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How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26Standing at the foot of my comatose crush’s hospital bed is not how I envisioned becoming Hayden’s partner. First I needed to find out if he’s even into the theys, then hopefully some flirting, a cute date up in the valley or at Taco Bell, a kiss. The normal cutesy stuff, but this? No! Hayden wasn’t supposed to get hurt, especially not a trauma-induced extended nap from slipping on a wet floor at my job. On top of that, one of the nurses told his family we’re dating. Sure, it might have been because that's what I told her when I was trying to get to his room to see him…but it’s not true.
The wild part is his family believes it! They really think I’m the Hayden Marcus’s short little curly-haired enbyfriend. His partner! With one little lie, now they think he isn’t straight, and I’m terrified he actually is.
So now I’m having Thanksgiving with a family I barely know because, as far as they’re concerned, I’m “dating” their son. I can’t tell if this is a sign my love spell worked, or if I royally messed up and I’m being punished. I mean this family is amazing. It’s everything I wish I had, and honestly more. But it’s all based on a lie.
Oh, and as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, my comatose crush has an even cuter brother who I think I might be falling for…
The wild part is his family believes it! They really think I’m the Hayden Marcus’s short little curly-haired enbyfriend. His partner! With one little lie, now they think he isn’t straight, and I’m terrified he actually is.
So now I’m having Thanksgiving with a family I barely know because, as far as they’re concerned, I’m “dating” their son. I can’t tell if this is a sign my love spell worked, or if I royally messed up and I’m being punished. I mean this family is amazing. It’s everything I wish I had, and honestly more. But it’s all based on a lie.
Oh, and as if all of that wasn’t bad enough, my comatose crush has an even cuter brother who I think I might be falling for…
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication March 10, 2026
12 people are currently reading
3648 people want to read
About the author
Jordon Greene
19 books623 followersJordon Greene is an award-winning author and software engineer raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. His work ranges from tense horror thrillers to cute romance stories, however, Jordon's heart is most invested in writing young adult romance stories where both young and young-at-heart readers alike can feel the acceptance and worth they so deserve. Since his debut young adult novel in 2019, Jordon's stories have reached young readers with messages of diversity, found family, and hope while also handling difficult issues.
An alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.S. in Political Science, Jordon works professionally as a senior software engineer. When he isn't writing or at work you can usually find Jordon at his favorite little coffee shop with his found family, cuddling with his little demon spawns (aka cats), or posting online about his latest Asian-pop music or BL drama obsession. Jordon lives in Kannapolis, NC with his children Genji and Freyr (aka the aforementioned demon spawn).
Jordon is the award-winning author of EVERY WORD YOU NEVER SAID and A MARK ON MY SOUL.
An alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a B.S. in Political Science, Jordon works professionally as a senior software engineer. When he isn't writing or at work you can usually find Jordon at his favorite little coffee shop with his found family, cuddling with his little demon spawns (aka cats), or posting online about his latest Asian-pop music or BL drama obsession. Jordon lives in Kannapolis, NC with his children Genji and Freyr (aka the aforementioned demon spawn).
Jordon is the award-winning author of EVERY WORD YOU NEVER SAID and A MARK ON MY SOUL.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 3, 2025
Fun witchy YA read! 4 stars!
Kenzie has a massive crush on Hayden.
Things get tricky when Hayden comes into Kenzie’s place of work, hits his head and ends up in a coma.
Kenzie pretends to be dating Hayden to just to check on him in the hospital, but the small lie quickly spirals into something much bigger.
Now, Kenzie finds themself falling for Hayden’s brother, Zach.
Kenzie’s lie looms over them- and threatens to ruin everything.
I thought this was a nice story.
Kenzie is a witch, so it has some magical elements.
While I don’t feel like magic is a huge part of the story, it does play a role, and adds a wymsical feel to it.
I’ve not read anything from this author before, but now I will be looking into his other books!
I thought the writing of this one was quite nice.
It has a classic young adult novel feel, but with a lot of moderness- which I love. It was also simple, but engaging at the same time.
The only thing i struggled with here, was connecting to Kenzie. They felt a bit immature, even for their age. They also seemed to be a little bit of gaslighter at times, turning things back around on others when they were the one in the wrong.
But i try to keep in mind that Kenzie is not an adult, so the emotional maturity isn’t always there. Which makes sense.
Overall, a pretty nice book and I enjoyed it!
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Franklin/Kerr Press | F/K Teen and author Jordan Greene for providing me with the eARC of “How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 10th, 2026
Kenzie has a massive crush on Hayden.
Things get tricky when Hayden comes into Kenzie’s place of work, hits his head and ends up in a coma.
Kenzie pretends to be dating Hayden to just to check on him in the hospital, but the small lie quickly spirals into something much bigger.
Now, Kenzie finds themself falling for Hayden’s brother, Zach.
Kenzie’s lie looms over them- and threatens to ruin everything.
I thought this was a nice story.
Kenzie is a witch, so it has some magical elements.
While I don’t feel like magic is a huge part of the story, it does play a role, and adds a wymsical feel to it.
I’ve not read anything from this author before, but now I will be looking into his other books!
I thought the writing of this one was quite nice.
It has a classic young adult novel feel, but with a lot of moderness- which I love. It was also simple, but engaging at the same time.
The only thing i struggled with here, was connecting to Kenzie. They felt a bit immature, even for their age. They also seemed to be a little bit of gaslighter at times, turning things back around on others when they were the one in the wrong.
But i try to keep in mind that Kenzie is not an adult, so the emotional maturity isn’t always there. Which makes sense.
Overall, a pretty nice book and I enjoyed it!
A huge thank you to Netgalley, Franklin/Kerr Press | F/K Teen and author Jordan Greene for providing me with the eARC of “How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend”, in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: March 10th, 2026
September 5, 2025
THIS WAS SO CUTE IM MELTING ACTUALLY
Thank you @franklinkerrpress for an advanced copy to review!
This book was *SO MUCH FUN!!!* I was so obsessed with both Kenzie and Zachary and I really loved this While You Were Sleeping homage, but make it teens and witches. I had an absolute blast reading this book and I actually stretched it out a couple of days because I didn’t want to finish.
Kenzie was such a great character, accidentally becoming Hayden’s enbyfriend when Hayden slips and falls and goes into a coma. It’s like a comedy of errors getting to that point, which was amazing to watch. I loved Kenzie’s inner monologue so much, it was so endearing to see them struggle. They made me laugh and get frustrated because I was *SO* rooting for them and Zachary!!! (This is not a criticism, I LOVED IT - this means that I was so invested in the character of Kenzie that I felt for them!!!) I also was interested in Kenzie’s dynamic with their mother.
Zachary!!!!!!! Came by surprise!!!! And made me love him so much. Gosh he was such a little cutie face with all of his flirting and the first kiss was *SO* cute??? I was dyin. I also really just loved how they pursued Kenzie and how they gave them the nickname of Mack. THAT ENDING HAD ME SQUEALING SO HARD.
I love young love. This was beyond adorable. I am definitely going to preorder a copy for my shelf.
Thank you @franklinkerrpress for an advanced copy to review!
This book was *SO MUCH FUN!!!* I was so obsessed with both Kenzie and Zachary and I really loved this While You Were Sleeping homage, but make it teens and witches. I had an absolute blast reading this book and I actually stretched it out a couple of days because I didn’t want to finish.
Kenzie was such a great character, accidentally becoming Hayden’s enbyfriend when Hayden slips and falls and goes into a coma. It’s like a comedy of errors getting to that point, which was amazing to watch. I loved Kenzie’s inner monologue so much, it was so endearing to see them struggle. They made me laugh and get frustrated because I was *SO* rooting for them and Zachary!!! (This is not a criticism, I LOVED IT - this means that I was so invested in the character of Kenzie that I felt for them!!!) I also was interested in Kenzie’s dynamic with their mother.
Zachary!!!!!!! Came by surprise!!!! And made me love him so much. Gosh he was such a little cutie face with all of his flirting and the first kiss was *SO* cute??? I was dyin. I also really just loved how they pursued Kenzie and how they gave them the nickname of Mack. THAT ENDING HAD ME SQUEALING SO HARD.
I love young love. This was beyond adorable. I am definitely going to preorder a copy for my shelf.
September 4, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
First of all, this cover is so pretty! I fell in love with the cover before I realized I’ve read more books of this author. So that made me even more excited when I was approved to read this arc🤭 (thank you so much Franklin/Kerr press and Jordan Greene for letting me read this in return for an honest review)
I really liked this book, queer ya books will always have a special place in my heart. I liked Kenzie as a character, I think young non binary people would be able to feel seen by them. Some of the choices Kenzie mad did bother me a little bit. They let the lie go way further then was necessary.
I did love how they discovered that the perfect image of Hayden they had in their head wasn’t the truth. Hayden definitely wasn’t bad but Kenzie had so much more in common with Zack. Also Zack going to the abandoned house with them even tho he really doesn’t like scary stuff melted my heart.
There was only one little plot hole that kind of bothered me. Even if Hayden really had the amnesia and didn’t remember dating Kenzie, there would have been pictures of them together, or at least text messages. If someone told me I was dating them and I didn’t have their number or a text thread to look back to I would definitely think the whole situation is sus
First of all, this cover is so pretty! I fell in love with the cover before I realized I’ve read more books of this author. So that made me even more excited when I was approved to read this arc🤭 (thank you so much Franklin/Kerr press and Jordan Greene for letting me read this in return for an honest review)
I really liked this book, queer ya books will always have a special place in my heart. I liked Kenzie as a character, I think young non binary people would be able to feel seen by them. Some of the choices Kenzie mad did bother me a little bit. They let the lie go way further then was necessary.
I did love how they discovered that the perfect image of Hayden they had in their head wasn’t the truth. Hayden definitely wasn’t bad but Kenzie had so much more in common with Zack. Also Zack going to the abandoned house with them even tho he really doesn’t like scary stuff melted my heart.
There was only one little plot hole that kind of bothered me. Even if Hayden really had the amnesia and didn’t remember dating Kenzie, there would have been pictures of them together, or at least text messages. If someone told me I was dating them and I didn’t have their number or a text thread to look back to I would definitely think the whole situation is sus
January 19, 2026
Thank you so much Franklin/Kerr press , NetGalley and Jordan Greene for this ARC
Kenzie is working as a Barista and has a crush on one of their Regulars. They would be a perfect couple if only they could talk to Hayden for once and not be awkward as hell.
I Some of the choices Kenzie mad did bother me. They let the lie go way further then was necessary and hurt so many people.
It was a fun quick read that had me rooting for Zack the whole time.
Kenzie is working as a Barista and has a crush on one of their Regulars. They would be a perfect couple if only they could talk to Hayden for once and not be awkward as hell.
I Some of the choices Kenzie mad did bother me. They let the lie go way further then was necessary and hurt so many people.
It was a fun quick read that had me rooting for Zack the whole time.
November 12, 2025
*3.5
This book had such a fun premise and cozy vibes! I really enjoyed following along with an enby main character. It is always refreshing to see more queer representation like this in YA. The woodsy, witchy atmosphere was right up my alley and made the setting feel extra charming.
That said, I expected a bit more magic. The cover and description make it sound like there would be more emphasis on the magic, but the magical elements take a bit of a back seat to the relationships and character drama. The constant lying from the main character did get a little frustrating too. I understand that they are young, but the doubling down was pretty tough when a lot could be solved with some honesty.
The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking, but overall, this was a sweet, sort of witchy read with a cozy small-town feel. Also, can someone please make the café in this book real? I would be there every weekend. ☕🌿
This book had such a fun premise and cozy vibes! I really enjoyed following along with an enby main character. It is always refreshing to see more queer representation like this in YA. The woodsy, witchy atmosphere was right up my alley and made the setting feel extra charming.
That said, I expected a bit more magic. The cover and description make it sound like there would be more emphasis on the magic, but the magical elements take a bit of a back seat to the relationships and character drama. The constant lying from the main character did get a little frustrating too. I understand that they are young, but the doubling down was pretty tough when a lot could be solved with some honesty.
The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my liking, but overall, this was a sweet, sort of witchy read with a cozy small-town feel. Also, can someone please make the café in this book real? I would be there every weekend. ☕🌿
September 19, 2025
A huge thanks goes out to NetGalley, Franklin/Kerr Press, and Jordon Greene for letting me read How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend, publishing on February 28, 2026, in exchange for an honest review.
Before I move on to my review, I also want to thank Jordon Greene for teaching me the term for a non-binary person in a romantic relationship.
I was absolutely enamored by this story. This young adult novel does a great job of combining rom-com vibes while also exploring deeper and more meaningful topics like self-discovery, gender identity, family, and love—all delivered beautifully, without overwhelming or overcomplicating things.
Our main lead, Mackenzie, a non-binary kitchen witch, is a tiny bit awkward but also one of the cutest cutie-patooties I’ve ever encountered on paper. Honestly, I think we all have a little bit of Mackenzie in us.
So, when Mackenzie’s crush Hayden—someone they don’t really talk to aside from taking his coffee order—gets into a rather unfortunate accident and falls into a coma, Mackenzie (bless their soul) sneaks into his hospital room and introduces themselves to Hayden’s family as his partner. Already wild, right? Well, it gets even better, because in comes Zachery, Hayden’s brother—and someone Mackenzie gets very close with. Very close, if you catch my drift.
Anyway, it’s a mess, just as you’d expect from a “fake dating where only one party knows about it” trope combined with a “my crush’s brother” trope.
The found family theme hits hard in this book.
But my favorite part is the natural, thoughtful exploration of queer identity, handled without clichés or stereotypes.
On top of that? The cover is stunning.
Pre-order it or put it on your TBR right now.
Before I move on to my review, I also want to thank Jordon Greene for teaching me the term for a non-binary person in a romantic relationship.
I was absolutely enamored by this story. This young adult novel does a great job of combining rom-com vibes while also exploring deeper and more meaningful topics like self-discovery, gender identity, family, and love—all delivered beautifully, without overwhelming or overcomplicating things.
Our main lead, Mackenzie, a non-binary kitchen witch, is a tiny bit awkward but also one of the cutest cutie-patooties I’ve ever encountered on paper. Honestly, I think we all have a little bit of Mackenzie in us.
So, when Mackenzie’s crush Hayden—someone they don’t really talk to aside from taking his coffee order—gets into a rather unfortunate accident and falls into a coma, Mackenzie (bless their soul) sneaks into his hospital room and introduces themselves to Hayden’s family as his partner. Already wild, right? Well, it gets even better, because in comes Zachery, Hayden’s brother—and someone Mackenzie gets very close with. Very close, if you catch my drift.
Anyway, it’s a mess, just as you’d expect from a “fake dating where only one party knows about it” trope combined with a “my crush’s brother” trope.
The found family theme hits hard in this book.
But my favorite part is the natural, thoughtful exploration of queer identity, handled without clichés or stereotypes.
On top of that? The cover is stunning.
Pre-order it or put it on your TBR right now.
September 7, 2025
5★
First, I'd like to thank Netgalley, F/K Teen Press, and author Jordon Greene for providing me with the eARC of “How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend”, in exchange for my honest review!
Now, onto the review itself. Getting into this book, I expected a cozy urban fantasy like Love at Second Sight, which motivated me to request this ARC in the first place. I only skimmed the summary, so, boy, was I surprised to find out our MC, Kenzie, to be the more realistic kind of a witch, with spells whispered over Walmart candles, jar necklaces filled with herbs, and crystals. Now, this was in no way a bad surprise, don't get me wrong, I loved Kenzie's character and it was incredibly refreshing for me to see some AMAB nonbinary representation.
Speaking of representation, this book is exactly what I meant when I said we need more of it in the literary industry. Each character was so beautifully crafted, and all of them were different and had their own personalities—even if, I must admit, I was getting a bit lost in the Marcus family. As for Kenzie themself, I didn't agree with many of their decisions, but each time that happened, it reminded me time and time again that they are just a teenager, that they're allowed to make bad choices and mistakes. And, in the end, it all turned out well for them! I absolutely adored Zach's character. Yes, he was a bit of an ass in the beginning, but he was only trying to protect his older brother. In the end, he always had Kenzie's back and always tried to stand by them, even when they weren't exactly nice to him. Hayden, on the other hand, I could stand less and less each chapter after he woke up. I mean, yeah, bro was in a coma and suddenly gained an enbyfriend, but still...
The plot was quite fast-paced, which I can appreciate in a book. It wasn't too fast, so all the important information was still there, and I, as a reader, could enjoy all the sweet scenes, but it also didn't unnecessarily drag on, like some YA books tend to. Kenzie's constant inner battle between their conscience and their selfishness—or however else I could call the desire to continue lying about dating their crush—was written so well, I could believe the author went through it himself. I also just LOVED the character of Super Old Gran, cause, I mean, we'd all love to have a great-grandma like that.
Overall, this book was a beautifully cozy read, and once I got invested in it, I couldn't put it down. It had everything you could want in a queer YA romance, and yet it was like nothing I've read before.
First, I'd like to thank Netgalley, F/K Teen Press, and author Jordon Greene for providing me with the eARC of “How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend”, in exchange for my honest review!
Now, onto the review itself. Getting into this book, I expected a cozy urban fantasy like Love at Second Sight, which motivated me to request this ARC in the first place. I only skimmed the summary, so, boy, was I surprised to find out our MC, Kenzie, to be the more realistic kind of a witch, with spells whispered over Walmart candles, jar necklaces filled with herbs, and crystals. Now, this was in no way a bad surprise, don't get me wrong, I loved Kenzie's character and it was incredibly refreshing for me to see some AMAB nonbinary representation.
Speaking of representation, this book is exactly what I meant when I said we need more of it in the literary industry. Each character was so beautifully crafted, and all of them were different and had their own personalities—even if, I must admit, I was getting a bit lost in the Marcus family. As for Kenzie themself, I didn't agree with many of their decisions, but each time that happened, it reminded me time and time again that they are just a teenager, that they're allowed to make bad choices and mistakes. And, in the end, it all turned out well for them! I absolutely adored Zach's character. Yes, he was a bit of an ass in the beginning, but he was only trying to protect his older brother. In the end, he always had Kenzie's back and always tried to stand by them, even when they weren't exactly nice to him. Hayden, on the other hand, I could stand less and less each chapter after he woke up. I mean, yeah, bro was in a coma and suddenly gained an enbyfriend, but still...
The plot was quite fast-paced, which I can appreciate in a book. It wasn't too fast, so all the important information was still there, and I, as a reader, could enjoy all the sweet scenes, but it also didn't unnecessarily drag on, like some YA books tend to. Kenzie's constant inner battle between their conscience and their selfishness—or however else I could call the desire to continue lying about dating their crush—was written so well, I could believe the author went through it himself. I also just LOVED the character of Super Old Gran, cause, I mean, we'd all love to have a great-grandma like that.
Overall, this book was a beautifully cozy read, and once I got invested in it, I couldn't put it down. It had everything you could want in a queer YA romance, and yet it was like nothing I've read before.
September 5, 2025
Love spells aren’t supposed to feel like lies, but sometimes they lead you somewhere unexpected ✨
I picked up How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend for the cozy vibes, the queer representation, and that sprinkle of magic, and it delivered all of that - and more. Kenzie, our nonbinary kitchen witch, feels so real and relatable and seeing their identity woven naturally into the story was such a comfort
The heart of the book, for me, was the found-family energy. Hayden’s family is warm, chaotic, and completely lovable, and the way Kenzie navigates their trust and care gave the story a depth beyond the usual rom-com beats. And then there’s Zack - gentle, sweet, and quietly brave. The moments with him, like the abandoned house scene, were the kind of scenes that make you sigh and grin at the same time
The magic itself is soft and whimsical, more aesthetic than central, which kept the focus on relationships and feelings. And yes, Kenzie’s choices are messy - very teen, very real - but that’s part of their charm and the story’s honesty
Overall, this is a tender, queer, witchy YA rom-com that left me smiling. It’s not perfect, but its warmth, humor and inclusivity make it a really enjoyable read
3.5/5 ✨ whimsical, affirming and full of heart
I picked up How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend for the cozy vibes, the queer representation, and that sprinkle of magic, and it delivered all of that - and more. Kenzie, our nonbinary kitchen witch, feels so real and relatable and seeing their identity woven naturally into the story was such a comfort
The heart of the book, for me, was the found-family energy. Hayden’s family is warm, chaotic, and completely lovable, and the way Kenzie navigates their trust and care gave the story a depth beyond the usual rom-com beats. And then there’s Zack - gentle, sweet, and quietly brave. The moments with him, like the abandoned house scene, were the kind of scenes that make you sigh and grin at the same time
The magic itself is soft and whimsical, more aesthetic than central, which kept the focus on relationships and feelings. And yes, Kenzie’s choices are messy - very teen, very real - but that’s part of their charm and the story’s honesty
Overall, this is a tender, queer, witchy YA rom-com that left me smiling. It’s not perfect, but its warmth, humor and inclusivity make it a really enjoyable read
3.5/5 ✨ whimsical, affirming and full of heart
August 31, 2025
⭐️ 4/5
This was an excellent book and a truly enjoyable read. The portrayal of gender and identity was thoughtfully and sensitively handled. I appreciated the depiction of teenage experiences and dilemmas. Additionally, the representation of spirituality, including manifestation and the law of attraction, was well done.
Mackenzie is a wonderful character who has a crush on a coffee shop regular and attempts to manifest bringing their love into their life. It’s important to remember that when practicing manifestation, clarity and precision in your intentions are essential!
A fantastic read, especially for younger audiences or anyone who enjoys romance that supports diverse identities in a single story!
This was an excellent book and a truly enjoyable read. The portrayal of gender and identity was thoughtfully and sensitively handled. I appreciated the depiction of teenage experiences and dilemmas. Additionally, the representation of spirituality, including manifestation and the law of attraction, was well done.
Mackenzie is a wonderful character who has a crush on a coffee shop regular and attempts to manifest bringing their love into their life. It’s important to remember that when practicing manifestation, clarity and precision in your intentions are essential!
A fantastic read, especially for younger audiences or anyone who enjoys romance that supports diverse identities in a single story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2025
I am so happy that I got the chance to read this ARC! Big thank you to the author Jordon Greene and F/K Teen for this opportunity to read the ARC for this book through NetGalley.
A wonderful story highlighting the feelings of having a teenage crush and navigating misunderstandings in life. What starts out as just a crush quickly turns into the pressure of keeping up with the expectations that are being heaped upon Kenzie (from both themselves and others). Add in that now they're spending a lot of time with Hayden's brother, Zach - who makes them feel things that they thought only Hayden would - what is an assumed enbyfriend to do? I think teens will benefit from being taught that we all make mistakes - it just matters how you handle it in the end but also that you own up to it - especially when it involves disclosing information about someone else that they may not have been ready for. Excellent ending that summarized that we don't always end up where we think we will and sometimes that's for the better!
A wonderful story highlighting the feelings of having a teenage crush and navigating misunderstandings in life. What starts out as just a crush quickly turns into the pressure of keeping up with the expectations that are being heaped upon Kenzie (from both themselves and others). Add in that now they're spending a lot of time with Hayden's brother, Zach - who makes them feel things that they thought only Hayden would - what is an assumed enbyfriend to do? I think teens will benefit from being taught that we all make mistakes - it just matters how you handle it in the end but also that you own up to it - especially when it involves disclosing information about someone else that they may not have been ready for. Excellent ending that summarized that we don't always end up where we think we will and sometimes that's for the better!
October 25, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Franklin/Kerr Press for the ARC of How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend!
The moment I saw the cover and read what it was about, I knew I had to request it and luckily, I got approved! The book comes out next year, on March 10th.
It hooked me really easily. I mean, give me a group of queer teens with more social life than me, and I’m sold. But even though I was super motivated and wanted to love this story, I just couldn’t. Unfortunately, I never managed to connect with the main character the way I hoped.
I get that they’re only sixteen, but the amount of lying and manipulation was exhausting. Kenzie constantly makes bad decisions, lies to literally everyone, and even gaslights the characters they have romantic feelings for it’s just too much. I understood the parts about not feeling seen or accepted, and I genuinely loved the warmth and kindness of the romantic interest’s family, but the endless lies and refusal to take responsibility completely ruined it for me.
As for the magic part (which was one of the main elements that first caught my attention), it honestly felt underdeveloped. It’s an interesting concept, but it only shows up in a few specific scenes just to move the plot along, and it never feels like a real part of the story.
And the ending… after an entire book of Kenzie lying to everyone, everything gets wrapped up in just a couple of pages. There’s barely any consequence, they end up with one of their love interests, and everyone forgives them instantly. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t buy that.
Overall, the premise is fun and the found-family element is sweet, but the main character’s behavior made it really hard for me to enjoy this one the way I wanted to.
The moment I saw the cover and read what it was about, I knew I had to request it and luckily, I got approved! The book comes out next year, on March 10th.
It hooked me really easily. I mean, give me a group of queer teens with more social life than me, and I’m sold. But even though I was super motivated and wanted to love this story, I just couldn’t. Unfortunately, I never managed to connect with the main character the way I hoped.
I get that they’re only sixteen, but the amount of lying and manipulation was exhausting. Kenzie constantly makes bad decisions, lies to literally everyone, and even gaslights the characters they have romantic feelings for it’s just too much. I understood the parts about not feeling seen or accepted, and I genuinely loved the warmth and kindness of the romantic interest’s family, but the endless lies and refusal to take responsibility completely ruined it for me.
As for the magic part (which was one of the main elements that first caught my attention), it honestly felt underdeveloped. It’s an interesting concept, but it only shows up in a few specific scenes just to move the plot along, and it never feels like a real part of the story.
And the ending… after an entire book of Kenzie lying to everyone, everything gets wrapped up in just a couple of pages. There’s barely any consequence, they end up with one of their love interests, and everyone forgives them instantly. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t buy that.
Overall, the premise is fun and the found-family element is sweet, but the main character’s behavior made it really hard for me to enjoy this one the way I wanted to.
September 25, 2025
What a sweet, fun, and endearing little YA romance this was! If you're acquainted with Jordon Greene's works, you'll know you can expect laugh-out-loud shenanigans, beautiful found family, a nuanced look at complex topics such as grief or the loss of a parent, and - above all - a swoonworthy love story between two young people you will not be able to not root for. If you're not familiar with Jordon's previous works, though... You are in for a treat, because this is an author you will definitely be adding to your auto-buy list once you finish "How (Not) to Conjure A Boyfriend".
Young non-binary teen witch Mackenzie has a massive crush on Hayden Marcus, their high school's star basketball player whose smoky grey eyes and perfect smile are enough to make Mackenzie weak in the knees. There's no way Hayden would ever notice them, though. Why would a jock like him ever look at a scrawny enby barista twice? One can dream, though, or so Mackenzie tells themself when they carry out a ritual to ask Freyja, one of the goddesses they have faith in, for help with their love life... Which comes in the shape of Hayden slipping on the café's wet floor, banging his head against the tiles, and slipping into a coma. Before Mackenzie can so much as process what's going on, one of the nurses has announced them as Hayden's partner to the entire Marcus family, who are both shaken by the horrendous accident and stunned to meet Hayden's enbyfriend when, for all intents and purposes, they all thought Hayden was straight. Even though Kenzie knows they should come clean, it's hard to think of losing the Marcus family when they've taken them under their wing as another one of their own. But it's getting harder and harder to keep up the farce, and the more time that Mackenzie spends with Hayden's brother Zachary, the more afraid they are that admitting to their lie might mean losing Zach forever.
Fake dating gets an original and clever twist in this novel, which takes us on a wild ride that blends one-sided fake dating with forbidden romance. It was such a fun ride that I admit to delaying finishing it, merely because I didn't want the book to be over! Mackenzie is an endearing main character whose antics were both hilarious and relatable, and I was very invested as they struggled to do the right thing due to an acute fear of being rejected by a family whose warmth and love are too good to lose. As I knew I could expect from Jordon Greene (devoted Noahverse reader here), I found myself on the verge of tears as Mackenzie struggled to do what they knew was right. Something that I love to see in YA stories is the depth, complexity, and nuanced discussion of difficult topics that are often reserved for adult fiction, and I was extremely pleased to find it in "How (Not) To Conjure a Boyfriend". While the prose was light-hearted and definitely sounded to me like a teen's narrative voice, the story was in no way simple or one-dimensional.
Another thing I deeply appreciated in "How (Not) To Conjure a Boyfriend" was how respectful the story felt. While having a non-binary main character might not be as uncommon anymore, there still aren't too many stories out there that do not focus, in one way or another and to some extent, on the discrimination and rejection faced by non-binary folks day in and day out. Granted, this is a very real issue that does happen, but every now and then it feels like a warm hug to read about a non-binary main character whose gender identity is never questioned or dismissed. In this sense, it felt extraordinary to watch Mackenzie struggle with age-appropriate stuff such as school, the idea of college or crushes, without their identity being reduced solely to how hard it is to be a non-binary person nowadays. Allowing an enby teen to have issues unrelated to their gender identity, as well as to be accepted as they are without any questions or reluctance to treat them with dignity, was a powerful choice, and I have to take my hat off for Jordon Greene because this book was filled with enby joy precisely because the non-binary character was allowed to be their own person outside of their gender identity.
The writing was really compelling, to the point that the world seemed to dissolve around me every time I picked up "How (Not) To Conjure a Boyfriend", and I was really mesmerized by the very beautiful lines here and there that packed a punch and a half. Half of their impact comes from them being objectively beautiful quotes, but the other half stems from how cheerfully YA Mackenzie is as a narrator. Many scenes were endearing and had me swooning merely because of how adorable they were, and it was super cute to have Zach fall for Mackenzie first in a story told from Mackenzie's POV! All the little cues and hints at Zach's feelings had me squealing, and Mack's obliviousness made it feel super realistic and had me sighing and swooning and kicking my feet.
Oh, and please let's give it up for Super Old Gran!! What an MVP that woman was, she made me laugh hard enough with her stellar interventions that my belly ended up hurting from cackling so much. Her and Eliza both!! Eliza was an incredible character in that she was someone Mackenzie could look up to, both as a practising witch and as someone who is clearly different from the Marcus family but longs to belong nonetheless. It was really incredible to see Eliza and Mackenzie develop a mentor-mentee relationship that was so loving, and it warmed my heart to see that Mackenzie and their faith were taken seriously. Witchcraft is often scoffed at nowadays, particularly when the people practising it are young, but this novel was incredibly respectful. It never came across as judgemental in any way, which felt like a very brave choice, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how thorough Greene's research clearly was. There were many small day-to-day rituals that are often overlooked whenever someone who doesn't practise witchcraft writes about witch characters, and there were spot-on conversations about what witchcraft is and means to those who practise it.
All in all this was an extraordinary and fun read that you absolutely cannot miss out on!
Young non-binary teen witch Mackenzie has a massive crush on Hayden Marcus, their high school's star basketball player whose smoky grey eyes and perfect smile are enough to make Mackenzie weak in the knees. There's no way Hayden would ever notice them, though. Why would a jock like him ever look at a scrawny enby barista twice? One can dream, though, or so Mackenzie tells themself when they carry out a ritual to ask Freyja, one of the goddesses they have faith in, for help with their love life... Which comes in the shape of Hayden slipping on the café's wet floor, banging his head against the tiles, and slipping into a coma. Before Mackenzie can so much as process what's going on, one of the nurses has announced them as Hayden's partner to the entire Marcus family, who are both shaken by the horrendous accident and stunned to meet Hayden's enbyfriend when, for all intents and purposes, they all thought Hayden was straight. Even though Kenzie knows they should come clean, it's hard to think of losing the Marcus family when they've taken them under their wing as another one of their own. But it's getting harder and harder to keep up the farce, and the more time that Mackenzie spends with Hayden's brother Zachary, the more afraid they are that admitting to their lie might mean losing Zach forever.
Fake dating gets an original and clever twist in this novel, which takes us on a wild ride that blends one-sided fake dating with forbidden romance. It was such a fun ride that I admit to delaying finishing it, merely because I didn't want the book to be over! Mackenzie is an endearing main character whose antics were both hilarious and relatable, and I was very invested as they struggled to do the right thing due to an acute fear of being rejected by a family whose warmth and love are too good to lose. As I knew I could expect from Jordon Greene (devoted Noahverse reader here), I found myself on the verge of tears as Mackenzie struggled to do what they knew was right. Something that I love to see in YA stories is the depth, complexity, and nuanced discussion of difficult topics that are often reserved for adult fiction, and I was extremely pleased to find it in "How (Not) To Conjure a Boyfriend". While the prose was light-hearted and definitely sounded to me like a teen's narrative voice, the story was in no way simple or one-dimensional.
Another thing I deeply appreciated in "How (Not) To Conjure a Boyfriend" was how respectful the story felt. While having a non-binary main character might not be as uncommon anymore, there still aren't too many stories out there that do not focus, in one way or another and to some extent, on the discrimination and rejection faced by non-binary folks day in and day out. Granted, this is a very real issue that does happen, but every now and then it feels like a warm hug to read about a non-binary main character whose gender identity is never questioned or dismissed. In this sense, it felt extraordinary to watch Mackenzie struggle with age-appropriate stuff such as school, the idea of college or crushes, without their identity being reduced solely to how hard it is to be a non-binary person nowadays. Allowing an enby teen to have issues unrelated to their gender identity, as well as to be accepted as they are without any questions or reluctance to treat them with dignity, was a powerful choice, and I have to take my hat off for Jordon Greene because this book was filled with enby joy precisely because the non-binary character was allowed to be their own person outside of their gender identity.
The writing was really compelling, to the point that the world seemed to dissolve around me every time I picked up "How (Not) To Conjure a Boyfriend", and I was really mesmerized by the very beautiful lines here and there that packed a punch and a half. Half of their impact comes from them being objectively beautiful quotes, but the other half stems from how cheerfully YA Mackenzie is as a narrator. Many scenes were endearing and had me swooning merely because of how adorable they were, and it was super cute to have Zach fall for Mackenzie first in a story told from Mackenzie's POV! All the little cues and hints at Zach's feelings had me squealing, and Mack's obliviousness made it feel super realistic and had me sighing and swooning and kicking my feet.
Oh, and please let's give it up for Super Old Gran!! What an MVP that woman was, she made me laugh hard enough with her stellar interventions that my belly ended up hurting from cackling so much. Her and Eliza both!! Eliza was an incredible character in that she was someone Mackenzie could look up to, both as a practising witch and as someone who is clearly different from the Marcus family but longs to belong nonetheless. It was really incredible to see Eliza and Mackenzie develop a mentor-mentee relationship that was so loving, and it warmed my heart to see that Mackenzie and their faith were taken seriously. Witchcraft is often scoffed at nowadays, particularly when the people practising it are young, but this novel was incredibly respectful. It never came across as judgemental in any way, which felt like a very brave choice, and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how thorough Greene's research clearly was. There were many small day-to-day rituals that are often overlooked whenever someone who doesn't practise witchcraft writes about witch characters, and there were spot-on conversations about what witchcraft is and means to those who practise it.
All in all this was an extraordinary and fun read that you absolutely cannot miss out on!
January 31, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was such a joy to read. A brilliant premise, well carried out. Thoughtful characterization, amazing character work. The protagonist, Kenzie, felt very relatable to teenage me (in so many clever little ways), which made the main conflict of the book hit that much harder. We're not talking about a small misunderstanding or a bit of a squabble: what Kenzie does once the plot kicks off is genuinely messed up, and yet it still feels very plausible for an impressionable teen. Because I had a similar home situation growing up, I found their motivation rang true to the novel's themes. (Cue anecdocte about 16-year-old me dating someone I wasn't that into because they had !!! seven artsy siblings !!! and an incredibly fun home life I really wanted to be a part of.)
I do have one complaint, though, especially because the book's central conflict was so strong: I thought the ending was a bit lackluster overall and didn't deliver the well-rounded finale I'd been hoping for. (End of book spoilers)
Those are, however, my only real gripes with what was otherwise a YA novel full of heart. It was beautifully told, well-paced, and built on a fantastic premise. The writing style is very accessible, and it got a few chuckles out of me. I thought the author managed what we saw on page well to avoid "the boring parts", the time elipsis carried scenes smoothly one after the other, even though a lot of Kenzie's life had to be skipped (e.g. going to school, since it had nothing to do with the plot and would have bogged down the pacing).
I genuinely enjoyed spending time in this book and will be thinking of it often! It was absolutely lovely.
This book was such a joy to read. A brilliant premise, well carried out. Thoughtful characterization, amazing character work. The protagonist, Kenzie, felt very relatable to teenage me (in so many clever little ways), which made the main conflict of the book hit that much harder. We're not talking about a small misunderstanding or a bit of a squabble: what Kenzie does once the plot kicks off is genuinely messed up, and yet it still feels very plausible for an impressionable teen. Because I had a similar home situation growing up, I found their motivation rang true to the novel's themes. (Cue anecdocte about 16-year-old me dating someone I wasn't that into because they had !!! seven artsy siblings !!! and an incredibly fun home life I really wanted to be a part of.)
I do have one complaint, though, especially because the book's central conflict was so strong: I thought the ending was a bit lackluster overall and didn't deliver the well-rounded finale I'd been hoping for. (End of book spoilers)
Those are, however, my only real gripes with what was otherwise a YA novel full of heart. It was beautifully told, well-paced, and built on a fantastic premise. The writing style is very accessible, and it got a few chuckles out of me. I thought the author managed what we saw on page well to avoid "the boring parts", the time elipsis carried scenes smoothly one after the other, even though a lot of Kenzie's life had to be skipped (e.g. going to school, since it had nothing to do with the plot and would have bogged down the pacing).
I genuinely enjoyed spending time in this book and will be thinking of it often! It was absolutely lovely.
October 26, 2025
Final Verdict
DNF at 20 percent. Now before you give up on this book for how I 've rated it I very much want to discuss what this book does well, because 5 years ago, I would've loved this book. The me today does not. And that's because tastes change. Also we have an enby main character which I haven't seen since Otherworldly and this book keeps up with the pronouns which believe me: I've seen so many books do awfully.
For me however: what put me off the book is we get to 20 percent and everyone is just hot to the character. And I believe I have a few enby mates who would love this book because apparently that is the bisexual experience. I have no idea what that feels like. I don't think the main character is bi- I didn't finish the book so what do I know. Which is another reason I don't want people to just look at my review and be like well he didn't like it so I won't.
But you know, the story is definitely interesting. The story literally is what it says on the blurb- that is the tone throughout the book which appeased my adhd too, because everything just kept happening. All the things, all the time, it never got boring.
I was kind of hoping for more information on the three characters on the front of the book, I couldn't get engaged with the characters personally, I was hoping for deep meaningful conversations, I think this is a young adult book but it is very adhd coded. I think this is going to be a brilliant book for a lot of people. I took one look at the cover and was reminded of when I was a huge fan of otome games, so was kind of hoping for something along the lines of the games I used to play. I was hoping that maybe the main character would accidentally summon a boyfriend, but; they don't.
I appreciated the moments though Kenzie's lens. I know if this was a gay story as in two men, I would've probably adored it, but I think not having that personal relation to the story also kind of ruined it for me. Put it this way: If you love Percy Jackson and you are an enby: and you love the narrative within Percy Jackson, how Rick Riordan writes his stories: and you also love corny romance and plot convenience: You absolutely will devour this book. You are going to devour it. You are the target audience, trust me on this one.
There are not many books about enby romances, much less books that keep up with the pronouns, so again to have a book which does that, and see that representation, it was absolutely stunning.
So enby's- go get your free ebook on Netgallery. And when the deadlines gone- go buy it. This one is for you.
Before notes:
Hoping to be an arc reader, if not will buy when released oof. I love the front cover, the colours are cute, and I really like the art on it. The title itself looks fascinating. I want whatever this book is.
DNF at 20 percent. Now before you give up on this book for how I 've rated it I very much want to discuss what this book does well, because 5 years ago, I would've loved this book. The me today does not. And that's because tastes change. Also we have an enby main character which I haven't seen since Otherworldly and this book keeps up with the pronouns which believe me: I've seen so many books do awfully.
For me however: what put me off the book is we get to 20 percent and everyone is just hot to the character. And I believe I have a few enby mates who would love this book because apparently that is the bisexual experience. I have no idea what that feels like. I don't think the main character is bi- I didn't finish the book so what do I know. Which is another reason I don't want people to just look at my review and be like well he didn't like it so I won't.
But you know, the story is definitely interesting. The story literally is what it says on the blurb- that is the tone throughout the book which appeased my adhd too, because everything just kept happening. All the things, all the time, it never got boring.
I was kind of hoping for more information on the three characters on the front of the book, I couldn't get engaged with the characters personally, I was hoping for deep meaningful conversations, I think this is a young adult book but it is very adhd coded. I think this is going to be a brilliant book for a lot of people. I took one look at the cover and was reminded of when I was a huge fan of otome games, so was kind of hoping for something along the lines of the games I used to play. I was hoping that maybe the main character would accidentally summon a boyfriend, but; they don't.
I appreciated the moments though Kenzie's lens. I know if this was a gay story as in two men, I would've probably adored it, but I think not having that personal relation to the story also kind of ruined it for me. Put it this way: If you love Percy Jackson and you are an enby: and you love the narrative within Percy Jackson, how Rick Riordan writes his stories: and you also love corny romance and plot convenience: You absolutely will devour this book. You are going to devour it. You are the target audience, trust me on this one.
There are not many books about enby romances, much less books that keep up with the pronouns, so again to have a book which does that, and see that representation, it was absolutely stunning.
So enby's- go get your free ebook on Netgallery. And when the deadlines gone- go buy it. This one is for you.
Before notes:
Hoping to be an arc reader, if not will buy when released oof. I love the front cover, the colours are cute, and I really like the art on it. The title itself looks fascinating. I want whatever this book is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2026
This is a YA novel with 16yo characters, set in high school. There were elements I really liked: the non-binary representation felt intentional and respectful, including the use of correct pronouns and terms like “enbyfriend.” Hayden’s family was lovely, and the side characters were interesting, even if not explored as deeply as they could have been.
Unfortunately, the main character didn’t work for me. The constant lying and selfish decisions dragged on far too long, especially when there were several moments where a confession felt earned. Instead, the truth only came out when he was cornered, which left the story without emotional growth.
The moment that completely lost me was when Kenzie outed the other boy while he was in a coma. I found this deeply disturbing. Yes, teenagers can be impulsive and reckless, but authors still make choices, and this one felt especially harmful given the book’s emphasis on queer representation.
I also hated the cheating, and it wasn’t even acknowledged in the book. Like that’s ok. It was unnecessary and avoidable.
Kenzie being a witch had potential but was underdeveloped and inconsistent. It was treated more as something they did rather than who they were, and for a supposed kitchen witch, there was very little magic or cooking.
By the end, the lack of real consequences for the lies left me frustrated. While I appreciated the representation and some of the characters, the resolution of the central conflict had no narrative payoff.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Franklin/Kerr Press for the ARC.
Unfortunately, the main character didn’t work for me. The constant lying and selfish decisions dragged on far too long, especially when there were several moments where a confession felt earned. Instead, the truth only came out when he was cornered, which left the story without emotional growth.
The moment that completely lost me was when Kenzie outed the other boy while he was in a coma. I found this deeply disturbing. Yes, teenagers can be impulsive and reckless, but authors still make choices, and this one felt especially harmful given the book’s emphasis on queer representation.
I also hated the cheating, and it wasn’t even acknowledged in the book. Like that’s ok. It was unnecessary and avoidable.
Kenzie being a witch had potential but was underdeveloped and inconsistent. It was treated more as something they did rather than who they were, and for a supposed kitchen witch, there was very little magic or cooking.
By the end, the lack of real consequences for the lies left me frustrated. While I appreciated the representation and some of the characters, the resolution of the central conflict had no narrative payoff.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Franklin/Kerr Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Actual rating 0.5 stars
[Digital copy provided by Netgalley]
I really wanted to like this book. A queer romance inspired by "When We Were Sleeping"? And with a non-binary main character? What a treat! However, there ended up being very little I enjoyed. Kenzie's narration I found very repetitive and never really connected with them. While I did enjoy having a non-binary main character who's into guys and the prominence of inclusive language, we never really see beyond the surface of Kenzie and many threads of the story remain under-explored. That's probably due to the shortness of the book, which also didn't help the pacing. The characters were too bare bones and overall the book lacked depth. I did like having Kenzie be half German which is rare in American books, but didn't find the representation particularly authentic. Why does Kenzie perpetuate the "German sounds angry" stereotype? And also the bilingual moments from their mother felt really forced. At least the German was correct which isn't always the case. One of my biggest issues though was the way the "When We Were Sleeping" aspect of the plot was executed. In that movie the romance between the main character and the brother character is sweet and they never kiss at all in the whole movie, especially not when the brother thinks the main character is taken. Further the family thinking the main character is in a relationship with the comatose man is a genuine mistake. In How (not) to Conjure a Boyfriend Kenzie kisses Zach, as far as he knows fully cheating, and actively lies to gain access to Hayden as well as continuously lying again and again. It adds a lot more agency and guilt to their character. Kenzie is more active in deceiving a family about their relation to their son than Evan in Dear Evan Hansen is, and that's not a good thing. Also I found the witch aspect to be really odd, the world building is so ambiguous about the effects of spells that I found it hard to be engaged by everything.This was just not the book for me at all it turns out, which is a shame.
[Digital copy provided by Netgalley]
I really wanted to like this book. A queer romance inspired by "When We Were Sleeping"? And with a non-binary main character? What a treat! However, there ended up being very little I enjoyed. Kenzie's narration I found very repetitive and never really connected with them. While I did enjoy having a non-binary main character who's into guys and the prominence of inclusive language, we never really see beyond the surface of Kenzie and many threads of the story remain under-explored. That's probably due to the shortness of the book, which also didn't help the pacing. The characters were too bare bones and overall the book lacked depth. I did like having Kenzie be half German which is rare in American books, but didn't find the representation particularly authentic. Why does Kenzie perpetuate the "German sounds angry" stereotype? And also the bilingual moments from their mother felt really forced. At least the German was correct which isn't always the case. One of my biggest issues though was the way the "When We Were Sleeping" aspect of the plot was executed. In that movie the romance between the main character and the brother character is sweet and they never kiss at all in the whole movie, especially not when the brother thinks the main character is taken. Further the family thinking the main character is in a relationship with the comatose man is a genuine mistake. In How (not) to Conjure a Boyfriend Kenzie kisses Zach, as far as he knows fully cheating, and actively lies to gain access to Hayden as well as continuously lying again and again. It adds a lot more agency and guilt to their character. Kenzie is more active in deceiving a family about their relation to their son than Evan in Dear Evan Hansen is, and that's not a good thing. Also I found the witch aspect to be really odd, the world building is so ambiguous about the effects of spells that I found it hard to be engaged by everything.This was just not the book for me at all it turns out, which is a shame.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2025
How NOT to conjure a Boyfriend by @jorbangreene
Thanks you NetGalley, Jordan and Franklin/kerr Press for the eARC
4/5 Stars 🌟
This book was such a quick read! I throughly enjoy the store and concept and I adore ‘home magic witches’ so this felt like the perfect time to read it! Aka Spooky Season haha
We start with the lovely NonBinary Mackenzie who is crushing on a boy who comes into their coffee shop!
One day an accident happens which results in our love interest Hayden’s Family thinking Kenzie is his enbyfriend.
Hayden’s brother doesn’t exactly believe Kenzie and starts to question him about how the relationship really started.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book but honestly it was fantastic, some cringy parts but I think that made the book what it was!
Also lots of K-pop references which has introduced me to the world 😂
Again check it out when it’s fully published!
Thanks you NetGalley, Jordan and Franklin/kerr Press for the eARC
4/5 Stars 🌟
This book was such a quick read! I throughly enjoy the store and concept and I adore ‘home magic witches’ so this felt like the perfect time to read it! Aka Spooky Season haha
We start with the lovely NonBinary Mackenzie who is crushing on a boy who comes into their coffee shop!
One day an accident happens which results in our love interest Hayden’s Family thinking Kenzie is his enbyfriend.
Hayden’s brother doesn’t exactly believe Kenzie and starts to question him about how the relationship really started.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this book but honestly it was fantastic, some cringy parts but I think that made the book what it was!
Also lots of K-pop references which has introduced me to the world 😂
Again check it out when it’s fully published!
October 23, 2025
I adored this book! I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to read it as an E-ARC through NetGalley, so thank you for that.
While reading, I laughed out loud so many times! Funny and relatable, it was just wonderful reading a book from the perspective of a character who was like me, non-binary. The nuances of Mackenzie navigating the potential fears of being out to certain people after already being out to the majority were really relatable, as well as trying to work out if someone is into'theys' or not. I also found the "While You Were Sleeping" style narrative brilliant, I watched that film a lot as a child with my mother, but seeing it refreshed like this was great!
The added bonus of a real life witch being the protagonist was brilliant too, it's something I have/do dabble in and it was a really great addition.
I would definitely suggest this book to friends, and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for a copy for my bookshelf as soon as I am able to get one.
While reading, I laughed out loud so many times! Funny and relatable, it was just wonderful reading a book from the perspective of a character who was like me, non-binary. The nuances of Mackenzie navigating the potential fears of being out to certain people after already being out to the majority were really relatable, as well as trying to work out if someone is into'theys' or not. I also found the "While You Were Sleeping" style narrative brilliant, I watched that film a lot as a child with my mother, but seeing it refreshed like this was great!
The added bonus of a real life witch being the protagonist was brilliant too, it's something I have/do dabble in and it was a really great addition.
I would definitely suggest this book to friends, and I will be keeping my eyes peeled for a copy for my bookshelf as soon as I am able to get one.
October 21, 2025
How (Not) To Conjure A Boyfriend
Jordon Greene
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: YA
Jordon knocked it out of the park with this one!
What do you do when your crush hits their head and is rushed to the hospital? Obviously pretend they’re your boyfriend to get into the room.
How (Not) To Conjure A Boyfriend has such a fun ride. I spent most of it screaming “TELL THEM!” Every ten seconds watching Mackenzie get themselves deeper and deeper in their lie.
Zach was so great! At first he comes off as a jerk, but I think it was hurt that his brother kept his “relationship” a secret. He slowly warms to Kenzie and the scene where the spiral down the K-Pop rabbit hole was adorable.
Hayden is the perfect representation of most of my crushes. They’re cute and you create this swoony personality, when in reality they are NOT who you created in your head!
All in all it was another amazing book from Greene and I am so excited to see what everyone thinks of it when it releases on March 10, 2026!!
Jordon Greene
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: YA
Jordon knocked it out of the park with this one!
What do you do when your crush hits their head and is rushed to the hospital? Obviously pretend they’re your boyfriend to get into the room.
How (Not) To Conjure A Boyfriend has such a fun ride. I spent most of it screaming “TELL THEM!” Every ten seconds watching Mackenzie get themselves deeper and deeper in their lie.
Zach was so great! At first he comes off as a jerk, but I think it was hurt that his brother kept his “relationship” a secret. He slowly warms to Kenzie and the scene where the spiral down the K-Pop rabbit hole was adorable.
Hayden is the perfect representation of most of my crushes. They’re cute and you create this swoony personality, when in reality they are NOT who you created in your head!
All in all it was another amazing book from Greene and I am so excited to see what everyone thinks of it when it releases on March 10, 2026!!
January 20, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and FK Teen Publishing for this ARC!
I’m a sucker for a fake dating romance, so make it queer and add a bit of a mix up??
I was sold from the first page of this book. The characters, the dialogue, the emotion. This book felt so real.
This is the kind of book I wish I had when I was younger and I’m so grateful that kids will be able to stumble upon this masterpiece and see themselves inside
I’m a sucker for a fake dating romance, so make it queer and add a bit of a mix up??
I was sold from the first page of this book. The characters, the dialogue, the emotion. This book felt so real.
This is the kind of book I wish I had when I was younger and I’m so grateful that kids will be able to stumble upon this masterpiece and see themselves inside
September 23, 2025
This was such a charming and heartwarming read. Watching Kenzie figure things out while handling crushes and missteps felt really natural. Their time with Zach was sweet and often made me smile. The story stayed light and enjoyable, leaving me with a genuinely warm feeling at the end.
Thank you to NetGallery and Franklin/Kerr Press for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGallery and Franklin/Kerr Press for the ARC.
December 10, 2025
It's hard being a nonbinary teenage witch. Especially when you're fake dating the brother of the guy you like.
Cute & chaotic, flirty & fun.
Cute & chaotic, flirty & fun.
January 26, 2026
I've been wanting to read this book for a while, and it did not disappoint.
How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend by Jordon Green a gay romance with a non-binary protagonist called Mackenzie, mixed with a sort of love triangle and a sort of fake-dating situation—due to a small lie and perhaps a love spell, Kenzie now pretends to be the enbyfriend of Hayden, who's in a coma and assumed to be straight. And his brother Zachary is kind of cute, too. Sounds messy? It is.
“That must be Zachary. Hold the hell up. The brother’s hot too? Fuck my life.”
I enjoyed the relationship development between Kenzie and Zach. I found myself really invested in them. I especially liked Zach's character. He is cute and caring, and corrects people when they use the wrong pronouns for Kenzie.
On top of that, the family bonding in this book was beautiful. I adored the family of Hayden and Zach so much. The scenes with Kenzie's mom were also incredibly well done. Especially the portrayal of mental health and grief.
That being said, I was often screaming at the pages for Kenzie to just be honest already. There were so many moments where the truth could've come out, and it just didn't. While I absolutely understood their internal conflict, the guilt, and how easy it is to get trapped in your own lies, it was still frustrating at times. Very much a "please stop hurting everyone including yourself" situation.
The witchy elements were another highlight for me. This isn't fantasy-style witchcraft, but rather based on real, existing witch practices. Even though I'm not spiritual at all, I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
My only real critique (aside from the emotional chaos Kenzie put me through) is that some of the German phrases felt off:
"Wie? People don’t just assume your Freunde. And if they do? Du sagst ihnen, dass du das nicht tust."
Thats doesn't make sense.
The cover art? Gorgeous. Truly one of those covers that makes you want to pick the book up immediately.
Overall, this book was emotional, queer, frustrating, and comforting all at once. Honestly, that’s exactly what I want from a romance.
This book comes out on March 10th, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC.
How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend by Jordon Green a gay romance with a non-binary protagonist called Mackenzie, mixed with a sort of love triangle and a sort of fake-dating situation—due to a small lie and perhaps a love spell, Kenzie now pretends to be the enbyfriend of Hayden, who's in a coma and assumed to be straight. And his brother Zachary is kind of cute, too. Sounds messy? It is.
“That must be Zachary. Hold the hell up. The brother’s hot too? Fuck my life.”
I enjoyed the relationship development between Kenzie and Zach. I found myself really invested in them. I especially liked Zach's character. He is cute and caring, and corrects people when they use the wrong pronouns for Kenzie.
On top of that, the family bonding in this book was beautiful. I adored the family of Hayden and Zach so much. The scenes with Kenzie's mom were also incredibly well done. Especially the portrayal of mental health and grief.
That being said, I was often screaming at the pages for Kenzie to just be honest already. There were so many moments where the truth could've come out, and it just didn't. While I absolutely understood their internal conflict, the guilt, and how easy it is to get trapped in your own lies, it was still frustrating at times. Very much a "please stop hurting everyone including yourself" situation.
The witchy elements were another highlight for me. This isn't fantasy-style witchcraft, but rather based on real, existing witch practices. Even though I'm not spiritual at all, I really enjoyed this aspect of the story.
My only real critique (aside from the emotional chaos Kenzie put me through) is that some of the German phrases felt off:
"Wie? People don’t just assume your Freunde. And if they do? Du sagst ihnen, dass du das nicht tust."
Thats doesn't make sense.
The cover art? Gorgeous. Truly one of those covers that makes you want to pick the book up immediately.
Overall, this book was emotional, queer, frustrating, and comforting all at once. Honestly, that’s exactly what I want from a romance.
This book comes out on March 10th, 2026.
Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC.
October 28, 2025
3.25 stars
While this is a sweet, queer, YA take on the classic 90s film While You Weren't Sleeping, this didn't 100% work for me. I also had slightly different expectations going into this. This book is definitely witchy, but in a more Wiccan type of way than a whimsical Pratical Magic kind of way. I had a hard time connecting with Kenzie. They were definitely an OTP teenager, and I may not be the audience for that. I did really like Zach and found him to be rather interesting, but we don't get that much since the whole story is from Kenzie's POV. What I wasn't a huge fan of was the aspect of the story where Kenzie tells Hayden's family they are in a relationship not knowing if he is out as queer or whatever. I don't enjoy forced outings. While Hayden's family is cool about it, it still didn't sit well with me. I liked the concept and the writing is really good, but I ultimately don't this is story was for me. It's a fine enough read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While this is a sweet, queer, YA take on the classic 90s film While You Weren't Sleeping, this didn't 100% work for me. I also had slightly different expectations going into this. This book is definitely witchy, but in a more Wiccan type of way than a whimsical Pratical Magic kind of way. I had a hard time connecting with Kenzie. They were definitely an OTP teenager, and I may not be the audience for that. I did really like Zach and found him to be rather interesting, but we don't get that much since the whole story is from Kenzie's POV. What I wasn't a huge fan of was the aspect of the story where Kenzie tells Hayden's family they are in a relationship not knowing if he is out as queer or whatever. I don't enjoy forced outings. While Hayden's family is cool about it, it still didn't sit well with me. I liked the concept and the writing is really good, but I ultimately don't this is story was for me. It's a fine enough read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2025
This book was a great and fast read. There was witchcraft and love spells. A YA book for sure, but lovers of romcom romance will enjoy how this book progresses.
I received this book on NetGalley and was not compensated for this review.
I received this book on NetGalley and was not compensated for this review.
September 23, 2025
it is hard to like a book when you actually despise the main character, which is just an unfortunate thing when the idea and the settings worked.
i understood they were just 16, but kenzie was a compulsive liar, there's no other way to put it. they spent the entire book lying through their mouth, and gaslighting every single one of the other characters you meet, even when they are given thousands of opportunities to come clean once and for all.
i did enjoy the found family you could see being created throught the story, but kenzie was just an unredeemable aspect for me to actually enjoy the book.
also, i felt like the conflict (which is the entire plot, btw) got resolved in like a chapter and a half, with everyone forgiving kenzie way too fast —
thanks to Franklin/Kerr Press for the arc of how (not) to conjure a boyfriend in exchange of my honest review
i understood they were just 16, but kenzie was a compulsive liar, there's no other way to put it. they spent the entire book lying through their mouth, and gaslighting every single one of the other characters you meet, even when they are given thousands of opportunities to come clean once and for all.
i did enjoy the found family you could see being created throught the story, but kenzie was just an unredeemable aspect for me to actually enjoy the book.
also, i felt like the conflict (which is the entire plot, btw) got resolved in like a chapter and a half, with everyone forgiving kenzie way too fast —
thanks to Franklin/Kerr Press for the arc of how (not) to conjure a boyfriend in exchange of my honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Franklin/Kerr FK Teen for providing How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend by Jordan Green for review consideration.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
I round to the nearest star.
Vibe Check: cozy chaos, crush-induced panic, magical mishaps
How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend is a charming YA-LGBTQIA+ story that blends those awkward teen feelings, fake dating shenanigans, and just enough magic to keep things delightfully messy. Mackenzie is a Norse Kitchen Witch crushing hard on Hayden, a basketball player who becomes unintentionally entangled in a lie that spirals into chaos. This is a story full of humor, heart, and consequences—both magical and emotional.
Jordan Green does a lovely job balancing the magical elements with teen experiences. The Norse mythology and spell work are woven into Mackenzie’s daily life rather than feeling like an info dump, which makes the magic feel cozy and personal. Mackenzie’s voice is authentic and relatable, especially in the way they rationalize bad decisions made in the name of feelings.
This is a story about identity, honesty, and learning that shortcuts—whether magical or social—rarely get you where you’re actually meant to go. The fake dating trope adds plenty of tension and humor, but the book never let me forget the emotional stakes underneath the lie.
What Worked for Me
Mackenzie’s perspective feels true to teenage anxiety, longing, and impulsivity without becoming frustrating.
The Norse witchcraft elements are accessible and cozy, adding flavor without overshadowing the story.
The pacing keeps things moving, with each choice compounding the last in believable ways.
It explores consequences thoughtfully while still keeping the tone light and YA-friendly.
YA readers who enjoy magical realism, fake dating, and stories about figuring yourself out while everything is on fire (sometimes literally, thanks to spell work) should absolutely add this to their TBR. It’s sweet, funny, and grounded, with just enough magic to make the mess sparkle.
Personal Statement on Reading
When I read, I want to disappear into a story—to be so immersed that I feel like I’m inside it, and so emotionally connected that I’m carrying the characters’ anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, or hope with me as I read. Reading books is a way to build empathy, satisfy curiosity, and find something real to chat about with people, and I believe it is imperative that we talk openly about books because they expand our understanding of ourselves and the world. Everyone deserves the opportunity to see themselves in stories and to have access to stories that challenge, comfort, and connect us. My reviews focus on emotional immersion, authenticity, and the lived experience of reading—because the right book, at the right time, can change everything
Thank you to Franklin/Kerr FK Teen for providing How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend by Jordan Green for review consideration.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
I round to the nearest star.
Vibe Check: cozy chaos, crush-induced panic, magical mishaps
How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend is a charming YA-LGBTQIA+ story that blends those awkward teen feelings, fake dating shenanigans, and just enough magic to keep things delightfully messy. Mackenzie is a Norse Kitchen Witch crushing hard on Hayden, a basketball player who becomes unintentionally entangled in a lie that spirals into chaos. This is a story full of humor, heart, and consequences—both magical and emotional.
Jordan Green does a lovely job balancing the magical elements with teen experiences. The Norse mythology and spell work are woven into Mackenzie’s daily life rather than feeling like an info dump, which makes the magic feel cozy and personal. Mackenzie’s voice is authentic and relatable, especially in the way they rationalize bad decisions made in the name of feelings.
This is a story about identity, honesty, and learning that shortcuts—whether magical or social—rarely get you where you’re actually meant to go. The fake dating trope adds plenty of tension and humor, but the book never let me forget the emotional stakes underneath the lie.
What Worked for Me
Mackenzie’s perspective feels true to teenage anxiety, longing, and impulsivity without becoming frustrating.
The Norse witchcraft elements are accessible and cozy, adding flavor without overshadowing the story.
The pacing keeps things moving, with each choice compounding the last in believable ways.
It explores consequences thoughtfully while still keeping the tone light and YA-friendly.
YA readers who enjoy magical realism, fake dating, and stories about figuring yourself out while everything is on fire (sometimes literally, thanks to spell work) should absolutely add this to their TBR. It’s sweet, funny, and grounded, with just enough magic to make the mess sparkle.
Personal Statement on Reading
When I read, I want to disappear into a story—to be so immersed that I feel like I’m inside it, and so emotionally connected that I’m carrying the characters’ anxiety, sadness, anger, fear, or hope with me as I read. Reading books is a way to build empathy, satisfy curiosity, and find something real to chat about with people, and I believe it is imperative that we talk openly about books because they expand our understanding of ourselves and the world. Everyone deserves the opportunity to see themselves in stories and to have access to stories that challenge, comfort, and connect us. My reviews focus on emotional immersion, authenticity, and the lived experience of reading—because the right book, at the right time, can change everything
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley & F/ K Teen for the ARC <3
“How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend” is an adorable adventure of teenagers finding love in the most unexpected places.
Kenzie, a witch who works at a cafe, crushes hard on Hayden without knowing him, he’s just a guy who comes to get his coffee order, but Kenzie is mesmerized by his eyes. They end up building this infatuation for Hayden purely on his looks and the fantasy of being with him. Once Hayden slips and gets into a coma, Kenzie is stuck in a web of lies about them having an enby relationship. Except, Zachary, Hayden’s brother, had no idea Hayden was queer, and he’s not buying this relationship. Slowly, Kenzie and Zach hang out, and Kenzie realises Zach hits all the right buttons. Zach is gorgeous, he respects Kenzie’s pronouns, helps them with chores, and hanging out with him is fun and adventurous. Soon, Kenzie realises that Hayden is simply a fantasy and Zach could be the real deal, but that might too late to admit the truth.
I adored Kenzie's maturing throughout the book. From the beginning, we see them almost sure that he could get rid of the lies, since they were so small, but as soon as he started bonding with Hayden’s family, we realised that Kenzie missed that for themselves. His mother has been depressed for a while and relies on Kenzie for a lot of things, but what they miss more is a sense of home. It’s clear that Kenzie’s mom is nice, but she’s had to fight her own demons, and Kenzie just wanted to not have so many burdens for themselves. When he invites Zach to clean and Zach goes, that’s the ultimate love letter for Kenzie. They see that Zach doesn’t care about them having a nice home or even that Kenzie has to cook, clean the kitchen. Zach is happy to spend time with Kenzie and compliment them on their cooking. This is when Kenzie starts growing and understanding that his feelings for Zach are real, because they are also real. Hayden is a fantasy, a crush, something that was cute. The feelings Zach has are something much more serious, mature and serious. He sees them for who they are and accepts Kenzie for who they are and loves them with no barriers.
“How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend” is a cute YA romance with some paranormal twists. It is a story about love, about making mistakes and owning them and learning from them. It’s about growing as a person, from going to someone with a silly crush, to finding your person and the one that makes your heart jump and your palms sweaty every time you are with them. And that’s the best kind of love because it’s the one that is still innocent, foolish and has a lot of potential for the future. Growing alongside your person and strengthen the relationship as the years go by is really beautiful.
“How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend” is an adorable adventure of teenagers finding love in the most unexpected places.
Kenzie, a witch who works at a cafe, crushes hard on Hayden without knowing him, he’s just a guy who comes to get his coffee order, but Kenzie is mesmerized by his eyes. They end up building this infatuation for Hayden purely on his looks and the fantasy of being with him. Once Hayden slips and gets into a coma, Kenzie is stuck in a web of lies about them having an enby relationship. Except, Zachary, Hayden’s brother, had no idea Hayden was queer, and he’s not buying this relationship. Slowly, Kenzie and Zach hang out, and Kenzie realises Zach hits all the right buttons. Zach is gorgeous, he respects Kenzie’s pronouns, helps them with chores, and hanging out with him is fun and adventurous. Soon, Kenzie realises that Hayden is simply a fantasy and Zach could be the real deal, but that might too late to admit the truth.
I adored Kenzie's maturing throughout the book. From the beginning, we see them almost sure that he could get rid of the lies, since they were so small, but as soon as he started bonding with Hayden’s family, we realised that Kenzie missed that for themselves. His mother has been depressed for a while and relies on Kenzie for a lot of things, but what they miss more is a sense of home. It’s clear that Kenzie’s mom is nice, but she’s had to fight her own demons, and Kenzie just wanted to not have so many burdens for themselves. When he invites Zach to clean and Zach goes, that’s the ultimate love letter for Kenzie. They see that Zach doesn’t care about them having a nice home or even that Kenzie has to cook, clean the kitchen. Zach is happy to spend time with Kenzie and compliment them on their cooking. This is when Kenzie starts growing and understanding that his feelings for Zach are real, because they are also real. Hayden is a fantasy, a crush, something that was cute. The feelings Zach has are something much more serious, mature and serious. He sees them for who they are and accepts Kenzie for who they are and loves them with no barriers.
“How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend” is a cute YA romance with some paranormal twists. It is a story about love, about making mistakes and owning them and learning from them. It’s about growing as a person, from going to someone with a silly crush, to finding your person and the one that makes your heart jump and your palms sweaty every time you are with them. And that’s the best kind of love because it’s the one that is still innocent, foolish and has a lot of potential for the future. Growing alongside your person and strengthen the relationship as the years go by is really beautiful.
January 24, 2026
˚₊‧꒰ა 3.5 / 5 ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
If you like:
♡ queer rep!
♡ non-binary rep!
♡ realistic magic
♡ cosy YA romance
❥ How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend is a cute realistic YA romance. It features Kenzie, a non-binary barista, who has a major crush on Hayden, a cafe regular.
❥ The beginning of the book is very captivating, and almost funny in a way. This whole scenario sounds so far-fetched that it makes me giggle just thinking about it. It is lighthearted and breezy for a majority of the book, but does have its deeper moments.
❥ What this book has going for it though is the amount of representation! If you are queer, gender nonconforming, or a witch you will find yourself with ample chances to 'see yourself' in the pages. Heck, Kenzie is major KPOP stan! There are so many chances to relate to these characters throughout the book that there never feels foreign.
❥ The book's writing wasn't always the most interesting. At times it felt a bit repetitive (using the same word multiple times on a single page) or just a bit too tell-y instead of show-y. It isn't trying to be the next greatest work of fiction ever. It is trying to be a realistic teen romance book and it does that job very well! I just wanted MORE from it. The pacing was nice though! It gave a lot of time to understand all of the big feelings of the book, and you could definitely read it fast if you wanted, but was also lowkey enough that if it takes you a while to read a book you won't struggle to hop back into it.
❥ Kenzie as a character was a bit annoying for me. They never seem to be a great friend to Kaitlynn, and the whole friendship feels one-sided to the point I started to question if everytime they lovingly call each other 'bitch' Kaitlynn secretly meant it. I wanted to love Kenzie, but they always felt a bit too frazzled, and a bit too uninterested in anyone else. Maybe a B-plot for Kaitlynn could have helped make Kenzie seem like a real friend. Plus, why not make the blanket fort..?
❥ With that said, Zach is such a sweetheart He treats Kenzie with a lot of respect and care that you rarely see from the love interest. He is there for them no matter what and it is adorable to see. Plus, a plant dad, and proud pet owner! He is very nurturing which is very enjoyable to read about.
❥ Overall, I think this book is a cute and silly YA romance. It is an easy read, and perfect to enjoy one cosy evening with a cup of coffee (or some other warm beverage). If you want to read about the dramatic shenanigan of an enby with WAY too many feelings, a total lover boy, and enjoy a healthy dash of magic this is the book for you.
Thank you Netgalley, F/K Teen Press, and author Jordon Greene for providing me with the eARC.
If you like:
♡ queer rep!
♡ non-binary rep!
♡ realistic magic
♡ cosy YA romance
❥ How (Not) to Conjure a Boyfriend is a cute realistic YA romance. It features Kenzie, a non-binary barista, who has a major crush on Hayden, a cafe regular.
❥ The beginning of the book is very captivating, and almost funny in a way. This whole scenario sounds so far-fetched that it makes me giggle just thinking about it. It is lighthearted and breezy for a majority of the book, but does have its deeper moments.
❥ What this book has going for it though is the amount of representation! If you are queer, gender nonconforming, or a witch you will find yourself with ample chances to 'see yourself' in the pages. Heck, Kenzie is major KPOP stan! There are so many chances to relate to these characters throughout the book that there never feels foreign.
❥ The book's writing wasn't always the most interesting. At times it felt a bit repetitive (using the same word multiple times on a single page) or just a bit too tell-y instead of show-y. It isn't trying to be the next greatest work of fiction ever. It is trying to be a realistic teen romance book and it does that job very well! I just wanted MORE from it. The pacing was nice though! It gave a lot of time to understand all of the big feelings of the book, and you could definitely read it fast if you wanted, but was also lowkey enough that if it takes you a while to read a book you won't struggle to hop back into it.
❥ Kenzie as a character was a bit annoying for me. They never seem to be a great friend to Kaitlynn, and the whole friendship feels one-sided to the point I started to question if everytime they lovingly call each other 'bitch' Kaitlynn secretly meant it. I wanted to love Kenzie, but they always felt a bit too frazzled, and a bit too uninterested in anyone else. Maybe a B-plot for Kaitlynn could have helped make Kenzie seem like a real friend. Plus, why not make the blanket fort..?
❥ With that said, Zach is such a sweetheart He treats Kenzie with a lot of respect and care that you rarely see from the love interest. He is there for them no matter what and it is adorable to see. Plus, a plant dad, and proud pet owner! He is very nurturing which is very enjoyable to read about.
❥ Overall, I think this book is a cute and silly YA romance. It is an easy read, and perfect to enjoy one cosy evening with a cup of coffee (or some other warm beverage). If you want to read about the dramatic shenanigan of an enby with WAY too many feelings, a total lover boy, and enjoy a healthy dash of magic this is the book for you.
Thank you Netgalley, F/K Teen Press, and author Jordon Greene for providing me with the eARC.
September 15, 2025
Kenzie didn’t set out to watch their crush nearly die at the coffee shop nor did they think they would happen to be at said crush’s beside when they woke up from a coma and they certainly didn’t think they would accidentally lead that same crush to believe they were dating.
And yet...
That is what happens and that is the beginning of this adorable YA about expectations, lying (and the consequences), self-confidence (or lack thereof), first love, and just a dash of modern witchcraft tossed in.
I loved the main character Kenzie. If you’re looking for books that have great NB representation, then this one fits. I love it when books seamlessly fit in diversity in a way that feels as though it’s just part of who a character is and not the whole. This is the way forward for writing and I love the way Jordon crafts his characters.
And Kenzie is flawed, and I love a flawed character. Kenzie makes the kind of mistakes that I made when I was their age. My lack of confidence often had me agreeing to things because I didn’t want to have a confrontation with someone. I mean come on... I very clearly remember being tongue-tied and confused. Especially when it came to my crushes.
This book is a unique meet-cute in that Kenzie has a crush on Hayden because he’s all kinds of perfect in their mind. So, when Hayden’s family accidentally thinks that Kenzie is their enby-friend, they can’t seem to find a way out of it. They try to build up the courage to say something on numerous occasions...but just can’t manage it. There’s more than just one enby-friend relationship at stake.
The problem is that Hayden has a brother named Zachary. And Zachary may just be the kind of person that Kenzie was looking for all along without actually knowing it. As Kenzie becomes more familiar with Hayden’s family, they begin to feel a connection to Zachary. And what’s more complicated than conflicting emotions?
In my mind this is exactly the kind of thinking that got me in trouble when I was a teenager. I mean, I thought I knew what I wanted... but sometimes, I was so caught up in the “appearances” of things that I couldn’t see what I really needed in my life.
This story really captures the confusion and decision-paralysis that can happen to people.
Don’t fret, things work out the way they are meant to. I’m just not telling you how that is.
Thanks to Franklin/Kerr for the arc!
And yet...
That is what happens and that is the beginning of this adorable YA about expectations, lying (and the consequences), self-confidence (or lack thereof), first love, and just a dash of modern witchcraft tossed in.
I loved the main character Kenzie. If you’re looking for books that have great NB representation, then this one fits. I love it when books seamlessly fit in diversity in a way that feels as though it’s just part of who a character is and not the whole. This is the way forward for writing and I love the way Jordon crafts his characters.
And Kenzie is flawed, and I love a flawed character. Kenzie makes the kind of mistakes that I made when I was their age. My lack of confidence often had me agreeing to things because I didn’t want to have a confrontation with someone. I mean come on... I very clearly remember being tongue-tied and confused. Especially when it came to my crushes.
This book is a unique meet-cute in that Kenzie has a crush on Hayden because he’s all kinds of perfect in their mind. So, when Hayden’s family accidentally thinks that Kenzie is their enby-friend, they can’t seem to find a way out of it. They try to build up the courage to say something on numerous occasions...but just can’t manage it. There’s more than just one enby-friend relationship at stake.
The problem is that Hayden has a brother named Zachary. And Zachary may just be the kind of person that Kenzie was looking for all along without actually knowing it. As Kenzie becomes more familiar with Hayden’s family, they begin to feel a connection to Zachary. And what’s more complicated than conflicting emotions?
In my mind this is exactly the kind of thinking that got me in trouble when I was a teenager. I mean, I thought I knew what I wanted... but sometimes, I was so caught up in the “appearances” of things that I couldn’t see what I really needed in my life.
This story really captures the confusion and decision-paralysis that can happen to people.
Don’t fret, things work out the way they are meant to. I’m just not telling you how that is.
Thanks to Franklin/Kerr for the arc!
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