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Falling for the Protagonist
THIS LOVE STORY IS HOTTER THAN FICTION
When Emmy Miura falls asleep reading a newly purchased romance novel (after her visit to a sex psychic her sister swears by), the last thing she expects is to wake up in the protagonist's bed the next morning. Emmy doesn't want to disrupt Will Barrett's world – even if he is fictional. He is clearly content with his life in idyllic and not-actually-real Cobalt, Massachusetts. He has good friends, steady work as a nurse in the paediatric wing of the local hospital, and an adorable house he inherited from his grandfather.
Understandably, he doesn't take it well when she manages to convince him none of the things he knows and loves are real. While Will is reeling at the implications of Emmy's revelation, Emmy is frantic to get back to the real world. The problem is that she is, against all her best efforts, falling head over heels in love with Will.
Will has feelings for her, too – much to the chagrin of the woman who was supposed to be his love interest – and he is determined to go with Emmy when she finds a way out of the book. Neither Emmy nor Will know if they can make a real life together that's based on fiction, but together they are willing to try.
Perfect for fans
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Book-within-a-book
Magical realism
Spice (three peppers)
When Emmy Miura falls asleep reading a newly purchased romance novel (after her visit to a sex psychic her sister swears by), the last thing she expects is to wake up in the protagonist's bed the next morning. Emmy doesn't want to disrupt Will Barrett's world – even if he is fictional. He is clearly content with his life in idyllic and not-actually-real Cobalt, Massachusetts. He has good friends, steady work as a nurse in the paediatric wing of the local hospital, and an adorable house he inherited from his grandfather.
Understandably, he doesn't take it well when she manages to convince him none of the things he knows and loves are real. While Will is reeling at the implications of Emmy's revelation, Emmy is frantic to get back to the real world. The problem is that she is, against all her best efforts, falling head over heels in love with Will.
Will has feelings for her, too – much to the chagrin of the woman who was supposed to be his love interest – and he is determined to go with Emmy when she finds a way out of the book. Neither Emmy nor Will know if they can make a real life together that's based on fiction, but together they are willing to try.
Perfect for fans
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Book-within-a-book
Magical realism
Spice (three peppers)
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA, and Aria for the advanced copy of Falling for the Protagonist!
I absolutely love a book where the main character ends up in a book. Such an underrated trope and it gets me literally every time. Will and Emmy were so cute together and I loved how they interacted in the confines of the book-world. And ugh their chemistry was so good too.
This book was genuinely 5 stars. Sometimes before I finish reading I update my book trackers with my reviews because I get so excited, but then I get to chapter 27. When I tell you I have not been this upset at an ending since I was 9 years old watching Teen Beach Movie 2 (which coincidentally or not, also ends with an amnesia trope). UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I seriously genuinely thought that when they got back together at the wedding, he would’ve remembered everything. I was SO UPSET!!! And like yeah I think that makes me empathize with Emmy a lot at the end but it comes at the expense of literally everything I just read.
I just read this whole beautiful love story and read this amazing chapter (it’s a romance book, you can figure out what chapter 26 was), and then it’s ripped away from me?? I genuinely feel like Amanda from Smosh playing FNAF with Shayne. “What the fuck? Literally what the fuck? That was so awful! That was so awful! I can’t believe you just did that to me. I feel- I literally feel so betrayed. I feel like you- you almost went off a bridge and you were like ‘I’m taking the keys’ and you left me HANGING and you walked to the nearest town. And I was all by myself! And you took my wallet?! And it’s so cold. I have no jacket. I dressed up for the night. I have nothing! I have no protection. I can’t believe you did that.”
And then they get together at the end. And yeah he has the flashlight, but it’s not him. He didn’t give her the Scrabble picnic. It’s not the same. And I know they’re happy but ITS NOT THE SAME :((((( #NotMyWill
I absolutely love a book where the main character ends up in a book. Such an underrated trope and it gets me literally every time. Will and Emmy were so cute together and I loved how they interacted in the confines of the book-world. And ugh their chemistry was so good too.
This book was genuinely 5 stars. Sometimes before I finish reading I update my book trackers with my reviews because I get so excited, but then I get to chapter 27. When I tell you I have not been this upset at an ending since I was 9 years old watching Teen Beach Movie 2 (which coincidentally or not, also ends with an amnesia trope). UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I seriously genuinely thought that when they got back together at the wedding, he would’ve remembered everything. I was SO UPSET!!! And like yeah I think that makes me empathize with Emmy a lot at the end but it comes at the expense of literally everything I just read.
I just read this whole beautiful love story and read this amazing chapter (it’s a romance book, you can figure out what chapter 26 was), and then it’s ripped away from me?? I genuinely feel like Amanda from Smosh playing FNAF with Shayne. “What the fuck? Literally what the fuck? That was so awful! That was so awful! I can’t believe you just did that to me. I feel- I literally feel so betrayed. I feel like you- you almost went off a bridge and you were like ‘I’m taking the keys’ and you left me HANGING and you walked to the nearest town. And I was all by myself! And you took my wallet?! And it’s so cold. I have no jacket. I dressed up for the night. I have nothing! I have no protection. I can’t believe you did that.”
And then they get together at the end. And yeah he has the flashlight, but it’s not him. He didn’t give her the Scrabble picnic. It’s not the same. And I know they’re happy but ITS NOT THE SAME :((((( #NotMyWill
July 11, 2026
This premise had my name written all over it.
I LOVE speculative fiction, and the idea of someone waking up inside the romance novel they're reading is exactly the kind of concept that usually works for me.
I really appreciated the Japanese representation and the conversations around identity and racism. I also loved the moments where the fictional world started to break down. I kinda wish the book had leaned even harder into that because those ended up being my favorite parts.
Unfortunately, the pacing just didn't work for me. I found myself much more interested in the central premise than everything surrounding it. The gardening and landscaping storylines just weren't very engaging for me, and there were long stretches where my attention drifted. I also found the third person switching POV a little jarring, and some of the dialogue and banter felt a little too quirky for my taste. I'm very sensitive to cringe in books, so there were a few moments that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, I admired the ambition behind this one much more than I enjoyed reading it. It just never quite came together for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA, and Bex Goos for the eARC!
I LOVE speculative fiction, and the idea of someone waking up inside the romance novel they're reading is exactly the kind of concept that usually works for me.
I really appreciated the Japanese representation and the conversations around identity and racism. I also loved the moments where the fictional world started to break down. I kinda wish the book had leaned even harder into that because those ended up being my favorite parts.
Unfortunately, the pacing just didn't work for me. I found myself much more interested in the central premise than everything surrounding it. The gardening and landscaping storylines just weren't very engaging for me, and there were long stretches where my attention drifted. I also found the third person switching POV a little jarring, and some of the dialogue and banter felt a little too quirky for my taste. I'm very sensitive to cringe in books, so there were a few moments that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, I admired the ambition behind this one much more than I enjoyed reading it. It just never quite came together for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA, and Bex Goos for the eARC!
July 21, 2026
3.5⭐ rounded up!
This was such a fun premise and I really enjoyed watching almost all of the characters grow throughout the story (except Truck Guy Paul... he can get squashed by every romance book ever published)
The romance was sweet and mostly innocent, which was a nice change of pace and I loved the FMC's sense of humor.
My biggest issue was the ending. Without getting into spoilers, I expected Will to be different by the end and I thought the big reveal would be much more dramatic and drawn out instead of being crammed into the last 10% of the book. My heart still kind of breaks for romcom Will. (Don't worry this is a HEA!)
I also felt like the FMC had her priorities mixed up at times. If you're looking to find the love of your life and are/were stuck in a romance novel... maybe call in sick to work?
Even with those soft misses for me, I had a great time reading this. The time travel esque concept was really unique and it made for a charming, entertaining romcom that kept me invested!
This was such a fun premise and I really enjoyed watching almost all of the characters grow throughout the story (except Truck Guy Paul... he can get squashed by every romance book ever published)
The romance was sweet and mostly innocent, which was a nice change of pace and I loved the FMC's sense of humor.
My biggest issue was the ending. Without getting into spoilers, I expected Will to be different by the end and I thought the big reveal would be much more dramatic and drawn out instead of being crammed into the last 10% of the book. My heart still kind of breaks for romcom Will. (Don't worry this is a HEA!)
I also felt like the FMC had her priorities mixed up at times. If you're looking to find the love of your life and are/were stuck in a romance novel... maybe call in sick to work?
Even with those soft misses for me, I had a great time reading this. The time travel esque concept was really unique and it made for a charming, entertaining romcom that kept me invested!
September 22, 2026
Quick Summary: A story within a story romance
My Review: Falling for the Protagonist by Bex Goos is described as a "high-concept romcom about a woman who falls asleep reading a novel, only to wake up inside its fictional world..." It is a standalone novel. TODAY (9/22/26) is its official release day! 🎉
About the Book: "When Emmy Miura falls asleep reading a newly purchased romance novel (after her visit to a sex psychic her sister swears by), the last thing she expects is to wake up in the protagonist's bed the next morning. Emmy doesn't want to disrupt Will Barrett's world-even if he is fictional."
In My Own Words: Reality meets fiction meets reality, as two strangers cross paths through the pages of an enchanted book.
About the Characters: Emmy and Will meet in the strangest of circumstances. As they get to know each other and try to figure out all the crazy surrounding their peculiar situation, partnering, panting, playfulness, and pleasure take on a whole new meaning.
About the Conflict: "Neither Emmy nor Will know if they can make a real life together that's based on fiction, but together they are willing to try."
My Final Say: This was a mixed bag read, in all honesty. I liked it well enough, BUT it was a bit up and down. I flip flopped between a 3-star and a 4-star rating, eventually ending up in the middle of the two.
Initially, I did not ease into the story. Emmy was tough to take. Later, she warmed up a bit due to the strange, mind altering shift that was happening in her existence. It wasn't until the 20% mark that things leveled off for me.
In terms of Will, I liked him. He was interesting to watch. When he and Emmy decided to work together to make sense of the nonsensical plot twist that was their lives, then the story's movement brought me to more level ground.
The attraction I had to the story boiled down to meet cute madness, meant-to-be magic, re-read & re-do romantic vibes, and storybook drop-in romance. The special bonus concerning Emmy's growth and more focused life plan, as well as Will's dun dunh dunh aha added much needed star power energy. The story needed that keep-em-guessing element.
This story came across like one of my beloved K-dramas. I could see it translating well in that arena. The book form was acceptable, but the Rakuten Viki, Netflix, or Prime Video aspect would be chef's kiss. (I'm just saying. 😉)
Other: Readers who enjoy the following tropes may like this story.
- Forced proximity
- Fake dating
- Book-within-a-book
- Magical realism
- Spice (three peppers)
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes +/-
Audience: NA
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Level: 📖🔮✨
Format: 📱
Cover: +
Title: +
Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Aria & Aries | Aria), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I appreciate the opportunity to review this work of fiction.
My Review: Falling for the Protagonist by Bex Goos is described as a "high-concept romcom about a woman who falls asleep reading a novel, only to wake up inside its fictional world..." It is a standalone novel. TODAY (9/22/26) is its official release day! 🎉
About the Book: "When Emmy Miura falls asleep reading a newly purchased romance novel (after her visit to a sex psychic her sister swears by), the last thing she expects is to wake up in the protagonist's bed the next morning. Emmy doesn't want to disrupt Will Barrett's world-even if he is fictional."
In My Own Words: Reality meets fiction meets reality, as two strangers cross paths through the pages of an enchanted book.
About the Characters: Emmy and Will meet in the strangest of circumstances. As they get to know each other and try to figure out all the crazy surrounding their peculiar situation, partnering, panting, playfulness, and pleasure take on a whole new meaning.
About the Conflict: "Neither Emmy nor Will know if they can make a real life together that's based on fiction, but together they are willing to try."
My Final Say: This was a mixed bag read, in all honesty. I liked it well enough, BUT it was a bit up and down. I flip flopped between a 3-star and a 4-star rating, eventually ending up in the middle of the two.
Initially, I did not ease into the story. Emmy was tough to take. Later, she warmed up a bit due to the strange, mind altering shift that was happening in her existence. It wasn't until the 20% mark that things leveled off for me.
In terms of Will, I liked him. He was interesting to watch. When he and Emmy decided to work together to make sense of the nonsensical plot twist that was their lives, then the story's movement brought me to more level ground.
The attraction I had to the story boiled down to meet cute madness, meant-to-be magic, re-read & re-do romantic vibes, and storybook drop-in romance. The special bonus concerning Emmy's growth and more focused life plan, as well as Will's dun dunh dunh aha added much needed star power energy. The story needed that keep-em-guessing element.
This story came across like one of my beloved K-dramas. I could see it translating well in that arena. The book form was acceptable, but the Rakuten Viki, Netflix, or Prime Video aspect would be chef's kiss. (I'm just saying. 😉)
Other: Readers who enjoy the following tropes may like this story.
- Forced proximity
- Fake dating
- Book-within-a-book
- Magical realism
- Spice (three peppers)
Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes +/-
Audience: NA
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Level: 📖🔮✨
Format: 📱
Cover: +
Title: +
Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Aria & Aries | Aria), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. I appreciate the opportunity to review this work of fiction.
November 16, 2025
3.75 stars
This was such a sweet and fun read! It was funny and witty and started off in a very interesting way - with a sex psychic! It really hooked me in and I was very intrigued to read how Emmy would get herself in a romance novel. I found myself laughing out loud with many moments, especially the multiple forced meet-cutes with hot guys and the subtle commentary on romance novel plot lines. The characters were also all very likable although it took me a bit to warm up to Emmy. Will was a sweetheart and I really felt for him going through what he went through. The book was also unexpectedly emotional but ended on a very happy note. I am glad Emmy was able to find herself and through the novel, making her relationship with Will all the more wholesome.
While I very much enjoyed the book, the long chapters really threw me off, which is why I couldn't rate this higher. I found myself taking long breaks in-between chapters since some of them were 30-40 mins long, with one of them being 1 hour-long. I also would have liked a bit more description of the characters and their surroundings. I couldn’t picture anyone’s appearance at all while reading, not even their hair colour, but maybe that was a me issue. Sometimes it was also not clear when flashbacks were happening or when we were in the present. I would have liked if that flowed more seamlessly. Same goes for the change of perspective to Will’s. The first time we meet him felt weird when the next paragraph was from his perspective. Possibly adding breaks could have helped with the change of POV. Lastly, while by the end of the book you can feel the chemistry between Emmy and Will, within the bulk of the book I wasn’t sure if their chemistry was real or it was just because of the novel. While I do understand this was largely the point, I still would have liked to know for sure that they indeed had chemistry anyway.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. Although it has many familiar elements of a romance book, it still felt different to what I’ve read before!
I am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC for this book.
This was such a sweet and fun read! It was funny and witty and started off in a very interesting way - with a sex psychic! It really hooked me in and I was very intrigued to read how Emmy would get herself in a romance novel. I found myself laughing out loud with many moments, especially the multiple forced meet-cutes with hot guys and the subtle commentary on romance novel plot lines. The characters were also all very likable although it took me a bit to warm up to Emmy. Will was a sweetheart and I really felt for him going through what he went through. The book was also unexpectedly emotional but ended on a very happy note. I am glad Emmy was able to find herself and through the novel, making her relationship with Will all the more wholesome.
While I very much enjoyed the book, the long chapters really threw me off, which is why I couldn't rate this higher. I found myself taking long breaks in-between chapters since some of them were 30-40 mins long, with one of them being 1 hour-long. I also would have liked a bit more description of the characters and their surroundings. I couldn’t picture anyone’s appearance at all while reading, not even their hair colour, but maybe that was a me issue. Sometimes it was also not clear when flashbacks were happening or when we were in the present. I would have liked if that flowed more seamlessly. Same goes for the change of perspective to Will’s. The first time we meet him felt weird when the next paragraph was from his perspective. Possibly adding breaks could have helped with the change of POV. Lastly, while by the end of the book you can feel the chemistry between Emmy and Will, within the bulk of the book I wasn’t sure if their chemistry was real or it was just because of the novel. While I do understand this was largely the point, I still would have liked to know for sure that they indeed had chemistry anyway.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. Although it has many familiar elements of a romance book, it still felt different to what I’ve read before!
I am grateful to NetGalley for the ARC for this book.
August 21, 2026
Thanks to Bloomsbury for the ARC! Thoughts are mine.
Overall, I liked this book. I love magical realism, so this book landed right in my wheelhouse. I loved the concept of being pulled into a book and falling for the MMC. I also liked Emmy's character, overall. I feel like she had some decent character growth throughout the book.
That all said, I had some issues with how the plot played out.
First off, Emmy getting out of the book.
Second, the book felt like it ended somewhat abruptly and then jumps to the epilogue. Also, how far into the future is the epilogue? I felt like there were some questions that were left unanswered by the end.
The final thing I'd like to point out is that this book is in 3rd person. I'm used to 1st person romances, so 3rd person always feels a bit choppy to me. Just an FYI for those who may pick this up.
What to expect:
• Magical realism
• Book within a book
• Fake dating
• Sex psychic
• Small town setting
• Lots of meet-cutes
Overall, I liked this book. I love magical realism, so this book landed right in my wheelhouse. I loved the concept of being pulled into a book and falling for the MMC. I also liked Emmy's character, overall. I feel like she had some decent character growth throughout the book.
That all said, I had some issues with how the plot played out.
First off, Emmy getting out of the book.
Second, the book felt like it ended somewhat abruptly and then jumps to the epilogue. Also, how far into the future is the epilogue? I felt like there were some questions that were left unanswered by the end.
The final thing I'd like to point out is that this book is in 3rd person. I'm used to 1st person romances, so 3rd person always feels a bit choppy to me. Just an FYI for those who may pick this up.
What to expect:
• Magical realism
• Book within a book
• Fake dating
• Sex psychic
• Small town setting
• Lots of meet-cutes
August 31, 2026
2.5
Where to start? The premise of this book drew me in - waking up in a romance novel? I'm in! A chapter in and I realized that the summary may have been the best part of this novel. Why, why, why were there so many words - yet so little actually said and done (i.e. - the amount of pages that Emmy and Will spent talking about when/how to "make love" was INSANE)?!?!
I really tried to like this book but the premise could not save the execution unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Where to start? The premise of this book drew me in - waking up in a romance novel? I'm in! A chapter in and I realized that the summary may have been the best part of this novel. Why, why, why were there so many words - yet so little actually said and done (i.e. - the amount of pages that Emmy and Will spent talking about when/how to "make love" was INSANE)?!?!
I really tried to like this book but the premise could not save the execution unfortunately.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Read
February 9, 2026Magical realism is one of my favourite concepts, so I was really looking forward to reading Falling for the Protagonist. Thanks to the publishers Aria (@HeadOfZeus) for allowing me to early-read this.
I absolutely loved the premise, which is that the FMC Emmy falls asleep while reading a romance novel… and wakes up in the bed of the hero! This was very fun and well-executed.
I enjoyed the way the books good-naturedly pokes fun at the romance tropes - as a regular romance reader and Hallmark movie watcher, I thought that take was very amusing and I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek aspect of it.
I also appreciated the fact that Emmy is of Japanese descent. In fact I would have loved for this aspect to be explored even further, with more cultural details included, etc… as I felt it was one of the strongest aspects of the book and actually had bearing on the plot.
I had two issues with the book however. The first is the theme of alcohol addiction that runs through the middle of it - affecting the MMC, no less! I wish there was a space on NetGalley to log triggering material, because I would not have requested the book had I known this. At the very least, I feel a warning should be included in the front matter of the book. Had this not been an ARC, I would have DNF-ed it. As it was, I had to force myself to keep reading and that is probably affecting my overall review, which is a shame. I also feel, if such a theme is present, then it should be dealt with properly. The “resolution” of it felt a bit superficial here.
(While we’re on the topic of triggers, please note that racism is referenced in the book as well.)
My second turn-off was in the writing style, i.e. the constant and rapid switch between POVs with no warning (from one paragraph to the next.) In my opinion, it affects clarity and comprehension, though others may not mind.
So a bit of a mixed bag for me on this one, some really good aspects but the negatives are significant enough that I can’t ignore them.
Read this if you like :
- magical realism
- diverse characters
- a humorous take on romance tropes
I absolutely loved the premise, which is that the FMC Emmy falls asleep while reading a romance novel… and wakes up in the bed of the hero! This was very fun and well-executed.
I enjoyed the way the books good-naturedly pokes fun at the romance tropes - as a regular romance reader and Hallmark movie watcher, I thought that take was very amusing and I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek aspect of it.
I also appreciated the fact that Emmy is of Japanese descent. In fact I would have loved for this aspect to be explored even further, with more cultural details included, etc… as I felt it was one of the strongest aspects of the book and actually had bearing on the plot.
I had two issues with the book however. The first is the theme of alcohol addiction that runs through the middle of it - affecting the MMC, no less! I wish there was a space on NetGalley to log triggering material, because I would not have requested the book had I known this. At the very least, I feel a warning should be included in the front matter of the book. Had this not been an ARC, I would have DNF-ed it. As it was, I had to force myself to keep reading and that is probably affecting my overall review, which is a shame. I also feel, if such a theme is present, then it should be dealt with properly. The “resolution” of it felt a bit superficial here.
(While we’re on the topic of triggers, please note that racism is referenced in the book as well.)
My second turn-off was in the writing style, i.e. the constant and rapid switch between POVs with no warning (from one paragraph to the next.) In my opinion, it affects clarity and comprehension, though others may not mind.
So a bit of a mixed bag for me on this one, some really good aspects but the negatives are significant enough that I can’t ignore them.
Read this if you like :
- magical realism
- diverse characters
- a humorous take on romance tropes
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this Arc in exchange for my honest review.
When I saw the title of this book, I immediately knew I had to read it. This may be the storyline every book lover is dreaming of! I have never read anything by this author, so I was curious how she was going to approach the storyline, and I can’t say I was disappointed.
The book started out strong with our likable and relatable main character, Emmy. She is a Japanese American who broke up with her racist ex-boyfriend a while ago. Not fulfilled with her place in life she is skeptical to begin with, but when her happy-go-lucky sister May announces that she is going to marry the love of her life she only recently got to know because a sex-psychic foretold their meeting, Emmy is more than irritated. Not accepting that Emmy is just going through life with nowhere to go and totally rejecting the idea of love May makes her go too. And that’s when the storyline starts to get interesting! Because while the reading itself is free of charge, the clients are welcome to purchase anything from the shop as compensation. Not knowing why Emmy is drawn to one book about a male nurse and his way to find love she picks that one up to purchase. Little does she know, that later while falling asleep, she will wake up in a completely different world, where love interests will spring out of every corner, just awaiting her arrival and she is about to change not only her own life completely, but find herself trying not to fall in love with Will, the main character, while fighting for a way out of this fictional prison… Or so she hopes!
When I started the book, I noticed that I really enjoyed the writing style and the energy Emmy projected. I’m normally more on the ‘The FMC is so annoying’-side of the bookish community, but this one just spoke to me. Not only is she relatable and witty, but she also knows how to help herself. During the book we get to see Emmys character grow and overtake insecurities as well as hurdles that appear along the path to get out of the book she is in.
I also really related to Wills character, the MMC, who fell into a sort of depression after realizing that his complete life was a lie. I could really feel the desperation he went through to find himself an anker to cling to, while questioning every daily interaction, every little detail of his existence and everyone around him. This is such a unique take on the storyline. While I have read books with similar plot lines none have ever approached the subject this way and while I hurt for Will I actually enjoyed the new angle and was curious how the character development went on.
The book as a whole was really enjoyable and quite refreshing. I loved the banter, the angles with the single men that were frankly portrait quite accurately compared to the real world in their insistence not to accept ‘no’ as an answer (the frequency being enhanced a bit of course). The only downside was that the chapters were quite long and I found myself wanting to skim the text sometimes, especially from around 30-60% when not that much plot progress was made. With this it was a bit irritating that the ending in comparison seemed to be rushed quite a bit. I would have loved to know how the relationship was built again after Emmy and Will met in the real world and the inner turmoil they both went though to get back to each other. With the rushed meeting and the blank before the Epilogue the ending was missing something for me and I left the book feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
Non the less the book was a good read and I would rate it 4/5 stars. I can recommend reading it and would love to read more from the author.
When I saw the title of this book, I immediately knew I had to read it. This may be the storyline every book lover is dreaming of! I have never read anything by this author, so I was curious how she was going to approach the storyline, and I can’t say I was disappointed.
The book started out strong with our likable and relatable main character, Emmy. She is a Japanese American who broke up with her racist ex-boyfriend a while ago. Not fulfilled with her place in life she is skeptical to begin with, but when her happy-go-lucky sister May announces that she is going to marry the love of her life she only recently got to know because a sex-psychic foretold their meeting, Emmy is more than irritated. Not accepting that Emmy is just going through life with nowhere to go and totally rejecting the idea of love May makes her go too. And that’s when the storyline starts to get interesting! Because while the reading itself is free of charge, the clients are welcome to purchase anything from the shop as compensation. Not knowing why Emmy is drawn to one book about a male nurse and his way to find love she picks that one up to purchase. Little does she know, that later while falling asleep, she will wake up in a completely different world, where love interests will spring out of every corner, just awaiting her arrival and she is about to change not only her own life completely, but find herself trying not to fall in love with Will, the main character, while fighting for a way out of this fictional prison… Or so she hopes!
When I started the book, I noticed that I really enjoyed the writing style and the energy Emmy projected. I’m normally more on the ‘The FMC is so annoying’-side of the bookish community, but this one just spoke to me. Not only is she relatable and witty, but she also knows how to help herself. During the book we get to see Emmys character grow and overtake insecurities as well as hurdles that appear along the path to get out of the book she is in.
I also really related to Wills character, the MMC, who fell into a sort of depression after realizing that his complete life was a lie. I could really feel the desperation he went through to find himself an anker to cling to, while questioning every daily interaction, every little detail of his existence and everyone around him. This is such a unique take on the storyline. While I have read books with similar plot lines none have ever approached the subject this way and while I hurt for Will I actually enjoyed the new angle and was curious how the character development went on.
The book as a whole was really enjoyable and quite refreshing. I loved the banter, the angles with the single men that were frankly portrait quite accurately compared to the real world in their insistence not to accept ‘no’ as an answer (the frequency being enhanced a bit of course). The only downside was that the chapters were quite long and I found myself wanting to skim the text sometimes, especially from around 30-60% when not that much plot progress was made. With this it was a bit irritating that the ending in comparison seemed to be rushed quite a bit. I would have loved to know how the relationship was built again after Emmy and Will met in the real world and the inner turmoil they both went though to get back to each other. With the rushed meeting and the blank before the Epilogue the ending was missing something for me and I left the book feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
Non the less the book was a good read and I would rate it 4/5 stars. I can recommend reading it and would love to read more from the author.
September 29, 2026
I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley for a review.
This book was really sweet and a unique take on romance (in books).
The main character Emmy is against love. She’s had a bad relationship burn her to the point where she now sees romance in a pessimistic way (except her romance books).
She has a starry eyed sister named May who has love as her goal in life. So when May visits a sex psychic and is told she will find love soon and get her HEA she’s over the moon. Upon finding the One & engaged, her bachelorette party is a love filled day. May recounts how she met her fiancé and swears the psychic helped her. That night she makes Emmy swear she’ll go visit the shop and get her own cards read by this lady.
Emmy ends up following thru with the promise and is skeptical of course but soon finds that the psychic is genuine and isn’t trying to pull one over on her. She gives a quick reading and says she thinks Emmys hurt in her past has to do with why shes not a believer that you can find love and be happy. Before she leaves, Emmy browses the romance books and finds one about a male nurse named Will falling for a girl in a small town setting. She try’s to purchase it with some confusion from the psychic on how the book got there in the first place.
Emmy buys it and heads home. She starts reading it and only gets a couple chapters in before falling asleep. The next morning she wakes up…… but it’s not in her bed it’s in the protagonist bed. Will and Emmy both freak out, but after some conversation Emmy decides to head in to town and try to get home.
In town she is approached by not 1, not 2, but 5 single handsome men who in a book worthy way try to begin a meet cute moment. Emmy is seriously shook so she heads back to the only place she knows Wills house.
After further explanation of the events that brought her here, Will also starts to see certain moments that are very book worthy and even feels compelled to speak certain words without thought.
This brings Emmy and Will to the conclusion that yes they are in a book, but what’s real and what’s not? Will started drinking a lot going thru an existential crisis with his life being disrupted but still manages to be his true self in special moments with Emmy. I thought his backstory was still genuine. Emmy is separated from her family, sister, life but still manages to make the most of it with Will and even finds her calling. She deep dives into finding how to get out and Will now wants to go with her. But when it all comes back to normal the reasoning for why this happened was vague and not distinct. The premise was good but I got lost in the execution a little. I think the magic and psychic part could have been a major point. I actually was waiting around for a a-ha moment with the psychics showing up or there being another psychic involved somehow.
But it ended in a sweet way with some heartfelt sister time which I liked.
I did enjoy it, and maybe my fantasy reading is getting in the way of enjoying this 100% but I give it 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for unique story and sweetness.
This book was really sweet and a unique take on romance (in books).
The main character Emmy is against love. She’s had a bad relationship burn her to the point where she now sees romance in a pessimistic way (except her romance books).
She has a starry eyed sister named May who has love as her goal in life. So when May visits a sex psychic and is told she will find love soon and get her HEA she’s over the moon. Upon finding the One & engaged, her bachelorette party is a love filled day. May recounts how she met her fiancé and swears the psychic helped her. That night she makes Emmy swear she’ll go visit the shop and get her own cards read by this lady.
Emmy ends up following thru with the promise and is skeptical of course but soon finds that the psychic is genuine and isn’t trying to pull one over on her. She gives a quick reading and says she thinks Emmys hurt in her past has to do with why shes not a believer that you can find love and be happy. Before she leaves, Emmy browses the romance books and finds one about a male nurse named Will falling for a girl in a small town setting. She try’s to purchase it with some confusion from the psychic on how the book got there in the first place.
Emmy buys it and heads home. She starts reading it and only gets a couple chapters in before falling asleep. The next morning she wakes up…… but it’s not in her bed it’s in the protagonist bed. Will and Emmy both freak out, but after some conversation Emmy decides to head in to town and try to get home.
In town she is approached by not 1, not 2, but 5 single handsome men who in a book worthy way try to begin a meet cute moment. Emmy is seriously shook so she heads back to the only place she knows Wills house.
After further explanation of the events that brought her here, Will also starts to see certain moments that are very book worthy and even feels compelled to speak certain words without thought.
This brings Emmy and Will to the conclusion that yes they are in a book, but what’s real and what’s not? Will started drinking a lot going thru an existential crisis with his life being disrupted but still manages to be his true self in special moments with Emmy. I thought his backstory was still genuine. Emmy is separated from her family, sister, life but still manages to make the most of it with Will and even finds her calling. She deep dives into finding how to get out and Will now wants to go with her. But when it all comes back to normal the reasoning for why this happened was vague and not distinct. The premise was good but I got lost in the execution a little. I think the magic and psychic part could have been a major point. I actually was waiting around for a a-ha moment with the psychics showing up or there being another psychic involved somehow.
But it ended in a sweet way with some heartfelt sister time which I liked.
I did enjoy it, and maybe my fantasy reading is getting in the way of enjoying this 100% but I give it 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars for unique story and sweetness.
July 19, 2026
ARC gifted in exchange for review.
I loved this story so much, and emotionally it really put me through the wringer. As a long time romance reader, the concept of waking up inside of one of my books is so intriguing to me. Emmy is cynical as well to her sister’s sunshine and boundless optimism. Underneath that cynicism though is a woman who is scared to be vulnerable after a horrible situationship that destroyed her confidence and racism that cut to the quick. After stalking her ex on socials, and seeing photos of him with the new love of his life, she decides to give in and visit the sex psychic that kickstarted her sister’s world wind love story. When she met Lucy, she expected to hate her and honestly she was pretty rude to the psychic trying to catch her in what she believed to be a con. Lucy, bless her soul, was patient as hell and honest to a fault. Though she would never admit it, the reading left Emmy reeling. To distract from everything else going on in her life, she picks a romance novel with a male nurse named Will as the protagonist. One of the things I loved the most was that she didn’t wake up in the book immediately. She read until she fell asleep a few times before she woke up in bed next to a very confused Will. What ensues is a series of forced attempts at meet cutes that all but end in disaster as Emmy tries to figure out how to survive in this fictional town with no money, no phone and no ID while also trying to figure out how to get back to the real world. She ends up turning Will’s world upside down, causing him to have an identity crisis, quit his job and start drinking. The thing is though that he never holds it against her. He is determined to help her find her way back home, while also trying to get to know her in a way her ex never did. As Emmy and Will spend more time together, the story around them changes, and Will becomes so much more real and complex. We learn more about Emmy, her past, her dreams and her racist pig of an ex. Watching Will and Emmy fall in love moment by moment was so beautiful. It wasn’t in grand gestures but in small moments that were equally as important. If you loved A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, you will definitely love this one. I will definitely be reading this again, and recommending to my friends. We all deserve to find someone who lifts us up and loves us for all that we are like these two love each other. The relationship between Emmy and May was so beautiful, there’s nothing like the love of your sister.
I loved this story so much, and emotionally it really put me through the wringer. As a long time romance reader, the concept of waking up inside of one of my books is so intriguing to me. Emmy is cynical as well to her sister’s sunshine and boundless optimism. Underneath that cynicism though is a woman who is scared to be vulnerable after a horrible situationship that destroyed her confidence and racism that cut to the quick. After stalking her ex on socials, and seeing photos of him with the new love of his life, she decides to give in and visit the sex psychic that kickstarted her sister’s world wind love story. When she met Lucy, she expected to hate her and honestly she was pretty rude to the psychic trying to catch her in what she believed to be a con. Lucy, bless her soul, was patient as hell and honest to a fault. Though she would never admit it, the reading left Emmy reeling. To distract from everything else going on in her life, she picks a romance novel with a male nurse named Will as the protagonist. One of the things I loved the most was that she didn’t wake up in the book immediately. She read until she fell asleep a few times before she woke up in bed next to a very confused Will. What ensues is a series of forced attempts at meet cutes that all but end in disaster as Emmy tries to figure out how to survive in this fictional town with no money, no phone and no ID while also trying to figure out how to get back to the real world. She ends up turning Will’s world upside down, causing him to have an identity crisis, quit his job and start drinking. The thing is though that he never holds it against her. He is determined to help her find her way back home, while also trying to get to know her in a way her ex never did. As Emmy and Will spend more time together, the story around them changes, and Will becomes so much more real and complex. We learn more about Emmy, her past, her dreams and her racist pig of an ex. Watching Will and Emmy fall in love moment by moment was so beautiful. It wasn’t in grand gestures but in small moments that were equally as important. If you loved A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, you will definitely love this one. I will definitely be reading this again, and recommending to my friends. We all deserve to find someone who lifts us up and loves us for all that we are like these two love each other. The relationship between Emmy and May was so beautiful, there’s nothing like the love of your sister.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Getting over a bad break-up is hard, especially when your ex has taken an obscenely short amount of time to find a new girlfriend, and your sister is just about to marry the man of her dreams. So when Emmy Miura's sister persuades her she needs the guidance of the sex psychic who helped her find love, she decides to give it a go - even if she is a sceptic.
Post weird tarot reading, Emmy settles down with a cheesy romance novel that the psychic persuaded her to buy. After reading about the hunky, male nurse protagonist Will, Emmy finds herself drifting off to sleep... only to wake up the next morning in Will's bed. Somehow, she is now a character in the rom-com she had been reading the night before, and she is about to disrupt the entire story by displacing Will's intended love interest. Close proximity soon has the obvious attraction between them developing into love, but how can they ever be together?
This enchanting story drops Emmy into a romance novel, where her appearance has unintended consequences. Emmy suddenly has to negotiate multiple meet-cutes with an array of handsome, rom-com trope hunks while trying to find a way back to the real world, before she misses her sister's wedding.
Managing to convince Will the cosy, small town life he has been living in fictional Cobalt, Massachusetts, is just the plot of a novel gives him an existential crisis. However he agrees to help Emmy find her way back to the real world if he can. Getting back home proves to be no easy feat, and the more time they spend together, the fewer reasons they have to want to be parted.
The delightful mix of rom-com tropes in Cobalt give a lovely tongue-in-cheek vibe to this story, which works so well with the developing (and super hot) romance between Emmy and Will. Along the, very enjoyable way, Goos manages to explore a feast of heart-felt themes that echo between the fictional setting and Emmy's real world dilemmas - touching on family dynamics, unhealthy romantic relationships, true love, racism, and having the courage to follow your dreams.
Goos' writing is very engaging, the premise is so much fun, and the story sparkles with plenty of humour and tender moments. I was so invested in Emmy and Will's love story, desperate for them to find a way to be together, even if it seemed impossible - and the ending hits the 'ahh' hot-spot perfectly.
Full of Hallmark vibes, this was just the escapist gem I needed!
Post weird tarot reading, Emmy settles down with a cheesy romance novel that the psychic persuaded her to buy. After reading about the hunky, male nurse protagonist Will, Emmy finds herself drifting off to sleep... only to wake up the next morning in Will's bed. Somehow, she is now a character in the rom-com she had been reading the night before, and she is about to disrupt the entire story by displacing Will's intended love interest. Close proximity soon has the obvious attraction between them developing into love, but how can they ever be together?
This enchanting story drops Emmy into a romance novel, where her appearance has unintended consequences. Emmy suddenly has to negotiate multiple meet-cutes with an array of handsome, rom-com trope hunks while trying to find a way back to the real world, before she misses her sister's wedding.
Managing to convince Will the cosy, small town life he has been living in fictional Cobalt, Massachusetts, is just the plot of a novel gives him an existential crisis. However he agrees to help Emmy find her way back to the real world if he can. Getting back home proves to be no easy feat, and the more time they spend together, the fewer reasons they have to want to be parted.
The delightful mix of rom-com tropes in Cobalt give a lovely tongue-in-cheek vibe to this story, which works so well with the developing (and super hot) romance between Emmy and Will. Along the, very enjoyable way, Goos manages to explore a feast of heart-felt themes that echo between the fictional setting and Emmy's real world dilemmas - touching on family dynamics, unhealthy romantic relationships, true love, racism, and having the courage to follow your dreams.
Goos' writing is very engaging, the premise is so much fun, and the story sparkles with plenty of humour and tender moments. I was so invested in Emmy and Will's love story, desperate for them to find a way to be together, even if it seemed impossible - and the ending hits the 'ahh' hot-spot perfectly.
Full of Hallmark vibes, this was just the escapist gem I needed!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A wildly clever, refreshing romcom with an irresistible alternate‑reality twist
This book hooked me from the very first chapter, and then completely won me over the moment Emmy slips—quite literally—into an alternate reality after falling asleep reading. The sudden shift into a storybook world is surprising, imaginative, and exactly the kind of twist I adore. I’m a huge fan of timeslip, time travel, and alternate‑reality romances, and this one delivers that vibe in such a fun, unexpected way.
The author packs the story with quirky, original details that make the world feel fresh and playful—yes, including a psychic sex tarot reading, which is as entertaining as it sounds. I also loved the meta book‑theory elements woven throughout: the characters discussing “context clues,” acknowledging that they’re stuck in “one of the most cliched and contrived romantic comedy plots” (the pretend‑relationship trope), and even speculating about the author’s credentials and romance‑writing logic. It’s smart, self‑aware, and genuinely funny.
Nothing about the plot feels predictable, and the whole experience is humorous, inventive, and thoroughly entertaining.
The story is told in third person—usually my least favourite perspective—but it works here, giving both main characters intertwined POVs within each chapter. Emmy herself isn’t described in much detail early on, though later she identifies as second‑generation Japanese American. There are occasional Japanese words sprinkled in without translation, which I found a bit frustrating, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall flow.
On the flip side, the book gifted me the brilliant made‑up term “mantagonist”—a word I immediately checked for in the dictionary (sadly, no luck). Still, I’m adopting it.
Overall, this is a refreshing, clever, and fast‑paced read full of great ideas. It’s easy to fly through, keeps you guessing, and offers a romcom experience that feels genuinely different.
Huge thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the uncorrected advance reader copy.
This book releases on May 7, 2026, and if you love romcoms with humour, meta commentary, and alternate‑reality twists, you’ll want to pick this up the moment it hits shelves—you won’t be disappointed!
September 20, 2026
3.5 stars
Okay… imagine falling asleep reading a romance book and waking up INSIDE THE BOOK with the fictional man you’ve just been reading about.
Honestly, I would have questions.
Emmy wakes up in Will Barrett’s bed after a visit to a sex psychic and a little bedtime reading, only to discover that Cobalt, Massachusetts isn’t actually real… and neither is Will.
Well.
Try telling a fictional man that his entire life is basically words on a page.
Will is understandably having a full existential crisis, while Emmy is desperately trying to figure out how to get back to the real world.
The problem?
She falls for him.
Because of course she does…..
I really enjoyed the whole book-within-a-book/magical realism concept. There was something ridiculously fun about watching Emmy try to explain fiction, authors and the real world to a man who genuinely believes his life is real.
And Will? A fictional paediatric nurse with an adorable house, good friends and apparently enough charm to make Emmy completely forget she’s supposed to be escaping the book.
The romance was cute, the premise was definitely different and I loved the idea of a fictional character deciding he wasn’t going to simply accept the ending he’d been given.
There were a few moments where the story didn’t completely grab me, and some parts felt a little predictable, which is why I landed on 3.5 stars. But overall, it was a fun, quirky read with plenty of romance, spice and ridiculous situations.
Also, imagine trying to convince your fictional boyfriend that YOU ARE FICTIONAL.
I’d simply give up!
Would I willingly fall into a romance novel?
Absolutely.
Would I then complain when the fictional man followed me back into reality?
Absolutely not!
Okay… imagine falling asleep reading a romance book and waking up INSIDE THE BOOK with the fictional man you’ve just been reading about.
Honestly, I would have questions.
Emmy wakes up in Will Barrett’s bed after a visit to a sex psychic and a little bedtime reading, only to discover that Cobalt, Massachusetts isn’t actually real… and neither is Will.
Well.
Try telling a fictional man that his entire life is basically words on a page.
Will is understandably having a full existential crisis, while Emmy is desperately trying to figure out how to get back to the real world.
The problem?
She falls for him.
Because of course she does…..
I really enjoyed the whole book-within-a-book/magical realism concept. There was something ridiculously fun about watching Emmy try to explain fiction, authors and the real world to a man who genuinely believes his life is real.
And Will? A fictional paediatric nurse with an adorable house, good friends and apparently enough charm to make Emmy completely forget she’s supposed to be escaping the book.
The romance was cute, the premise was definitely different and I loved the idea of a fictional character deciding he wasn’t going to simply accept the ending he’d been given.
There were a few moments where the story didn’t completely grab me, and some parts felt a little predictable, which is why I landed on 3.5 stars. But overall, it was a fun, quirky read with plenty of romance, spice and ridiculous situations.
Also, imagine trying to convince your fictional boyfriend that YOU ARE FICTIONAL.
I’d simply give up!
Would I willingly fall into a romance novel?
Absolutely.
Would I then complain when the fictional man followed me back into reality?
Absolutely not!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When Emmy Miura falls asleep reading a romance novel, shortly after a visit to a questionable psychic, she wakes up inside the story itself, in the bed of its leading man, Will Barrett. Determined not to disrupt his seemingly perfect (albeit fictional) life in the idyllic town of Cobalt, Massachusetts, Emmy instead finds herself entangled in it, and she struggles to convince Will that his entire world isn’t real. As she searches for a way back home, the lines between fiction and reality blur, and both Emmy and Will must decide whether a love born in a story can survive in the real world.
The concept is undeniably fun, and I really enjoyed the opening of the book, which leaned into that imaginative, slightly chaotic energy of being dropped into a fictional world. There was a sweetness to the story as well, particularly in the central idea of choosing to love even when the odds and realities were uncertain. That said, I found it harder to fully connect with the main characters as the story progressed. While the premise remained strong, the middle of the book tended to slow in pace, which made it difficult to stay as engaged as I had been at the start. I was left wanting a bit more depth and development to truly invest in Emmy's and Will’s relationship.
Overall, this is a sweet read with a lot of potential, even if it didn’t completely deliver on all fronts for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The concept is undeniably fun, and I really enjoyed the opening of the book, which leaned into that imaginative, slightly chaotic energy of being dropped into a fictional world. There was a sweetness to the story as well, particularly in the central idea of choosing to love even when the odds and realities were uncertain. That said, I found it harder to fully connect with the main characters as the story progressed. While the premise remained strong, the middle of the book tended to slow in pace, which made it difficult to stay as engaged as I had been at the start. I was left wanting a bit more depth and development to truly invest in Emmy's and Will’s relationship.
Overall, this is a sweet read with a lot of potential, even if it didn’t completely deliver on all fronts for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 10, 2026
This was such a sweet and fun read! It was funny and witty, and it kicked off in such an interesting way… The hook alone had me intrigued to see how Emmy would end up living out her own romance novel.
I found myself laughing out loud so many times, especially during the multiple forced meet-cutes with hot guys and the subtle commentary on classic romance novel tropes. The characters were all likable, though it took me a bit to warm up to Emmy. Will, on the other hand, was a total sweetheart, and I really felt for him through everything he went through.
While I really enjoyed the book, a few things kept me from rating it higher. The long chapters threw me off, I found myself taking breaks in between since some ran 30-40 minutes, with one clocking in at a full hour. I also would've liked more description of the characters and their surroundings; I couldn't picture anyone's appearance, not even hair color, though that could just be a me thing.
The flashbacks were also sometimes unclear, I couldn't always tell when we'd shifted from present to past, and I wish that had flowed more seamlessly. The same goes for the POV switch to Will's perspective; the first time we meet him, it felt a little jarring to suddenly be in his head the very next paragraph. Lastly, while the chemistry between Emmy and Will really comes through by the end, I wasn't always sure through the bulk of the book whether it was genuine chemistry or just a byproduct of the "novel" premise. I get that this was likely intentional, but I still would've liked more certainty that the spark was real.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book. It has familiar romance elements, but it still managed to feel fresh and different from anything I've read before.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
I found myself laughing out loud so many times, especially during the multiple forced meet-cutes with hot guys and the subtle commentary on classic romance novel tropes. The characters were all likable, though it took me a bit to warm up to Emmy. Will, on the other hand, was a total sweetheart, and I really felt for him through everything he went through.
While I really enjoyed the book, a few things kept me from rating it higher. The long chapters threw me off, I found myself taking breaks in between since some ran 30-40 minutes, with one clocking in at a full hour. I also would've liked more description of the characters and their surroundings; I couldn't picture anyone's appearance, not even hair color, though that could just be a me thing.
The flashbacks were also sometimes unclear, I couldn't always tell when we'd shifted from present to past, and I wish that had flowed more seamlessly. The same goes for the POV switch to Will's perspective; the first time we meet him, it felt a little jarring to suddenly be in his head the very next paragraph. Lastly, while the chemistry between Emmy and Will really comes through by the end, I wasn't always sure through the bulk of the book whether it was genuine chemistry or just a byproduct of the "novel" premise. I get that this was likely intentional, but I still would've liked more certainty that the spark was real.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book. It has familiar romance elements, but it still managed to feel fresh and different from anything I've read before.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thoughtful and romantic magical realism with a touch of the existential.
After Emmy Miura visits a sex psychic she wakes up in the pages of a romance novel. She meets Will, the MMC of the book. It’s not Emmy’s romance, but they hit it off. It’s very meta in a fun way as Emmy has to explain what has happened to her. Things get serious though when it triggers an existential crisis for Will – after all, if he is not real, then his family and his life aren’t real either, so what is the point of anything? Emmy has not long finished a bad relationship and she’s closed off from having another, but Will gets under her skin.
Emmy has the time and space to find her real self, so she gets to gardening and reflecting on what she really wants in her life. Will works as a nurse and he has to deal with this new take on his situation, as he falls for Emmy. In turn, Emmy wants to get back to her real life in time for her sister’s wedding. And she wants to keep Will.
There is a lot here to enjoy, especially when it is poking fun at romance tropes like the meet-cute – soooooo many handsome dudes asking Emmy out Even so, it was a slight miss for me, only because I struggled with Emmy and I found the balance difficult between Will’s anguish and the humour of their situation. I love the premise though, and I’m excited for more from Bex Goos. If you like Ashley Poston and Sarah Adler, give this a read!
Thank you Bex Goos and Aria & Aries for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
After Emmy Miura visits a sex psychic she wakes up in the pages of a romance novel. She meets Will, the MMC of the book. It’s not Emmy’s romance, but they hit it off. It’s very meta in a fun way as Emmy has to explain what has happened to her. Things get serious though when it triggers an existential crisis for Will – after all, if he is not real, then his family and his life aren’t real either, so what is the point of anything? Emmy has not long finished a bad relationship and she’s closed off from having another, but Will gets under her skin.
Emmy has the time and space to find her real self, so she gets to gardening and reflecting on what she really wants in her life. Will works as a nurse and he has to deal with this new take on his situation, as he falls for Emmy. In turn, Emmy wants to get back to her real life in time for her sister’s wedding. And she wants to keep Will.
There is a lot here to enjoy, especially when it is poking fun at romance tropes like the meet-cute – soooooo many handsome dudes asking Emmy out Even so, it was a slight miss for me, only because I struggled with Emmy and I found the balance difficult between Will’s anguish and the humour of their situation. I love the premise though, and I’m excited for more from Bex Goos. If you like Ashley Poston and Sarah Adler, give this a read!
Thank you Bex Goos and Aria & Aries for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
July 28, 2026
This was such a weird , fun read. Those who have been following me knows how much i love quirky rom coms. This one was exactly up in that category.
Falling for the protagonist by Bex Good follows Emmy, who accidentally gets trapped inside a romance book she was reading with no out. The chaos and wierd happenings follows.
Yes ... It definitely 😁 s unique and quirky. And that formula can make or break a romance book. For this one though, I don't think there is anything to worry. It was enjoyable and I had a great time reading it.
Amongst the chaos and the meet-cutes that has been following Emmy everywhere, what i found striking is the vivid differentiation between the fictional and real worlds. The interactions, the events, everything made a solid ground for the fictional world, and in no way there were any confusion between the two.
Will, the protagonist was another great part about the story. Him, being a fictional character, and battling with the realistic of being one, was executed pretty well. I didn't feel anything cringe about that part of the story... Apart from all the stereotypical romance book events happening in the fictional world.
Both the MCs had a great character arc. I was waiting to see how the author is gonna end the story. And to say, I loved the ending too... It wasn't what we expect, but it was perfect. I would say the perfect happily ever after!
Falling for the protagonist by Bex Good follows Emmy, who accidentally gets trapped inside a romance book she was reading with no out. The chaos and wierd happenings follows.
Yes ... It definitely 😁 s unique and quirky. And that formula can make or break a romance book. For this one though, I don't think there is anything to worry. It was enjoyable and I had a great time reading it.
Amongst the chaos and the meet-cutes that has been following Emmy everywhere, what i found striking is the vivid differentiation between the fictional and real worlds. The interactions, the events, everything made a solid ground for the fictional world, and in no way there were any confusion between the two.
Will, the protagonist was another great part about the story. Him, being a fictional character, and battling with the realistic of being one, was executed pretty well. I didn't feel anything cringe about that part of the story... Apart from all the stereotypical romance book events happening in the fictional world.
Both the MCs had a great character arc. I was waiting to see how the author is gonna end the story. And to say, I loved the ending too... It wasn't what we expect, but it was perfect. I would say the perfect happily ever after!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'll start by saying that Magical Realism is one of my favourite genres. So the premise of "Falling For The Protagonist" sounds like it would be my ideal read. The idea of Emmy finding herself transported into a Romance novel, dealing with the consequences of interrupting Will's HEA sounded intriguing Unfortunately, I felt like the execution fell flat for me.
I'm not the biggest fan of Romance novels written in third person. The narrator didn't really reveal much of the main character's inner worlds and for me this made the story feel very plot focused as opposed to one that focuses on character development. I think this story could have worked better as a first person, dual narration. I was expecting more tension between Emmy and Will's original love interest, Bright, but that didn't eventuate.
I appreciated some of the tongue-in-cheek send ups of Romance tropes which added humour. However, the sub-plot of Will being depicted as a borderline alcoholic was a little off for me. Also, the device used to transport Emmy back to the real world wasn't my favourite.
Overall, I feel like this would certainly have general appeal, I just wasn't for me.
⭐⭐.5
Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an eARC of this title
I'm not the biggest fan of Romance novels written in third person. The narrator didn't really reveal much of the main character's inner worlds and for me this made the story feel very plot focused as opposed to one that focuses on character development. I think this story could have worked better as a first person, dual narration. I was expecting more tension between Emmy and Will's original love interest, Bright, but that didn't eventuate.
I appreciated some of the tongue-in-cheek send ups of Romance tropes which added humour. However, the sub-plot of Will being depicted as a borderline alcoholic was a little off for me. Also, the device used to transport Emmy back to the real world wasn't my favourite.
Overall, I feel like this would certainly have general appeal, I just wasn't for me.
⭐⭐.5
Thanks to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an eARC of this title
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Falling for the Protagonist by Bex Goos (e-ARC)
Pub Date: 7 May 2026
My thoughts:
Falling for the Protagonist is quite a cute read, but overall the story felt flat to me. I love magical realism, and the premise is something I would usually really enjoy, so I was a bit disappointed that it did not fully work for me. The writing leans a lot on telling rather than showing, which made it hard to connect with the characters, and I did not find them very relatable either. The pacing also felt a bit abrupt at times, and I often felt like scenes were being told to me rather than unfolding naturally. The romance did not feel very convincing, and I struggled to feel much chemistry between the main characters, probably because I felt the overall plot lacked depth and emotional development. That said, there were still a few moments in the story that I liked, which kept me reading until the end, especially some of the lighter, more playful scenes. But overall it still did not fully land for me. In the end, this just was not for me, though I would still be interested in reading more from the author in the future.
overall rating:
⭐️:2/5
Thank you to @netgalley and the Aria & Aries for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 7 May 2026
My thoughts:
Falling for the Protagonist is quite a cute read, but overall the story felt flat to me. I love magical realism, and the premise is something I would usually really enjoy, so I was a bit disappointed that it did not fully work for me. The writing leans a lot on telling rather than showing, which made it hard to connect with the characters, and I did not find them very relatable either. The pacing also felt a bit abrupt at times, and I often felt like scenes were being told to me rather than unfolding naturally. The romance did not feel very convincing, and I struggled to feel much chemistry between the main characters, probably because I felt the overall plot lacked depth and emotional development. That said, there were still a few moments in the story that I liked, which kept me reading until the end, especially some of the lighter, more playful scenes. But overall it still did not fully land for me. In the end, this just was not for me, though I would still be interested in reading more from the author in the future.
overall rating:
⭐️:2/5
Thank you to @netgalley and the Aria & Aries for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2026
Falling for the Protagonist is a charming, clever meta‑romance that completely won me over with its characters and its playful, heartfelt premise. Emmy Miura is such an easy protagonist to root for, she is chaotic, self‑aware, and genuinely trying her best even when she wakes up inside a fictional book world she absolutely did not mean to enter.
Will Barrett is the standout for me. He’s gentle, steady, and so deeply human for someone who technically isn’t real. His reaction to learning that his entire life is fictional is handled with surprising emotional depth, and his growing connection with Emmy feels soft, slow, and beautifully earned.
Bex Goos takes the classic rom‑com formula and flips it on its head, giving us a heroine who is self‑aware, delightfully dramatic, and absolutely determined to take control of her own narrative. The humour is sharp in that “I’m laughing because this is unhinged but also painfully relatable” way. The romance is soft, slow‑burn, and full of those little moments that make you grin like an idiot. The chemistry builds beautifully, with banter that feels natural and a connection that sneaks up on you.
A charming, clever, heart‑squeezing romance that celebrates love, choice, and the magic of stories.
Will Barrett is the standout for me. He’s gentle, steady, and so deeply human for someone who technically isn’t real. His reaction to learning that his entire life is fictional is handled with surprising emotional depth, and his growing connection with Emmy feels soft, slow, and beautifully earned.
Bex Goos takes the classic rom‑com formula and flips it on its head, giving us a heroine who is self‑aware, delightfully dramatic, and absolutely determined to take control of her own narrative. The humour is sharp in that “I’m laughing because this is unhinged but also painfully relatable” way. The romance is soft, slow‑burn, and full of those little moments that make you grin like an idiot. The chemistry builds beautifully, with banter that feels natural and a connection that sneaks up on you.
A charming, clever, heart‑squeezing romance that celebrates love, choice, and the magic of stories.
August 24, 2026
When Emmy goes to see a sex psychic her sister swears by, she buys a book from her bookshop. She falls asleep reading it and wakes up in bed with someone who eerily resembles the novel’s MMC. And now she’s living it; she’s fallen into an actual romance novel. Will is a bit of a tortured MMC when he realizes that he’s also in a romance novel — you know, the broody type. He’s not sure that anything he knows is real anymore (he’s in a romance novel, after all!), so he kind of gives up hope for life to be anything other than the way it’s written.
The author pokes a bit of fun at the predictability of romance novels, right down to “someone will make us kiss to prove we’re actually dating even though we know it’s fake.” This had me giggling until it got a little intense for a light romance novel – predictability definitely felt like the characters were trapped at times.
This book had a really interesting premise that I enjoyed, even though some of the scenarios felt repetitive. It was a fun read overall. If you like a bit of magical realism, all the romance tropes, and will they/won’t they, then check this one out!
3.5⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Aria for a chance to read and review this early!
The author pokes a bit of fun at the predictability of romance novels, right down to “someone will make us kiss to prove we’re actually dating even though we know it’s fake.” This had me giggling until it got a little intense for a light romance novel – predictability definitely felt like the characters were trapped at times.
This book had a really interesting premise that I enjoyed, even though some of the scenarios felt repetitive. It was a fun read overall. If you like a bit of magical realism, all the romance tropes, and will they/won’t they, then check this one out!
3.5⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Aria for a chance to read and review this early!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2026
2.5 rounded up to 3
After visiting a sex psychic her sister swears by, Emmy wakes up in a romance novel. She upturns the MMC Will's life. He no longer is on the path of the story and has a bit of a crisis. He tells Emmy when she finds a way out she has to take him with her. As Emmy spends weeks trying to figure out how to get out she discovers things about herself and also falls for Will.
This book sounded right up my alley. I love when a character gets sucked into another world and a book in a book is even more fun!
I loved how quirky the book started off, sex psychics, meet cute over load, and jellyfish talk. But shortly after Emmy woke in the book I lost interest. There is so much talk about things and not a lot of action in the book. It dragged! There were parts were I wish the author leaned in a lot more and others she leaned too much into. Some of it was just cringe.
I never really felt the connection between Will and Emmy. I also struggled with the "alcoholic" portion of this too. As someone with alcoholics in my family, I didn't see Will as one and I didn't like how Emmy handled it.
I do give the book credit for Japanese representation and addressing racism.
Thank you to Head of Zeus and Aria for the gifted copy.
After visiting a sex psychic her sister swears by, Emmy wakes up in a romance novel. She upturns the MMC Will's life. He no longer is on the path of the story and has a bit of a crisis. He tells Emmy when she finds a way out she has to take him with her. As Emmy spends weeks trying to figure out how to get out she discovers things about herself and also falls for Will.
This book sounded right up my alley. I love when a character gets sucked into another world and a book in a book is even more fun!
I loved how quirky the book started off, sex psychics, meet cute over load, and jellyfish talk. But shortly after Emmy woke in the book I lost interest. There is so much talk about things and not a lot of action in the book. It dragged! There were parts were I wish the author leaned in a lot more and others she leaned too much into. Some of it was just cringe.
I never really felt the connection between Will and Emmy. I also struggled with the "alcoholic" portion of this too. As someone with alcoholics in my family, I didn't see Will as one and I didn't like how Emmy handled it.
I do give the book credit for Japanese representation and addressing racism.
Thank you to Head of Zeus and Aria for the gifted copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
DNF @ 50%
Firstly I wanted to start this by saying that I’m rating this two stars because one star felt harsh considering I unfortunately did not finish this book 🫣 I was so excited for this book because the synopsis sounded like a lot of fun but this one just completely missed the mark for me.
I’m not at all opposed to third person in books, some of my favourites are written in third person but usually the pov swaps are at the start of a new chapter or are clearly marked and this was not… it was swapping pov mid chapter with no warning and it really took me out of the story.
I also really wasn’t a fan of how quickly Will believed what Emmy was telling him about them being in a book, because what do you mean this woman you’ve known for two hours tells you you’re not real and you’re actually a book character and you just believe her almost immediately to the point where he just gives up on everything and quits his job?! It all felt slightly too rushed for me and I think if it was slowed down a bit then maybe I would have enjoyed it more.
Thank you to the publisher for a proof of this book.
Firstly I wanted to start this by saying that I’m rating this two stars because one star felt harsh considering I unfortunately did not finish this book 🫣 I was so excited for this book because the synopsis sounded like a lot of fun but this one just completely missed the mark for me.
I’m not at all opposed to third person in books, some of my favourites are written in third person but usually the pov swaps are at the start of a new chapter or are clearly marked and this was not… it was swapping pov mid chapter with no warning and it really took me out of the story.
I also really wasn’t a fan of how quickly Will believed what Emmy was telling him about them being in a book, because what do you mean this woman you’ve known for two hours tells you you’re not real and you’re actually a book character and you just believe her almost immediately to the point where he just gives up on everything and quits his job?! It all felt slightly too rushed for me and I think if it was slowed down a bit then maybe I would have enjoyed it more.
Thank you to the publisher for a proof of this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2025
4.5 Stars
Thank you to Bex Goos and NetGalley for the ARC.
Falling for the Protagonist is an incredible debut novel by Bex Goos! It follows Emmy Miura who is heart broken and out of luck with love, until she visits a sex psychic (yes, you read that right) and finds herself in bed with Will one morning. Now this wasn’t a one night stand situation, Will is none other than the MMC of the book sold to her by the sex psychic!
This book is quirky, unique and very funny in how Emmy and Will have to live out the stereotypical romance book storyline. Will’s existential crisis at learning about his fictional existence was also very interesting.
The only reason why this book isn’t a 5 star read for me is because it took me a good while to get used to the changes in perspective as this was done constantly with no warning. Eventually, I did become accustomed to it, so it may just be a me problem!
I really recommend this book to anyone who likes:
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Book-within-a-book
Magical realism
Thank you to Bex Goos and NetGalley for the ARC.
Falling for the Protagonist is an incredible debut novel by Bex Goos! It follows Emmy Miura who is heart broken and out of luck with love, until she visits a sex psychic (yes, you read that right) and finds herself in bed with Will one morning. Now this wasn’t a one night stand situation, Will is none other than the MMC of the book sold to her by the sex psychic!
This book is quirky, unique and very funny in how Emmy and Will have to live out the stereotypical romance book storyline. Will’s existential crisis at learning about his fictional existence was also very interesting.
The only reason why this book isn’t a 5 star read for me is because it took me a good while to get used to the changes in perspective as this was done constantly with no warning. Eventually, I did become accustomed to it, so it may just be a me problem!
I really recommend this book to anyone who likes:
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Book-within-a-book
Magical realism
July 22, 2026
I'm a sucker for magical realism and stories that play with established tropes. Please know, I'm not joking when I say I cheered out loud after getting approved to read the Falling for the Protagonist ARC. (Huge thank you to NetGalley!)
I really liked my time with Emmy and Will. You get to know them as they grow from reluctant roommates into true friends. Their love story is steady, sweet, and mutual, and it made me grin like a fool. Emmy's matter of fact, skeptical personality appealed to me, and I loved Will's sweet leading-man energy.
The supporting characters are wonderful and feel like whole, real people. I was also surprised, in a good way, how much this book delved into the existential. Both of our leads struggle with purpose and with the question: "Does my life have meaning?".
Ultimately, I really recommend this story. There are some light trigger warnings for existential turmoil, alcohol dependence, stalking, racism, and grief/loss. Nothing overwhelming, but if these are especially sensitive topics for someone, I want them to know these get touched on.
I really liked my time with Emmy and Will. You get to know them as they grow from reluctant roommates into true friends. Their love story is steady, sweet, and mutual, and it made me grin like a fool. Emmy's matter of fact, skeptical personality appealed to me, and I loved Will's sweet leading-man energy.
The supporting characters are wonderful and feel like whole, real people. I was also surprised, in a good way, how much this book delved into the existential. Both of our leads struggle with purpose and with the question: "Does my life have meaning?".
Ultimately, I really recommend this story. There are some light trigger warnings for existential turmoil, alcohol dependence, stalking, racism, and grief/loss. Nothing overwhelming, but if these are especially sensitive topics for someone, I want them to know these get touched on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 21, 2026Falling for the Protagonist by Bex Goos
Standalone • Adult • Romance
📖352 Pages
🗓️September 22
📒Forced proximity
📒Fake dating
📒Book-within-a-book
📒Magical realism
[I received a physical ARC from @bloomsburybooksus #bloomsburycreatorcircle ]
📒Falling for the Protagonist is a high‑concept romcom built around a fun premise: a woman falls asleep while reading a novel and wakes up inside its fictional world. It’s a trope I’ve always enjoyed, and this story uses it in a light, imaginative way that feels quite playful.
📒The speculative element works well, especially for those who like a touch of the unexpected in their romances. I also appreciated the Japanese representation woven into the narrative, which adds texture to the world and the characters. The overall tone leans quirky and offbeat, making it a distinctive read for anyone who enjoys romcoms with an unusual setup.
📒It’s a strange, charming story with a creative concept at its core, and fans of unconventional romantic comedies will likely enjoy it.
Standalone • Adult • Romance
📖352 Pages
🗓️September 22
📒Forced proximity
📒Fake dating
📒Book-within-a-book
📒Magical realism
[I received a physical ARC from @bloomsburybooksus #bloomsburycreatorcircle ]
📒Falling for the Protagonist is a high‑concept romcom built around a fun premise: a woman falls asleep while reading a novel and wakes up inside its fictional world. It’s a trope I’ve always enjoyed, and this story uses it in a light, imaginative way that feels quite playful.
📒The speculative element works well, especially for those who like a touch of the unexpected in their romances. I also appreciated the Japanese representation woven into the narrative, which adds texture to the world and the characters. The overall tone leans quirky and offbeat, making it a distinctive read for anyone who enjoys romcoms with an unusual setup.
📒It’s a strange, charming story with a creative concept at its core, and fans of unconventional romantic comedies will likely enjoy it.
March 17, 2026
Falling for the protagonist is a cute rom-com where the main character Emmy who doesn’t believe in true love, fate or psychics has just broken up with her toxic boyfriend and goes to a romance (sex) psychic because her sister asks her too and gets trapped in book.
It did take me a while to get into the book, I think mainly because of the writing and the plot was a bit cliche in a sense, but once I got into the story, I enjoyed reading.
First of all, who doesn’t want to be trapped in a romance novel with a hunk of a man. Also there was so many instants in this books where I was a giggling mess. Near the end when they were joking about the words for d**k in books, I was cracking up laughing, because I’ve see so many of them.
I loved the banter so much. It was a really light hearted rom-com and I definitely recommend it to people who want to read a light hearted funny and cute romance.
It did take me a while to get into the book, I think mainly because of the writing and the plot was a bit cliche in a sense, but once I got into the story, I enjoyed reading.
First of all, who doesn’t want to be trapped in a romance novel with a hunk of a man. Also there was so many instants in this books where I was a giggling mess. Near the end when they were joking about the words for d**k in books, I was cracking up laughing, because I’ve see so many of them.
I loved the banter so much. It was a really light hearted rom-com and I definitely recommend it to people who want to read a light hearted funny and cute romance.
May 14, 2026
Waking up as a character in your romance novel sounds like such a dream come true—unless, of course, it turns into a life or death situation! Haha!
I really liked Emmy’s cynical perspective on things. Who wouldn’t find that amusing? I also appreciated how her sister and Emmy are so different, yet their loyalty really shows how much they cared for each other as siblings.
I could totally understand Will’s existential crisis. Still, his unexpected behaviour when he first met Bright had me laughing. And, by the way, I loved his flashlight name: Gordon.
The magical realism in this story was absolutely delightful. The idea was so charming, and now I’m forever hopeful of waking up inside a romance novel for the meet-cutes scenario!
It’s a fun and light read that’s sure to make you giggle. I especially liked that the ending wasn’t a cliché or predictable. This was such a sweet and funny book.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted and escapism story, this is definitely worth a read!
3.5 stars
I really liked Emmy’s cynical perspective on things. Who wouldn’t find that amusing? I also appreciated how her sister and Emmy are so different, yet their loyalty really shows how much they cared for each other as siblings.
I could totally understand Will’s existential crisis. Still, his unexpected behaviour when he first met Bright had me laughing. And, by the way, I loved his flashlight name: Gordon.
The magical realism in this story was absolutely delightful. The idea was so charming, and now I’m forever hopeful of waking up inside a romance novel for the meet-cutes scenario!
It’s a fun and light read that’s sure to make you giggle. I especially liked that the ending wasn’t a cliché or predictable. This was such a sweet and funny book.
If you’re looking for a lighthearted and escapism story, this is definitely worth a read!
3.5 stars
June 11, 2026
Falling For The Protagonist is a rom-com with a magical realism element that makes it a little different from the norm, and a lot of fun!
After a bad break up, and on the recommendation of her sister, Emmy visits a sex psychic. Whilst there she picks up a romance novel - that night she falls asleep reading it and wakes up in the bed of the MMC Will.
There is much to make you smile in the story as it gently pokes fun at romance tropes - and Emmy has to deal with a succession of meet-cutes. Will is the ultimate book boyfriend - handsome, loyal, caring and constant - but one who has to confront the fact his whole life is fictitious. Emmy was more of a grower for me, but I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they grappled with a way to be together - as well as her finding the courage to follow her dreams. And with an ending that left with a smile on my face this was an enjoyable escapist read.
After a bad break up, and on the recommendation of her sister, Emmy visits a sex psychic. Whilst there she picks up a romance novel - that night she falls asleep reading it and wakes up in the bed of the MMC Will.
There is much to make you smile in the story as it gently pokes fun at romance tropes - and Emmy has to deal with a succession of meet-cutes. Will is the ultimate book boyfriend - handsome, loyal, caring and constant - but one who has to confront the fact his whole life is fictitious. Emmy was more of a grower for me, but I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop as they grappled with a way to be together - as well as her finding the courage to follow her dreams. And with an ending that left with a smile on my face this was an enjoyable escapist read.
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