losing her husband and watching her slowly find her way back to herself (and to joy and love) is beautiful. It’s not instant or easy. It’s messy, imperfect, and tied deeply to the people she lets into her life.
And I adored those people. The trio she meets along the way (a shy librarian who craves praise, a confident with a bit of femdom energy coffee shop owner, and a broody, sad boy tailor) each bring something different into her life, and together they spark her creativity and remind her she doesn’t have to be alone. The dynamic between the four of them is easily the strongest part of the book. Each love interest brings something different (softness, confidence, friction), and together they create this space where Alice can start to feel like herself again. You can feel how much they care about her, especially in the quieter moments. The romance leans more slow burn and emotional than spicy. There’s a lot of yearning that builds a strong foundation for where things are going.
That said, the ending didn’t land quite as well for me as the rest. It felt like things were pushed in a certain direction to set up the next book rather than flowing naturally from the story we’d been reading. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did take me out of it a little. I also had a few moments with Ori where I was more frustrated than charmed, though that didn’t stop me from loving the group overall. I also wouldn’t have minded if the story leaned even harder into Alice’s grief. What’s there is good, but it feels like there was room to dig just a bit deeper.
Still, this one REALLY worked for me. It’s soft and full of heart. If you like stories about love after loss, found family, and characters slowly choosing to open themselves up again, this is absolutely worth picking up. It came VERY close to being a perfect read for me. This one spoke to my heart.
Thanks to the author and R&R Booktours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
✨ Love after loss
✨ Slow burn and Yearning
✨ Fated mates AND rejected mates
✨ Chosen One but adults
✨ Whimsical magic
✨ Lady Knight, Nerdy librarian, Grumpy tailor
✨ Lost memories
✨ Alice in Wonderland vibes
4.5/5 stars
After losing her husband, Alice relocates to a quiet coastal town, hoping a change of scenery might help her breathe again. New relationships begin to heal pieces of her she thought were gone for good, and a thread of magic tied to forgotten memories that slowly unravels everything she thought she understood about her life.
As strange magic and forgotten childhood ties start surfacing, the story takes on a deeper, more emotional edge. The portal fantasy elements and the hints of a larger, more magical story start creeping in as the book goes on, adding a bit more weight to everything.
This really does feel like a fairytale for adults. There are hints of Alice in Wonderland, but it very much stands on its own. The emotional core is Alice working through grief, and I loved watching her slowly come back to herself. Alice is drowning in grief after losing her husband and watching her slowly find her way back to herself (and to joy and love) is beautiful. It’s not instant or easy. It’s messy, imperfect, and tied deeply to the people she lets into her life.
And I adored those people. The trio she meets along the way (a shy librarian who craves praise, a confident with a bit of femdom energy coffee shop owner, and a broody, sad boy tailor) each bring something different into her life, and together they spark her creativity and remind her she doesn’t have to be alone. The dynamic between the four of them is easily the strongest part of the book. Each love interest brings something different (softness, confidence, friction), and together they create this space where Alice can start to feel like herself again. You can feel how much they care about her, especially in the quieter moments. The romance leans more slow burn and emotional than spicy. There’s a lot of yearning that builds a strong foundation for where things are going.
That said, the ending didn’t land quite as well for me as the rest. It felt like things were pushed in a certain direction to set up the next book rather than flowing naturally from the story we’d been reading. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did take me out of it a little. I also had a few moments with Ori where I was more frustrated than charmed, though that didn’t stop me from loving the group overall. I also wouldn’t have minded if the story leaned even harder into Alice’s grief. What’s there is good, but it feels like there was room to dig just a bit deeper.
Still, this one REALLY worked for me. It’s soft and full of heart. If you like stories about love after loss, found family, and characters slowly choosing to open themselves up again, this is absolutely worth picking up. It came VERY close to being a perfect read for me. This one spoke to my heart.
Thanks to the author and R&R Booktours for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
March 10, 2026
This was an ARC read
First I need you all to know there is a damn cliffhanger🫨😭I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers. I love them so much, I hate waiting for that completion. Call me impatient 🤭
Okay sorry, I need you to know. Alright, this is a spicy portal fantasy story. Make sure you know what all those things mean before reading. The spice is beginner level spice. It’s the normal fantasy level spice. Make sure you are okay with that before reading.
For those waffling on spice it only occurs a few times ( maybe 2-3 times) and it’s not the center of the story at all. It’s part of the growth process for Alice the FMC, so it serves a purpose.
I am gonna be honest. If this was a retelling I had no idea. I don’t think it is, but that last line of the story is why I bring this up. Once you read it let me know what you think.
The story is very fantastical or at least there is a fantastical world and a human world, obviously it’s a portal fantasy. We spend more time in the normal world because Alice, the FMC, is finding herself and figuring out this other world.
I want to say this is a second chance romance, but it’s really more Alice and the other three main characters were kids when they first met. They’re now re-meeting as adults and this time love is in the air
Oh! Please make sure to check the TW because this is a story about grief and grief of the loss of a person. This is a big part of the story and Alice lost her husband, so it comes up a lot.
You will cry like three times reading this story because everything Alice goes through and everything she experiences with the three other main characters ( Orin, Jessa, and Harley) is so real and relatable you can’t help be get sucked in.
There is a villain because this is a fantasy story after all. We meet the villain at the end and they do some cruel things, but we’ve also got that cliffhanger, so I assume book two is going to give us more of them. I already don’t like them so I assume I will hate them more in book two.
This story is beautifully written. There is lots of descriptive writing and lots of similes you get sucked into the story and also at times feel like your reading poetry. It’s beautiful and really fits with Alice and the art she makes.
It is a very beautiful book even though I’ve told you nothing about it. Go read it
First I need you all to know there is a damn cliffhanger🫨😭I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers. I love them so much, I hate waiting for that completion. Call me impatient 🤭
Okay sorry, I need you to know. Alright, this is a spicy portal fantasy story. Make sure you know what all those things mean before reading. The spice is beginner level spice. It’s the normal fantasy level spice. Make sure you are okay with that before reading.
For those waffling on spice it only occurs a few times ( maybe 2-3 times) and it’s not the center of the story at all. It’s part of the growth process for Alice the FMC, so it serves a purpose.
I am gonna be honest. If this was a retelling I had no idea. I don’t think it is, but that last line of the story is why I bring this up. Once you read it let me know what you think.
The story is very fantastical or at least there is a fantastical world and a human world, obviously it’s a portal fantasy. We spend more time in the normal world because Alice, the FMC, is finding herself and figuring out this other world.
I want to say this is a second chance romance, but it’s really more Alice and the other three main characters were kids when they first met. They’re now re-meeting as adults and this time love is in the air
Oh! Please make sure to check the TW because this is a story about grief and grief of the loss of a person. This is a big part of the story and Alice lost her husband, so it comes up a lot.
You will cry like three times reading this story because everything Alice goes through and everything she experiences with the three other main characters ( Orin, Jessa, and Harley) is so real and relatable you can’t help be get sucked in.
There is a villain because this is a fantasy story after all. We meet the villain at the end and they do some cruel things, but we’ve also got that cliffhanger, so I assume book two is going to give us more of them. I already don’t like them so I assume I will hate them more in book two.
This story is beautifully written. There is lots of descriptive writing and lots of similes you get sucked into the story and also at times feel like your reading poetry. It’s beautiful and really fits with Alice and the art she makes.
It is a very beautiful book even though I’ve told you nothing about it. Go read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2026
"I've come to realize that healing is more a matter of figuring out how to survive, then re-learning how to live, and then rediscovering how to love."
The Boy in the Painting is the first book in G. B. Bancroft's Meadowbrook duet. It follows grieving Alice as she returns to Meadowbrook, where Harley and Jessa start to bring her back to life. Alice soon learns of Arcadia, the realm where Harley, Jessa, and their roommate Ori are from, and her destiny to be Ori's Champion in the tourney to claim the crown.
There are several CW/TW helpfully listed at the beginning of the story by the author that I recommend checking, but I want to mention a major one: accidental death of a military spouse while serving. Additional discussion on impact of military service on a spouse. Be careful with yourselves friends.
The Boy in the Painting is a sad and beautiful why choose portal fantasy romance. This story is Alice in Wonderland inspired, and I love how Bancroft incorporated aspects of the original story here. Readers will recognize the nods to Alice in Wonderland, but this is a fresh, unique story. The incorporation of shifters and the tournament adds to the intrigue, and is a welcome addition of the plot.
Alice's struggles following the loss of her husband are all too realistic and heart breaking. It's a fear and reality that so many military families face, and that storyline hit hard for me. I enjoyed following Alice on her healing journey, and the ways that she found peace with Harley and Jessa. The back and forth with Ori creates great tension, and I love peeling back the layers of his emotions as memories from their past are revealed.
The build-up and conflict was fantastic. I especially loved the cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see where Bancroft takes the story in book two. I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a story about healing after loss, finding a second (and third and fourth) love, and portal fantasy elements.
"This is our chance to have it all, Harley. Heart and home."
"Grief is a notorious assassin; it comes in for the kill without a whisper of notice."
"How could her soul not recognize mine?"
"As an artist, I can do more than people would think. I can connect. I can take a stand. I can change a point of view. I can comfort. I can make folks feel seen- I can make them feel heard. I can remind them they're not alone."
"Caring leads to pain; they're born of the same vows you make to another at the altar. To commit to love is to one day commit to grief."
The Boy in the Painting is the first book in G. B. Bancroft's Meadowbrook duet. It follows grieving Alice as she returns to Meadowbrook, where Harley and Jessa start to bring her back to life. Alice soon learns of Arcadia, the realm where Harley, Jessa, and their roommate Ori are from, and her destiny to be Ori's Champion in the tourney to claim the crown.
There are several CW/TW helpfully listed at the beginning of the story by the author that I recommend checking, but I want to mention a major one: accidental death of a military spouse while serving. Additional discussion on impact of military service on a spouse. Be careful with yourselves friends.
The Boy in the Painting is a sad and beautiful why choose portal fantasy romance. This story is Alice in Wonderland inspired, and I love how Bancroft incorporated aspects of the original story here. Readers will recognize the nods to Alice in Wonderland, but this is a fresh, unique story. The incorporation of shifters and the tournament adds to the intrigue, and is a welcome addition of the plot.
Alice's struggles following the loss of her husband are all too realistic and heart breaking. It's a fear and reality that so many military families face, and that storyline hit hard for me. I enjoyed following Alice on her healing journey, and the ways that she found peace with Harley and Jessa. The back and forth with Ori creates great tension, and I love peeling back the layers of his emotions as memories from their past are revealed.
The build-up and conflict was fantastic. I especially loved the cliffhanger ending. I can't wait to see where Bancroft takes the story in book two. I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for a story about healing after loss, finding a second (and third and fourth) love, and portal fantasy elements.
"This is our chance to have it all, Harley. Heart and home."
"Grief is a notorious assassin; it comes in for the kill without a whisper of notice."
"How could her soul not recognize mine?"
"As an artist, I can do more than people would think. I can connect. I can take a stand. I can change a point of view. I can comfort. I can make folks feel seen- I can make them feel heard. I can remind them they're not alone."
"Caring leads to pain; they're born of the same vows you make to another at the altar. To commit to love is to one day commit to grief."
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author G.B. Bancroft for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review! All opinions and writing are my own.
Do you ever fall in love with an idea of a story: the concept, the cover, the art? Because that was exactly what I did before I read The Boy in the Painting, but, somehow, the actual book surprised me even more by becoming one of my absolute favorite reads of all time. The way that I fell so deeply into the story, characters, and emotions was just so perfect... perfect in the same way that each love interest was for Alice. The grief in this book felt so authentic (especially after reading the acknowledgments), and I just wanted to hold Alice’s hand and cry with her. My partner had to console me many times during my reading. While we only get glimpses into Alice’s marriage with Ryan, you can tell they loved, cared for, and understood each other deeply. His ghost (like not literally a ghost but his presence) was a character throughout the story along with her grief. Phenomenal, no notes. My favorite thing about the book is seeing the world through Alice’s painter eyes: Harley’s peach blush, Jessa’s piercing campfire-like eyes, and Ori’s gentle ferality. Meeting the love interests allowed Alice to start seeing the world in color and pick her paintbrush back up again after years of being lost in her grief. This is not a story about replacing a lost love, but learning to be the new version of yourself after the loss and gaining additional chairs to her table. Love is not finite like a cup of water; it is infinite like the universe. G.B. Bancroft’s writing is absolutely sublime in the way it draws you in to such a scenic world with diverse characters that never feel one dimensional. I annotated this story so thoroughly while reading it that I am looking forward to what my future paperback version will look like once I get my grubby little hands on it. I recommend going to the author’s instagram to see the stunning art that goes along with this book. Truly, explicitly in love with this story and highly recommend to anyone looking for a messy, emotional, heartfelt, spicy why choose portal fantasy!
Do you ever fall in love with an idea of a story: the concept, the cover, the art? Because that was exactly what I did before I read The Boy in the Painting, but, somehow, the actual book surprised me even more by becoming one of my absolute favorite reads of all time. The way that I fell so deeply into the story, characters, and emotions was just so perfect... perfect in the same way that each love interest was for Alice. The grief in this book felt so authentic (especially after reading the acknowledgments), and I just wanted to hold Alice’s hand and cry with her. My partner had to console me many times during my reading. While we only get glimpses into Alice’s marriage with Ryan, you can tell they loved, cared for, and understood each other deeply. His ghost (like not literally a ghost but his presence) was a character throughout the story along with her grief. Phenomenal, no notes. My favorite thing about the book is seeing the world through Alice’s painter eyes: Harley’s peach blush, Jessa’s piercing campfire-like eyes, and Ori’s gentle ferality. Meeting the love interests allowed Alice to start seeing the world in color and pick her paintbrush back up again after years of being lost in her grief. This is not a story about replacing a lost love, but learning to be the new version of yourself after the loss and gaining additional chairs to her table. Love is not finite like a cup of water; it is infinite like the universe. G.B. Bancroft’s writing is absolutely sublime in the way it draws you in to such a scenic world with diverse characters that never feel one dimensional. I annotated this story so thoroughly while reading it that I am looking forward to what my future paperback version will look like once I get my grubby little hands on it. I recommend going to the author’s instagram to see the stunning art that goes along with this book. Truly, explicitly in love with this story and highly recommend to anyone looking for a messy, emotional, heartfelt, spicy why choose portal fantasy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Where to start? Some might say with a blank canvas. The Boy In The Painting is truly a canvas. Sentences and phrases combine visually and tactile-y into a subtle and complex composition.
I am forced to consider the possibility that the author or someone the author knows has experience with Synesthesia. Emotions and sounds have colour, sometimes, producing a synthesis of experience for character and reader.
This is a book that centres grief and recovery. Not the recovery of "moving on" or "pushing through" but the recovery of finding new joy, and confronting what can be found in the new future one finds themself in. One character, looking around her life, with the help of her close friends, takes a step into a world she left behind. That world is more complex than she expected- and holds more than just the memories of her Grandmother's house.
There are three others, memories of whom were magically erased from her mind, who are looking for her.
Taking four characters - one of whom perishes before the story begins - and fitting them into a narrative is delicate work. The Author has perfectly captured the feeling and texture of discovering new and old feelings, nostalgia and attraction, blending them together in a subtle dance.
The town of Meadowbrook is cozy, with all the north american customs you might expect in Long Island, where the four MC's soend most of the book. It is the perfect cozy location for this sweet look into finding what you had forgot you had lost.
When I got to the cliffhanger-ish ending I wailed and tore at my hair - but the second half of the story already has a planned release date; All is not lost.
Does it reflect poorly on me that I didnt realise it was an Alice in wonderland situation until the mention of a "looking glass"? Probably.
Safe to say, this is a masterpiece of visual and emotional connection that resonates woth anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one or supported someone who has lost someone or something profound.
Keep your tissues handy and gird yourself for part two!
I am forced to consider the possibility that the author or someone the author knows has experience with Synesthesia. Emotions and sounds have colour, sometimes, producing a synthesis of experience for character and reader.
This is a book that centres grief and recovery. Not the recovery of "moving on" or "pushing through" but the recovery of finding new joy, and confronting what can be found in the new future one finds themself in. One character, looking around her life, with the help of her close friends, takes a step into a world she left behind. That world is more complex than she expected- and holds more than just the memories of her Grandmother's house.
There are three others, memories of whom were magically erased from her mind, who are looking for her.
Taking four characters - one of whom perishes before the story begins - and fitting them into a narrative is delicate work. The Author has perfectly captured the feeling and texture of discovering new and old feelings, nostalgia and attraction, blending them together in a subtle dance.
The town of Meadowbrook is cozy, with all the north american customs you might expect in Long Island, where the four MC's soend most of the book. It is the perfect cozy location for this sweet look into finding what you had forgot you had lost.
When I got to the cliffhanger-ish ending I wailed and tore at my hair - but the second half of the story already has a planned release date; All is not lost.
Does it reflect poorly on me that I didnt realise it was an Alice in wonderland situation until the mention of a "looking glass"? Probably.
Safe to say, this is a masterpiece of visual and emotional connection that resonates woth anyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one or supported someone who has lost someone or something profound.
Keep your tissues handy and gird yourself for part two!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4,75 ⭐️
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
This book has my whole heart... I loved it so much. I rarely read books that take place in the real world, and I usually prefer stories without modern day elements – but somehow it was exactly what I needed right now, and it was perfect for getting me out of a reading slump where nothing I picked up really clicked. I think I needed something with lighter fantasy elements and a focus on beautiful character arcs and relationship dynamics, and boy did this deliver. It was magical, quirky, funny, tender, and just absolutely lovely.
One of the things that really stood out to me was how well written Alice's grief and depression was. It was handled with such care and felt so real that it made my heart ache. It was truly beautifully done and I was really impressed with how much the author managed to make me feel. And when you add in these amazing characters and the longing and love between them, it became a profoundly magical read.
Also: the tension, the spice, and the themes of exploring kinks were perfect (and hot). It really added to the story and to Alice's journey, and the focus on consent and care was incredible. It made me so happy, and I can't wait to see their dynamics unfold further in the final book (I need a Harley/Ori/Alice-threesome like I need air).
✨I’ve come to realize that healing is more a matter of figuring out how to survive, then re-learning how to live, and then re-discovering how to love.✨
✨I should stop doing that. But I like making him nervous. I like teasing and flirting. I like pulling that blush to his cheeks and making his nostalgic eyes darken. I’ve become obsessed with all his colors.✨
✨Caring leads to pain; they’re born of the same vows you make to another at the altar. To commit to love is to one day commit to grief.✨
Thank you so much to the author for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
This book has my whole heart... I loved it so much. I rarely read books that take place in the real world, and I usually prefer stories without modern day elements – but somehow it was exactly what I needed right now, and it was perfect for getting me out of a reading slump where nothing I picked up really clicked. I think I needed something with lighter fantasy elements and a focus on beautiful character arcs and relationship dynamics, and boy did this deliver. It was magical, quirky, funny, tender, and just absolutely lovely.
One of the things that really stood out to me was how well written Alice's grief and depression was. It was handled with such care and felt so real that it made my heart ache. It was truly beautifully done and I was really impressed with how much the author managed to make me feel. And when you add in these amazing characters and the longing and love between them, it became a profoundly magical read.
Also: the tension, the spice, and the themes of exploring kinks were perfect (and hot). It really added to the story and to Alice's journey, and the focus on consent and care was incredible. It made me so happy, and I can't wait to see their dynamics unfold further in the final book (I need a Harley/Ori/Alice-threesome like I need air).
✨I’ve come to realize that healing is more a matter of figuring out how to survive, then re-learning how to live, and then re-discovering how to love.✨
✨I should stop doing that. But I like making him nervous. I like teasing and flirting. I like pulling that blush to his cheeks and making his nostalgic eyes darken. I’ve become obsessed with all his colors.✨
✨Caring leads to pain; they’re born of the same vows you make to another at the altar. To commit to love is to one day commit to grief.✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was like having a brick thrown at me while receiving a warm hug.
I'm writing this past 5 a.m., still trying to process what I just read. This story hooked me from the very first line: “I’ve found that the best time to cut onions is when you’re already crying.” Because I’ve been Alice too, waiting for the right moment to finally let everything out.
The way her grief is portrayed feels incredibly real. Watching her slowly start to laugh again, to feel lighter, and to give herself a chance with Jessa and Harley, and later with Ori, shows just how much she grows throughout the story. Her journey doesn’t feel rushed or idealized, the depression, the insecurity, the guilt, all of it is there, and it feels honest.
Harley is pure softness. A total cinnamon roll with cute freckles. I loved how literal he is, how gentlemanly he was with Alice from the very beginning, and especially how patient and kind he was with Ori.
Jessa is direct, bold, fun, and sensual. I absolutely loved her personality and the fact that she’s described as the strongest of the Arcadia trio.
One of my favorite things was how understanding Jessa and Harley were about Alice’s loss, giving her space when she needed it, but also steady support.
Ori was harder for me to love at first, mostly because he reminded me too much of myself. That instinct to close yourself off to avoid being hurt again hit very close to home, and I deeply related to him.
And the ending, OMG! I can't wait to read how this story concludes! This first part was incredible.
I'm so grateful for being part of the ARC team♡
I'm writing this past 5 a.m., still trying to process what I just read. This story hooked me from the very first line: “I’ve found that the best time to cut onions is when you’re already crying.” Because I’ve been Alice too, waiting for the right moment to finally let everything out.
The way her grief is portrayed feels incredibly real. Watching her slowly start to laugh again, to feel lighter, and to give herself a chance with Jessa and Harley, and later with Ori, shows just how much she grows throughout the story. Her journey doesn’t feel rushed or idealized, the depression, the insecurity, the guilt, all of it is there, and it feels honest.
Harley is pure softness. A total cinnamon roll with cute freckles. I loved how literal he is, how gentlemanly he was with Alice from the very beginning, and especially how patient and kind he was with Ori.
Jessa is direct, bold, fun, and sensual. I absolutely loved her personality and the fact that she’s described as the strongest of the Arcadia trio.
One of my favorite things was how understanding Jessa and Harley were about Alice’s loss, giving her space when she needed it, but also steady support.
Ori was harder for me to love at first, mostly because he reminded me too much of myself. That instinct to close yourself off to avoid being hurt again hit very close to home, and I deeply related to him.
And the ending, OMG! I can't wait to read how this story concludes! This first part was incredible.
I'm so grateful for being part of the ARC team♡
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review: I loved this book! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
My main reason for giving it 4 rather than 5 stars is the lack of diversity in the characters. White readers likely won’t mind, but as a person of color, it’s something I notice. The cover art is deceiving because the “boy” in the painting has dark skin but no one in the book is described that way.
There is also a lack of diversity in body size—except for Ori (who’s built like Jason Momoa 🤤) everyone is thin or muscular/lean. I know this is common in fantasy writing, but big girls are sexy too!
The main character is very privileged. She goes from an only child of wealthy parents to a stay-at-home Navy wife who gets to paint for a living, to the sole inheritor of a beautiful Victorian house. In an era when home ownership itself is a fantasy for most young people, that feels a little out of touch.
Lastly—all three of her childhood friends are madly in love with her on sight and there is no tension within their polyamorous relationship. Since the magical land they come from is called “Arcadia” (meaning “Utopia”) perhaps Bancroft wanted to show a Utopian version of polyamory. But in my experience, it’s more complicated and than that. It would take a lot of work/unlearning for Alice to join their polycule.
Overall, I loved the characters, I loved the spice, and I loved the honest portrayal of grief and loss. Alice’s privilege does not negate the pain she experiences at the beginning of the novel.
Thank you for the advanced copy! I can’t wait to read the sequel! I’m very curious about the villain… 👀
My main reason for giving it 4 rather than 5 stars is the lack of diversity in the characters. White readers likely won’t mind, but as a person of color, it’s something I notice. The cover art is deceiving because the “boy” in the painting has dark skin but no one in the book is described that way.
There is also a lack of diversity in body size—except for Ori (who’s built like Jason Momoa 🤤) everyone is thin or muscular/lean. I know this is common in fantasy writing, but big girls are sexy too!
The main character is very privileged. She goes from an only child of wealthy parents to a stay-at-home Navy wife who gets to paint for a living, to the sole inheritor of a beautiful Victorian house. In an era when home ownership itself is a fantasy for most young people, that feels a little out of touch.
Lastly—all three of her childhood friends are madly in love with her on sight and there is no tension within their polyamorous relationship. Since the magical land they come from is called “Arcadia” (meaning “Utopia”) perhaps Bancroft wanted to show a Utopian version of polyamory. But in my experience, it’s more complicated and than that. It would take a lot of work/unlearning for Alice to join their polycule.
Overall, I loved the characters, I loved the spice, and I loved the honest portrayal of grief and loss. Alice’s privilege does not negate the pain she experiences at the beginning of the novel.
Thank you for the advanced copy! I can’t wait to read the sequel! I’m very curious about the villain… 👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to BookFunnel for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
If you ever had a chance to talk with me, you know I'm a sucker for a lot of things, but the main three probably being: retellings, cat familiars and morally grey paranormal guys.
Recently, I decided to finally dive into why choose/polyamorous books and you can imagine that when I saw The Boy in the Painting and realized that it's why choose Alice in Wonderland retelling, I knew I had to get my hands on this one.
It hooked me from the very start and it was one of those rare moments where I was absolutely invested straight away, but somewhere, I think probably around the middle of the book, the hype I was feeling died down. I'm still not fully sure why, but I know that there's nothing wrong with the writing itself. It just didn't spark for me the way I hoped it will, despite enjoying the story.
Harley was definitely my favourite one from the trio (no, it's not the fact that he's a librarian, but it did gave him some extra points).
I can't wait for the second book, especially since we ended on a cliffhanger and everything is planned to conclude the next time we return to Arcadia (guessing by the duet part on the cover). Not to mention the cover itself, as it's absolutely gorgeous and what caught my eye in the first place.
If you ever had a chance to talk with me, you know I'm a sucker for a lot of things, but the main three probably being: retellings, cat familiars and morally grey paranormal guys.
Recently, I decided to finally dive into why choose/polyamorous books and you can imagine that when I saw The Boy in the Painting and realized that it's why choose Alice in Wonderland retelling, I knew I had to get my hands on this one.
It hooked me from the very start and it was one of those rare moments where I was absolutely invested straight away, but somewhere, I think probably around the middle of the book, the hype I was feeling died down. I'm still not fully sure why, but I know that there's nothing wrong with the writing itself. It just didn't spark for me the way I hoped it will, despite enjoying the story.
Harley was definitely my favourite one from the trio (no, it's not the fact that he's a librarian, but it did gave him some extra points).
I can't wait for the second book, especially since we ended on a cliffhanger and everything is planned to conclude the next time we return to Arcadia (guessing by the duet part on the cover). Not to mention the cover itself, as it's absolutely gorgeous and what caught my eye in the first place.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first encounter with the author, and it was quite successful. Perhaps if I'd been more attentive and noticed when they handed out the ARC that this was the first part of a duology (my reading resolution this year is not to start , I wouldn't have picked up the book and would have missed out on a rather interesting story.
The main character, Alice, lost her husband, a rescue helicopter pilot, two years ago. After this, Alice's life lost all colors, and this is doubly saddened by the fact that she is an artist, and drawing is a huge part of her life. Desperate to find herself again, she flees to a small town, to the house her grandmother left her, where Alice spent her happy childhood.
Here, she meets the sweet librarian Harley, then the barista Jessa, and finally the grouchy tailor Ori, each of whom will find a special place in Alice's life, and ultimately, her heart.
This is an emotional, tender, slow-burn story in a complex quartet. And, of course, the intrigue lies not only in this, but also in the secret hidden in Alice's past. I especially liked the allusions to "Alice Through the Looking Glass."
Luckily, the second book is scheduled for August 2026, so I hope we won't have to wait long for the ending, as the first book naturally ended on a major cliffhanger.
I've got an ARC for free and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
The main character, Alice, lost her husband, a rescue helicopter pilot, two years ago. After this, Alice's life lost all colors, and this is doubly saddened by the fact that she is an artist, and drawing is a huge part of her life. Desperate to find herself again, she flees to a small town, to the house her grandmother left her, where Alice spent her happy childhood.
Here, she meets the sweet librarian Harley, then the barista Jessa, and finally the grouchy tailor Ori, each of whom will find a special place in Alice's life, and ultimately, her heart.
This is an emotional, tender, slow-burn story in a complex quartet. And, of course, the intrigue lies not only in this, but also in the secret hidden in Alice's past. I especially liked the allusions to "Alice Through the Looking Glass."
Luckily, the second book is scheduled for August 2026, so I hope we won't have to wait long for the ending, as the first book naturally ended on a major cliffhanger.
I've got an ARC for free and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
March 19, 2026
I thought I was reading a totally normal (why-choose) romance, but by chapter five, I learned that I was totally off. I shouldn't be surprised. G.B. doesn't do normal.
Alice loves Ryan. He's in the military and is about to be deployed. Though I knew the premise of what happens to him based on snippets given by G.B., it still affected me because I've been in Alice's shoes. Two tours. I could relate to her before. Thankfully, not her after.
She moves in to her late grandmother's home, and meets new people almost immediately. Harley, the white-haired librarian boy, with his peachy cheeks and kind heart. Jessa, the tri-colored-hair barista with her boldness and cute smirk. And Ori, oh Ori. Tall, dark hair, and kind of a jerk.
They get to know each other, and then they GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. Minus Ori because he's still kind of a jerk.
Through these 3 people, Alice begins to live again. Even with Ryan still living in her mind.
It's multiple POV, which gives so much fullness to the story. Alice's memories and dreams fill in some blanks.
This story is sweet and steamy. I'm rooting for everyone. Except Maven. Maven in the worst.
I can't wait to see Alice make her way back to Arcadia to become the woman she is destined to be.
*I received an early copy of this book, and these are my actual thoughts that I am leaving voluntarily*
Alice loves Ryan. He's in the military and is about to be deployed. Though I knew the premise of what happens to him based on snippets given by G.B., it still affected me because I've been in Alice's shoes. Two tours. I could relate to her before. Thankfully, not her after.
She moves in to her late grandmother's home, and meets new people almost immediately. Harley, the white-haired librarian boy, with his peachy cheeks and kind heart. Jessa, the tri-colored-hair barista with her boldness and cute smirk. And Ori, oh Ori. Tall, dark hair, and kind of a jerk.
They get to know each other, and then they GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. Minus Ori because he's still kind of a jerk.
Through these 3 people, Alice begins to live again. Even with Ryan still living in her mind.
It's multiple POV, which gives so much fullness to the story. Alice's memories and dreams fill in some blanks.
This story is sweet and steamy. I'm rooting for everyone. Except Maven. Maven in the worst.
I can't wait to see Alice make her way back to Arcadia to become the woman she is destined to be.
*I received an early copy of this book, and these are my actual thoughts that I am leaving voluntarily*
March 1, 2026
Thank you to the author for entrusting me with an ARC.
If there is one thing that need to be said, it's that G.B. Bancroft definitely belongs on the list with the best authors of this time! The way they write is with an poets heart. I have read so many amazing and beautiful paragraphs. The way grief is described is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
It is then no surprise it only took me one day, 24h with work and sleep during these hours, to finish the first part in this duet. It is one of the few times I'm sad that I was an ARC reader because now I have to wait even longer for part 2. The boy in the painting is going to be the only book I will read twice in 6 months. Because even though I just finished it, I already miss the characters. They made me feel like I'm one of them. Part of their pack.
While it is mostly Alice's journey we follow through her grief, it has multiple POV's and only adds to the multiple storylines, journeys and depts. The emotions you feel during reading TBITP will include pain, sadness but also love and happiness. All of this flows into each other flawlessly.
If there should only be one book you read this year, let it be The Boy in the Painting!
If there is one thing that need to be said, it's that G.B. Bancroft definitely belongs on the list with the best authors of this time! The way they write is with an poets heart. I have read so many amazing and beautiful paragraphs. The way grief is described is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time.
It is then no surprise it only took me one day, 24h with work and sleep during these hours, to finish the first part in this duet. It is one of the few times I'm sad that I was an ARC reader because now I have to wait even longer for part 2. The boy in the painting is going to be the only book I will read twice in 6 months. Because even though I just finished it, I already miss the characters. They made me feel like I'm one of them. Part of their pack.
While it is mostly Alice's journey we follow through her grief, it has multiple POV's and only adds to the multiple storylines, journeys and depts. The emotions you feel during reading TBITP will include pain, sadness but also love and happiness. All of this flows into each other flawlessly.
If there should only be one book you read this year, let it be The Boy in the Painting!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This Alice In Wonderland inspired novel about grief, love, moving on, learning to live, and learning to breathe again was beautiful.
The fantasy elements of it are well done and woven into the regular day aspect of the town with expertise. Alice as a main lead broke my heart, because learning to become a person again after being so hollowed out is a hard thing to learn and overcome. But she found joy with the others, without completely letting go of the person she dedicated her life to.
I enjoyed that one of the major themes was how easily cruel life could be, and how things can be taken away without much trouble. I appreciate that Harley and Jessa are willing to allow Alice to have her grief, with no explanation or expectations that she is to get over it as any point.
The Arcadia storyline ends on an interesting note, one that has me craving book 2. The love and care that also went into writing a poly relationship was well done, with no two interactions feeling the same. I do hope to see more POV in the future book from the others, just because we spent so much time in Alice's head, it would be curious to see the different reactions from the others.
A definite must read of fans of this style of storytelling. Not usually one I would partake in, but I'm very glad I did.
The fantasy elements of it are well done and woven into the regular day aspect of the town with expertise. Alice as a main lead broke my heart, because learning to become a person again after being so hollowed out is a hard thing to learn and overcome. But she found joy with the others, without completely letting go of the person she dedicated her life to.
I enjoyed that one of the major themes was how easily cruel life could be, and how things can be taken away without much trouble. I appreciate that Harley and Jessa are willing to allow Alice to have her grief, with no explanation or expectations that she is to get over it as any point.
The Arcadia storyline ends on an interesting note, one that has me craving book 2. The love and care that also went into writing a poly relationship was well done, with no two interactions feeling the same. I do hope to see more POV in the future book from the others, just because we spent so much time in Alice's head, it would be curious to see the different reactions from the others.
A definite must read of fans of this style of storytelling. Not usually one I would partake in, but I'm very glad I did.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you love quiet, emotional stories that sneak up on you and gently rearrange your heart The Boy in the Painting deserves a spot on your shelf.
This is a tender exploration of art, memory, and what it really means to heal. We follow Alice as she moves to a new town, carrying more emotional baggage than moving boxes. Through her art, she begins to unpack her past brushstroke by brushstroke.
Alice’s character development feels authentic and earned. Her grief, her hesitation, her slow rebuilding of herself it all feels human. There’s no dramatic overnight transformation, just gradual, meaningful change.
The descriptions of her paintings and surroundings are vivid without being overwhelming. You can see the colors, feel the texture of the canvas, and sense the emotions she pours into every piece. The art isn’t just a hobby it’s a lifeline.
Love, loss, regret, second chances, and the healing power of creativity all weave together beautifully. The story gently reminds us that sometimes understanding ourselves requires revisiting what we tried to forget.
This is a tender exploration of art, memory, and what it really means to heal. We follow Alice as she moves to a new town, carrying more emotional baggage than moving boxes. Through her art, she begins to unpack her past brushstroke by brushstroke.
Alice’s character development feels authentic and earned. Her grief, her hesitation, her slow rebuilding of herself it all feels human. There’s no dramatic overnight transformation, just gradual, meaningful change.
The descriptions of her paintings and surroundings are vivid without being overwhelming. You can see the colors, feel the texture of the canvas, and sense the emotions she pours into every piece. The art isn’t just a hobby it’s a lifeline.
Love, loss, regret, second chances, and the healing power of creativity all weave together beautifully. The story gently reminds us that sometimes understanding ourselves requires revisiting what we tried to forget.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“I’ve become obsessed with all his colors.”
Whimsical MFFM why choose shifter fantasy romance with portals, fated mates and rejected mates, loss and grief, a journey of healing and self-love… add a painter FMC with chosen one and queer tendencies and all the yearning and slow burn turned dazzling spice with all the summer field aesthetic that will make your heart full.
This read is beautifully emotional and nostalgic, with captivating writing and spirited characters that I cannot get enough of. I caught myself holding my breath, blushing and thoroughly enjoying this read. Harley has some Milo Thatch vibes (in the best of ways) and I am here for it. Of course we can’t forget our deliciously brooding Ori, our flirty literal knight in shining armor Jessa, and Alice who is on her journey of self-love and just so happens to find herself in the middle of all of them. I am desperately looking forward to book 2.
“I’m not planning on losing you now that I have you.”
Whimsical MFFM why choose shifter fantasy romance with portals, fated mates and rejected mates, loss and grief, a journey of healing and self-love… add a painter FMC with chosen one and queer tendencies and all the yearning and slow burn turned dazzling spice with all the summer field aesthetic that will make your heart full.
This read is beautifully emotional and nostalgic, with captivating writing and spirited characters that I cannot get enough of. I caught myself holding my breath, blushing and thoroughly enjoying this read. Harley has some Milo Thatch vibes (in the best of ways) and I am here for it. Of course we can’t forget our deliciously brooding Ori, our flirty literal knight in shining armor Jessa, and Alice who is on her journey of self-love and just so happens to find herself in the middle of all of them. I am desperately looking forward to book 2.
“I’m not planning on losing you now that I have you.”
March 28, 2026
Beautiful exploration of grief
An escape from grief through a portal to another world - it’s The Boy in the Painting.
Stuck in her grief after the death of her husband, Alice is moving into her childhood home. She hopes to find her will to paint - and live - again in the familiar town.
But meeting Harley, Jessa and Orazio turn her world upside down. Not only is she feeling attraction for the first time in a long while - she is interested in more than one of the three. Then there’s the moment when she falls through a portal into another world and discovers her own past is not how she remembers it.
This Alice in Wonderland coded retelling was a seriously wonderful (sorry) read. There were plenty of Easter eggs for fans to pick up on and some spicy why choose/polycule stuff. Between each chapter we are treated to some of Alice’s beautiful drawings which add so much to the story. It also has an exploration of grief that is simultaneously raw and beautiful.
The story is slow to medium burn (depending on the relationship) and open door. It is set in a queernormative world and involves bi awakening. Aside from grief, the book also deals with depression and the death of a military spouse.
This book is the first of a duet, with the second due out later this year. It does end on a cliffhanger of sorts.
If you’re a fan of retellings, or you’re looking for a book that tackles some heavy topics with gentleness and escapes the real world for a bit, this book must go to the top of your TBR.
An escape from grief through a portal to another world - it’s The Boy in the Painting.
Stuck in her grief after the death of her husband, Alice is moving into her childhood home. She hopes to find her will to paint - and live - again in the familiar town.
But meeting Harley, Jessa and Orazio turn her world upside down. Not only is she feeling attraction for the first time in a long while - she is interested in more than one of the three. Then there’s the moment when she falls through a portal into another world and discovers her own past is not how she remembers it.
This Alice in Wonderland coded retelling was a seriously wonderful (sorry) read. There were plenty of Easter eggs for fans to pick up on and some spicy why choose/polycule stuff. Between each chapter we are treated to some of Alice’s beautiful drawings which add so much to the story. It also has an exploration of grief that is simultaneously raw and beautiful.
The story is slow to medium burn (depending on the relationship) and open door. It is set in a queernormative world and involves bi awakening. Aside from grief, the book also deals with depression and the death of a military spouse.
This book is the first of a duet, with the second due out later this year. It does end on a cliffhanger of sorts.
If you’re a fan of retellings, or you’re looking for a book that tackles some heavy topics with gentleness and escapes the real world for a bit, this book must go to the top of your TBR.
February 7, 2026
I’m struggling to put my thoughts into words about how much I loved this book. By the time I got 100 pages in, I was cancelling my plans for the morning because no way was I going to stop reading.
I loved Harley, Jessa, and Ori. I loved Harley most of all. He’s sweet and kind and the best good boy you will ever find. There were many aspects of his personality I recognized from myself. Jessa is assertive and not afraid to say what she wants. I loved how straight forward she was. Ori may be a bit rough around the edges but he loves and cares deeply.
The way Alice’s grief was portrayed had me in tears every time. The descriptions of anxiety and depression were spot on and written in ways I would have never been able to say myself.
I am so glad the author honored me to be part of her ARC team and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book so I can read it all over again. I will be impatiently waiting for the next book.
I loved Harley, Jessa, and Ori. I loved Harley most of all. He’s sweet and kind and the best good boy you will ever find. There were many aspects of his personality I recognized from myself. Jessa is assertive and not afraid to say what she wants. I loved how straight forward she was. Ori may be a bit rough around the edges but he loves and cares deeply.
The way Alice’s grief was portrayed had me in tears every time. The descriptions of anxiety and depression were spot on and written in ways I would have never been able to say myself.
I am so glad the author honored me to be part of her ARC team and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book so I can read it all over again. I will be impatiently waiting for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc reader review.
First I would like to thank you for letting me part of this adventure before its release.
Grief is such a weird stage of life. Grief can be felt in so many ways and for more reason than the loss of someone loved and cared for. And it's an emotion that is different for everyone. I do not know how to grief, I have never been able to, always stuck to a life that is no more but Alice's grief resonated with me in some ways. Grief can leave eventually, but it can, most likely, be eased with the help of the right people. In this case Jessa, Harley and Ori. They are so different from the others but they complement each other so well. It is difficult to not love them, even grumpy Ori. Enzo too, in a way, he breaks my heart.
I think you get it, I absolutely loved the book, reading was a pleasure and a roller-coaster of emotions. I can't even explain how excited I am for the second book.
First I would like to thank you for letting me part of this adventure before its release.
Grief is such a weird stage of life. Grief can be felt in so many ways and for more reason than the loss of someone loved and cared for. And it's an emotion that is different for everyone. I do not know how to grief, I have never been able to, always stuck to a life that is no more but Alice's grief resonated with me in some ways. Grief can leave eventually, but it can, most likely, be eased with the help of the right people. In this case Jessa, Harley and Ori. They are so different from the others but they complement each other so well. It is difficult to not love them, even grumpy Ori. Enzo too, in a way, he breaks my heart.
I think you get it, I absolutely loved the book, reading was a pleasure and a roller-coaster of emotions. I can't even explain how excited I am for the second book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨️ I received this ebook as an ARC from the author ✨️
For the readers who've been looking for romantasy that's so polished and rich the words taste like fine wine and beg to be read again so you can drink them in a second time...
For the contemporary romance crowd who's thinking they might want to try fantasy, but they don't know where to start...
And for all of the feral readers who love to escape to new words and feel ✨️all the things✨️
Meet your new favorite author, G.B. Bancroft!
Her prose is so polished it makes me want to breathe it instead of air. Her ability to capture emotion is just exquisite, and her depiction of Alice's grief (she's a widow) is breathtakingly good. Literally.
Yes, this has a cliff-hanger ending, because it's the first in a duology, but honestly I felt like there was a softer landing than some of the other cliffs I've been left on. I finished feeling excited for book two, rather than screaming in emotional agony. So, it'll be okay. 🩷
For the readers who've been looking for romantasy that's so polished and rich the words taste like fine wine and beg to be read again so you can drink them in a second time...
For the contemporary romance crowd who's thinking they might want to try fantasy, but they don't know where to start...
And for all of the feral readers who love to escape to new words and feel ✨️all the things✨️
Meet your new favorite author, G.B. Bancroft!
Her prose is so polished it makes me want to breathe it instead of air. Her ability to capture emotion is just exquisite, and her depiction of Alice's grief (she's a widow) is breathtakingly good. Literally.
Yes, this has a cliff-hanger ending, because it's the first in a duology, but honestly I felt like there was a softer landing than some of the other cliffs I've been left on. I finished feeling excited for book two, rather than screaming in emotional agony. So, it'll be okay. 🩷
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
After losing her husband two years ago, Alice continues to grapple with her grief and uproots her to her late grandmother’s home in Meadowbrook. But what awaits her forces her to face long-kept secrets to unlock her passion and potential.
Tropes:
👀Multi POV
❤️🩹Love after loss
☝🏻Chosen one
💞Fated mates & rejected mates
🤭Good girl AND good boy
🚪Why choose (MFFM) portal romantasy
🌶️Open door
I loved seeing Alice navigate the relationships with her unexpected love interests. She’s lost and unmoored but finds safe harbor in a handsome librarian, flirty cafe owner, and even their grumpy housemate. There’s so many delicious microtropes but they are best kept as a surprise 🤭
The Boy in the Painting is a poignant portrayal of grief, second chances, and finding home. I cannot wait to see how this emotional and steamy portal romance concludes!
Huge thanks to the author and RR Book Tours for the gorgeous review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
After losing her husband two years ago, Alice continues to grapple with her grief and uproots her to her late grandmother’s home in Meadowbrook. But what awaits her forces her to face long-kept secrets to unlock her passion and potential.
Tropes:
👀Multi POV
❤️🩹Love after loss
☝🏻Chosen one
💞Fated mates & rejected mates
🤭Good girl AND good boy
🚪Why choose (MFFM) portal romantasy
🌶️Open door
I loved seeing Alice navigate the relationships with her unexpected love interests. She’s lost and unmoored but finds safe harbor in a handsome librarian, flirty cafe owner, and even their grumpy housemate. There’s so many delicious microtropes but they are best kept as a surprise 🤭
The Boy in the Painting is a poignant portrayal of grief, second chances, and finding home. I cannot wait to see how this emotional and steamy portal romance concludes!
Huge thanks to the author and RR Book Tours for the gorgeous review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.
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