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Falling for the Protagonist
Not yet published
Expected 7 May 26THIS 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)
- GenresRomance
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 7, 2026
3 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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.
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.
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!
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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
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.
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
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The description for this absolutely sold me before I had even read it.
Any bookish girlie is going to eat this up. This is magical realism at its absolute best, such a fun, creative take on a rom-com that completely hooked me from the start.
The trope lineup? Elite. Forced proximity, fake dating… it delivered on all of it. The longer chapter lengths definitely had me needing a break between them, so it felt like it took me longer to finish. It isn't as "bingeable".
Regardless, I genuinely didn’t want to put it down… although there was a moment where I was genuinely concerned about how this was all going to end, ha!
Thank you to the author, Aria & Aries | Aria and NetGalley for an eARC.
And it’s funny. Like actually laugh-out-loud funny. The second the naughty tarot cards came in (I’m still not over the “five of testicles”), I knew I was in for a good time.
Add in some solid spice and this was a romance that had me fully invested. Such an enjoyable, unique, feel-good read!
Any bookish girlie is going to eat this up. This is magical realism at its absolute best, such a fun, creative take on a rom-com that completely hooked me from the start.
The trope lineup? Elite. Forced proximity, fake dating… it delivered on all of it. The longer chapter lengths definitely had me needing a break between them, so it felt like it took me longer to finish. It isn't as "bingeable".
Regardless, I genuinely didn’t want to put it down… although there was a moment where I was genuinely concerned about how this was all going to end, ha!
Thank you to the author, Aria & Aries | Aria and NetGalley for an eARC.
And it’s funny. Like actually laugh-out-loud funny. The second the naughty tarot cards came in (I’m still not over the “five of testicles”), I knew I was in for a good time.
Add in some solid spice and this was a romance that had me fully invested. Such an enjoyable, unique, feel-good read!
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.
November 13, 2025
Being a chronic, I often want to yell VISIBILITY IS VALIDITY. So it made me laugh when I read the scene with Will and Emmy discussing white male main characters in romance novels. It is not just romantic books that are mostly about mainstream people, as I've been saying for years in my reviews on Goodreads.
But of course, we need to talk about the book itself. Emmy seems to doubt a lot: herself, her career, love in general. When she weirdly ends up in Will's story, everything seems to fall into place.
So with that, I am hoping that in future books by this author we'll also find people that are disabled, obese, gay, et cetera. It doesn't have to be a theme, but surely there are more flavours to the human kind as Bex Goos was already nudging us with Falling For The Protagonist?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
But of course, we need to talk about the book itself. Emmy seems to doubt a lot: herself, her career, love in general. When she weirdly ends up in Will's story, everything seems to fall into place.
So with that, I am hoping that in future books by this author we'll also find people that are disabled, obese, gay, et cetera. It doesn't have to be a theme, but surely there are more flavours to the human kind as Bex Goos was already nudging us with Falling For The Protagonist?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.
November 24, 2025
The description of this book drew me in. I thought what a clever take on the rom com books we have. And we meet Emmy a Japanese American who has given up on love after being with a not very nice man. After a trip to a sex therapist and buys a book. She wakes up in Will's bed in the book she just purchased. Ensues romance book tongue in cheek gags with everyone being hot and coming on to Emmy.
The book is very tongue in cheek and had be chuckling quite often. The ending was also lovely. Only quip I have is the author is white and The FMC is a Japanese. But there is no stereo typing. Emmy has to deal with racism. I would say it's well done and well researched
I did enjoy this book and would read more by Bex Goos
I do think adding something to help define who's POV we were in. cause it got a little bit confusing at first .
The book is very tongue in cheek and had be chuckling quite often. The ending was also lovely. Only quip I have is the author is white and The FMC is a Japanese. But there is no stereo typing. Emmy has to deal with racism. I would say it's well done and well researched
I did enjoy this book and would read more by Bex Goos
I do think adding something to help define who's POV we were in. cause it got a little bit confusing at first .
February 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this arc.
Waking up as a character in your romance novel is definitely an interesting concept!
I really enjoyed how cynical Emmy was.
I felt bad for Will dealing with his existential crisis. Although his going off script did make me giggle when he first met Bright.
There’s a lot of weird things going on in this book, and uncomfortable undercurrent around Emmy’s interactions with other characters. Watching it come to a head made me love how strong Emmy is.
I struggled a little bit to get into this book, it took a few chapters for me. After the first few chapters I was hooked though.
It was such a sweet, emotional, funny book. I really enjoyed it.
Waking up as a character in your romance novel is definitely an interesting concept!
I really enjoyed how cynical Emmy was.
I felt bad for Will dealing with his existential crisis. Although his going off script did make me giggle when he first met Bright.
There’s a lot of weird things going on in this book, and uncomfortable undercurrent around Emmy’s interactions with other characters. Watching it come to a head made me love how strong Emmy is.
I struggled a little bit to get into this book, it took a few chapters for me. After the first few chapters I was hooked though.
It was such a sweet, emotional, funny book. I really enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
First of all, wow! This was such a fun premise. I found the story slowed down for a bit around the halfway point, but it picked right back up for the last third.
Emmy is down in the dumps after the terrible break up and is pushing everyone away. Her sister found the love of her life after the visit to a sex psychic and suggests Emmy go just for fun. She leaves the shop with a new romance books and the next morning, wakes up inside it!
Shenanigans ensue, strangers turn to friends turn to lovers, and personal growth abounds!
I laughed, I teared up, and I left this book with a smile a mile wide.
There was only one sex scene that would be very easy to skim (a positive for me).
First of all, wow! This was such a fun premise. I found the story slowed down for a bit around the halfway point, but it picked right back up for the last third.
Emmy is down in the dumps after the terrible break up and is pushing everyone away. Her sister found the love of her life after the visit to a sex psychic and suggests Emmy go just for fun. She leaves the shop with a new romance books and the next morning, wakes up inside it!
Shenanigans ensue, strangers turn to friends turn to lovers, and personal growth abounds!
I laughed, I teared up, and I left this book with a smile a mile wide.
There was only one sex scene that would be very easy to skim (a positive for me).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was so intrigued by how this was going to play out, and enjoyed the read! It did feel at times like a bit of a slog to get through, as the plot didn’t progress a whole lot. However the over arching storyline was fun, and both lighthearted and serious at different points of the characters interactions/revelations. The way the author depicts heart break evoked a lot of feelings and I did actually shed a tear hearing Emmy’s internal monologue tell her similar lines like mine has. A fun read, but i think my experience reading would have benefited by a more fast paced start, and some scenes could have been cut or trimmed down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
★★★½☆ 3.5 stars
This was a fun read overall. I really enjoyed the fake dating trope and the magical realism element. they gave the story a playful, creative twist that kept things moving.
That said, the spice level felt a bit too much for this particular story for me. It didn’t quite match the vibe I was expecting, but that’s more of a personal preference than a flaw. Still, it was an easy, entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bex Goos, and Aria & Aries for the ARC.
This was a fun read overall. I really enjoyed the fake dating trope and the magical realism element. they gave the story a playful, creative twist that kept things moving.
That said, the spice level felt a bit too much for this particular story for me. It didn’t quite match the vibe I was expecting, but that’s more of a personal preference than a flaw. Still, it was an easy, entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bex Goos, and Aria & Aries for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Such a unique and wholesome romance!
I absolutely devoured Falling for the Protagonist! It was a new take on romcoms that made you believe in magic as well as Happily Ever Afters!
I loved the side characters as much as the MCs, they felt well rounded and their relationships to the FMC was felt through the pages.
The writing was really easy to follow and it left me really engrossed in the story. I will be recommending this book for sure!
I absolutely devoured Falling for the Protagonist! It was a new take on romcoms that made you believe in magic as well as Happily Ever Afters!
I loved the side characters as much as the MCs, they felt well rounded and their relationships to the FMC was felt through the pages.
The writing was really easy to follow and it left me really engrossed in the story. I will be recommending this book for sure!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I actually thought that this was going to be a simple run of the mill romantic story only to find myself reading one of the most unique and fantastically written magical realism books I have ever read! I could not get enough of this book and devoured it in one sitting. Perhaps a new favourite? yes I really do think so
A must read, as in if I could make people read it I would lol
A must read, as in if I could make people read it I would lol
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an easy read. I liked the MFC Emmy and her relationship with Will.
The reason I gave it three stars was the use of tropes. The book uses the tropes to move the story along. Initially this was amusing but as the book progressed the tropes gave the plot away and made the book predictable.
If you are looking for a popcorn read then this is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria and Aries for the ARC
The reason I gave it three stars was the use of tropes. The book uses the tropes to move the story along. Initially this was amusing but as the book progressed the tropes gave the plot away and made the book predictable.
If you are looking for a popcorn read then this is for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria and Aries for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Falling for the protagonist delivers a wonderfully imaginative and heartfelt read that blurs the line between fiction and reality in the most delightful way.
The premise immediately pulled me in because it’s fresh, creative, and full of heart. I was as lost in this book as Emmy (the MC) was in hers. The writing flows easily, with vivid scenes and thoughtful emotion. I especially appreciated how the story explores all together; identity, choice, a spiritual fantasy and a satisfying romantic arc.
The characters are really likeable and well-developed, and the chemistry builds naturally. I think I also fell for adoringly sweet and loyal Will Barrett. He is the Protagonist in the book Emmy got from sex psychic, Lucy.
While a few moments felt slightly predictable, the unique concept and the author’s creativity and clear love for storytelling more than made up for it. This is the kind of book that feels cozy and fun, yet still leaves you thinking after the final page.
Overall, this was a delightful read, and I’m glad I had the chance to experience it early.
Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher, Aria & Aries for providing this ARC.
The premise immediately pulled me in because it’s fresh, creative, and full of heart. I was as lost in this book as Emmy (the MC) was in hers. The writing flows easily, with vivid scenes and thoughtful emotion. I especially appreciated how the story explores all together; identity, choice, a spiritual fantasy and a satisfying romantic arc.
The characters are really likeable and well-developed, and the chemistry builds naturally. I think I also fell for adoringly sweet and loyal Will Barrett. He is the Protagonist in the book Emmy got from sex psychic, Lucy.
While a few moments felt slightly predictable, the unique concept and the author’s creativity and clear love for storytelling more than made up for it. This is the kind of book that feels cozy and fun, yet still leaves you thinking after the final page.
Overall, this was a delightful read, and I’m glad I had the chance to experience it early.
Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher, Aria & Aries for providing this ARC.
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