I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend: More Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King

Patch Simmons #2

by Harry Trevaldwyn

Filled with just as much laugh-out-loud humor as The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King, I Can't Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend is the poignant second novel in the Patch Simmons duology.

Days have passed since Patch and Sam had their first kiss, but somehow, Patch still doesn’t officially have a boyfriend. To make matters worse, it seems everyone around him is preoccupied with romance—Flora has a new crush, Jean is acting strangely about the boy she’s tutoring, and even Patch’s mum has been smiling with alarming frequency at her phone. No matter, he has a all Patch has to do is prove to Sam what a romantic he is, and he won’t be able to help but fall in love (obviously).

Except, when Sam and Patch are placed on different teams for the town’s short-film competition, it looks like there’s going to be a lot more distance between them than he’d initially planned. And a lot less distance between him and Sam’s best friend, Peter, who only recently confessed his undying love (okay, maybe a slight exaggeration) for Patch. It’s getting harder to ignore the butterflies Patch feels whenever they spend time together, but he and Sam are perfect for each other—aren’t they?

Patch basically has a boyfriend now, but get ready for him to embark on an even bigger challenge. . . keeping him.

Genres: Young Adult, LGBT

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 26, 2027

About the author

Harry Trevaldwyn is an author, screenwriter, actor and comedian who has been listed as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow.

Initially rising to fame through writing and starring in his own online skits, Harry has since been nominated for Best Debut Writer at the New Voice Awards 2023. He has projects in development with numerous leading production companies and has taken part in multiple writers’ rooms for both major domestic and international television projects. He has worked with the Soho Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and the Bloomsbury Theatre.

Harry made his screen debut in Netflix’s THE KING opposite Timothée Chalamet, and has since starred in THE BUBBLE and TEN PERCENT (the English language adaptation of CALL MY AGENT). He is currently starring in SWEET SUE, the comedy series SMOTHERED, and indie feature OR SOMETHING LIKE IT. Other credits include THE OUTLAWS and MY LADY JANE. Harry will spend the first half of 2024 filming a supporting lead role in a tentpole feature for a global studio.

THE ROMANTIC TRAGEDIES OF A DRAMA KING is Harry’s first novel and was acquired by Macmillan after a hotly contested 8-publisher auction. It is due to publish in Spring 2025 in the UK (MCB) and US (Wednesday Books). Bursting with hilarious misadventures and queer joy, THE ROMANTIC TRAGEDIES OF A DRAMA KING will be devoured by teenagers and adults who enjoy character-led romantic dilemmas in the tradition of Georgia Nicolson, Lottie Brooks and Bridget Jones. Set against the backdrop of a high school drama production where — of course — the most dramatic events happen off-stage; the story follows loveable Patrick ‘Patch’ Simmons who’s decided that this is the year he gets a boyfriend. Armed with his single mum’s outdated self-help books and an alarming level of self-confidence, Patch embarks on his mission with hilarious results. As exclusively announced in Variety, THE ROMANTIC TRAGEDIES OF A DRAMA KING has been optioned for TV by producers See-Saw, with Harry adapting the novel himself.

Reviews

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Late to the party as usual, I didn’t realise that this title was a sequel, but in all honesty it didn’t matter I was very quickly able to feel part of Patch”s world. This was lovely, a really wholesome queer coming of age story. Perfect for the teen market.

Huge thanks to MacMillan UK Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Julicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reasons 'I can't believe I don't have a boyfriend' is great:
- It's hilarious. I snort-laughed out loud on multiple occasions (thankfully not in public).
- It's got a lot of heart. The friendships shine as much if not more than the romances.
- The MC Patch is very likeble, despite being an overly-dramatic theatre kid (no small feat).
- The characters are written like actual teens figuring themselves out, cringe and all. Their growth felt very natural.
- The love triangle worked surprisingly well, because I was never sure which of the boys Patch would end up with.
- The audiobook is excellent.

Overall, a nice cheesy breezy read. Quite predictable and cringey sure, but very entertaining. Harry, please go write some more!! 4,5 ⭐

[Amanda P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laugh out loud funny!! 3.5🌟

This was such a fun follow up to the first book and I truly believe this is one of those books best enjoyed as an audio as Harry Travaldwyn brings such a personal touch to Patch. I was laughing along constantly!

What I enjoyed:

🫶 Patch’s antics! Yes he’s out there and full of questionable ideas and makes some rather cringe remarks at times, but this is what makes him so loveable! I love his delusional but motivated spirit, and I really liked the journey he went on in this book discovering how he should be loved.

🫶 The wider characters. Whilst Patch is over the top majority of the time, the wider characters are steeped in so much reality and it was refreshing really delving into their characters. I especially loved seeing Jean’s storyline, she’s such a strong female character. As well as Tessa’s self discovery and seeing more of Patch’s family.

🫶 The love triangle. Honestly I’m so torn at this point. I love Sam’s quiet demeanour and think he’s so the ying to Patch’s yang. But I feel he needs to go through his own emotional journey. But I loved seeing more of Peter this book and how supportive he is of Patch. He truly appreciates Patch’s loudness. Ugh I love them both 🥰

I’m so intrigued to see the direction this goes in and whether Jean-Pierre will ever make an appearance 👀 My mind is convinced he’s the true endgame 😅

[Georgina Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I dedicate this to the dreamers! And to queer kids everywhere who just want to be seen.”

Being back in Patch’s world was such a joy, and I had completely forgotten just how funny he is. Yes, sometimes he is dramatic, self-centred and absolutely chaotic, but that is also what makes him so lovable. I genuinely barked with laughter at “is he going to be my new dad?” because honestly, Patch’s humour is just brilliant.

This was a fantastic sequel and such a fun follow-up to the first book. It brought back the same sharp humour, chaotic energy, heartfelt moments and brilliant friendships, while also giving Patch more room to grow. What I really wanted throughout the book was for Patch to realise that he doesn’t need to become someone else to be loved. He spends so much time looking for advice in outdated books and trying to work out the “right” way to be, but really, he is just sabotaging himself. As readers, we already love him for who he is, and I just wanted him to see that too.

I also loved the UK representation because honestly, the difference between “regular” Tesco and “big” Tesco is real, and I appreciate seeing those little details on the page. The pacing was great, with short chapters that made it really easy to keep reading. I loved the wider friendship circle with Patch, Tessa, Jean, Sam, Peter, Rachel and Flora, but the real heart for me was the three musketeers: Jean, Tessa and Patch. Watching their friendship deepen, shift and be tested was one of my favourite parts of the book.

The romance side was adorable but also very bungling, if that makes sense. Sam and Patch are sweet together, but they are constantly getting their wires crossed. Sam wants to take things slowly, while Patch seems desperate to have a boyfriend and know where he stands. Sam is caring, dependable and very much one of those “good guys finish last” types, and I really don’t want to see him hurt.

That being said, Patch’s banter with Peter felt so natural. Peter seems more comfortable in his own skin, and I can’t lie, I do feel like he may be the better match for Patch temperament-wise. I am torn, because Sam is lovely, but there is something about Patch and Peter’s dynamic that just works.

The situation with Jean and Callum was a proper plot twist. I did not see that coming at all. There are quite a few subplots running throughout, with most of the characters dealing with their own issues. I really liked seeing more of Kath, especially the way her low mood and uncertainty about the future were introduced. Her struggles around what to do after college felt so realistic, because honestly, what eighteen-year-old truly knows? I loved that when she opened up to her mum and Patch, she was met with support rather than judgement. No stereotypes, no dismissive comments, just care and understanding.

I also really enjoyed seeing more of Patch’s family, especially his mum’s new relationship with Paul. The kids winding her up about it was hilarious, and Patch joking about getting a new daddy had me laughing out loud. I loved Paul too, and the dynamic he brought to the story.

I will say the book could have done with a little more proofreading, as I noticed a couple of character mix-ups. One scene in Costa seemed to be Jean and Patch, but was later referred to as Tessa and Patch, which pulled me out slightly.

Overall though, this still had everything I enjoyed about the first book: laugh-out-loud moments, flamboyant chaos, great friendships, messy feelings, queer joy and coming-of-age energy. It is very much a story about young people trying to figure themselves out, learning how to be loved, and realising they deserve to be seen.

A great sequel, and I cannot wait to see what the third book brings, because I am fully invested in Patch and the gang.

4.5 ⭐️

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

After absolutely loving Harry Trevaldwyn's first book, I went into I Can't Believe I Don't Have a Boyfriend with sky-high expectations. Thankfully, it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. It brought back the same sharp humor, chaotic energy, and heartfelt moments that made the first book so memorable while still giving Patch's story room to grow.

Picking up where the previous book ends, we once again follow Patch as he tries to navigate the wonderfully confusing world of love, friendships, and figuring himself out. His romantic life remains delightfully messy, and while I expected him to have everything a little more under control this time around, I actually appreciated that the story stayed true to how unpredictable growing up really is. Young love is rarely straightforward, and this book captures that beautifully with equal parts comedy and sincerity.

Patch continues to be the heart of the series. He's dramatic, awkward, endlessly entertaining, and completely lovable. Underneath all of his theatrical moments is someone who cares deeply about the people around him, and that emotional honesty makes him incredibly easy to root for. His insecurities about feeling like he's "too much" were handled with warmth and felt surprisingly relatable.

The audiobook was another standout. The narrator perfectly captured Patch's personality, bringing his humor, anxiety, and larger-than-life reactions to life in a way that made the story even more enjoyable. Several scenes genuinely had me laughing out loud, but the quieter emotional moments landed just as well.

Although the story felt a little more relaxed and less tightly plotted than the first book, I never found that to be a major issue. Instead, it focused more on the ups and downs of relationships, growing older, and learning that life doesn't always follow the plans we imagine. It may not have hit me quite as emotionally as the previous installment, but it still offered thoughtful reflections on love, identity, and the uncertainty that often comes with being young.

I also loved seeing the supporting cast receive more attention this time around. Patch's friends and family were given greater depth, making the world feel richer and strengthening the emotional core of the story. Spending more time with them only made me more invested in everyone's journeys.

This sequel further convinced me that Harry Trevaldwyn has a wonderful talent for blending laugh-out-loud comedy with genuine emotion and celebrating queer joy in a way that feels authentic and uplifting. I'm already hoping there's a third book because I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to Patch and the people in his life.

[Kristel Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent a copy of this book for review.

After the rollercoaster of emotions and crazy antics of book 1, Patch has finally kissed a boy and has a boyfriend. Or does he? Patch had originally thought Peter would be his new love interest, but Sam made his feelings known first and attraction grew from their friendship. Sam kissed Patch, then Peter confessed that he fancied him but ultimately Patch chooses Sam though his new romance isn’t going how he hoped it would.

Sam is reluctant to come out which Patch 100% supports. But when Sam wants to see how things go as they get to know each other rather than be officially boyfriends, Patch starts to overthink things and go slightly overboard in his attentions and date plans to woo Sam into the idea of being together.

As the pair are split up into different groups for their short film assignments in Drama Club, Sam becomes more distant and Peter (who is in Patch’s group), and Patch’s friendship deepens and leaves Patch thinking he might have made the wrong choice.

This book delved more into sexuality, identity and mental health than the first book. Tessa and Sam are questioning their sexuality/identity in very different ways and Patch’s sister is dealing with mental health issues. The exploration of these topics is very important in the current world we live in and is done in an emotionally empathic way. Patch himself starts to question his own personality and way of being, but I loved that in the end he stood up for himself to live as his authentic self and didn’t let other’s needs or experiences dimmish his own light. This was a powerful message about standing up for yourself while still respecting other people’s journeys.

The letters to Patch’s French pen-pal Jean-Pierre are still very much a highlight of the books and the comedy moments that come from them made me giggle.

Overall, the book is still light-hearted, with plenty of silly moments with laugh-out-loud banter and madcap scenes but this instalment brought deeper emotions and situations into play. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Rich ✧ ✭ ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to hear that Patch was back in a sequel to ‘The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King’ because that first book was tremendously funny!

The humour is absolutely on par with the first book and I CONSTANTLY chuckled and laughed at the narration and commentary!

Patch is a drama-king, he’s flawed, has ideals of grandeur above himself and he’s also incredibly strong and hilarious. He reminds me of a mix between Hyacinth Bucket and the young Alan Carr in ITV’s ‘Changing Ends’. He’s a fantastic main protagonist to follow.

This new story finds Patch wondering if him and Sam can finally be boyfriends… but love never is plain sailing! An eventful dinner party, a short-movie competition, and a disastrous first date are all highlights to this incredibly funny story. Patch is sometimes a walking disaster but it makes funny reading! I think his theatrics make him all the more comedic yet real as a queer-teen. I personally love the visibility of a character like Patch.

Harry is a master at comedy in his stories and this is bound to make you chuckle throughout. A very worthy sequel and I loved being back in their world.

Thank you to @firstink and @pridebooktours for my gifted copy.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the eARC and ALC!

I read Harry Trevaldwyn’s first book on a whim and it ultimately made me laugh so hard I cried; therefore, this book had the challenge of trying to meet my now incredibly high expectations. I can only say with absolute glee that this follow up succeeded in that regard.

I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend picks up where book 1 left off and somehow managed to provide the same charm, humour and heart without ever becoming tiresome. Patch is a laughably awkward and utterly endearing main character who is only further brought to life by incredible narration. His over-the-top theatrics are balanced perfectly with the genuine love and care he shows for his friends and manage to support the story with real heart through Patch’s very relatable feelings of being “too much”.

Whilst the plot of this book felt slightly more meandering than book 1, it nonetheless gave me exactly what I’d hoped for from a sequel. This book has only cemented Harry Trevaldwyn as an author I will turn to for wonderfully dramatic books filled with queer joy and lots of laughs. I can’t wait to see what he writes next!

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to join patch again with his lovelife that just never seems to be one thing or another. After the first one I had a hope that this might be a more mature Patch and life might be kinda. However this did the perfect job of showing the pitfalls and highs of young love and how sometimes humor is needed to cope. Patch is a loveable character and the audio version showed his personality through fab narration. A short story with lots of hidden messages about love and life. It didnt pull at my heartstrings like the previous one but it did remind me of how hurt and complect love and life can be even ata yound age adn its not always clear. I loved the possibility of maybe a 3rd as i have become invested in the characters. Even the side characters and the family of Patch were given more space to grow in this second book. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author for this entertaining second visit with patch, more please,

[costitanza (onetoomanybooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a funny, witty YA MM romance, this is an easy recommendation.
If you're a fan of Alexis Hall's humor but want something with a younger cast and a YA feel, this book is definitely worth picking up. The banter is sharp, the internal monologues are hilarious, and the whole story has a charming, lighthearted energy that kept me smiling throughout.

A special shout-out to the author for narrating the audiobook. It was absolutely fantastic, and you can really tell the story is being read exactly as it was meant to be. The internal monologues, in particular, are delivered perfectly, adding so much personality and making the humor land even better.

Overall, I had a great time with this one and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, funny, and genuinely entertaining YA MM romance.

[Rebecca R · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the thrilling events of Book 1 (Patch and Sam share a romantic kiss after Prom) Patch is keen to define the relationship, but Sam wants to take things slow. Unfortunately, Patch has never done anything in a low-key manner before, and he’s not about to start now. I particularly enjoyed Patch’s disastrous dinner party (perhaps a homage to Bridget Jones’s legendary ‘Blue Soup’ catastrophe).

‘I Can’t Believe I Don’t Have a Boyfriend’ includes more of Patch’s unapologetic main character energy and pitch-perfect teen angst, the wonderfully warm and supportive relationship with his best friend Jean, and a surprising addition to their friendship group - just as laugh-out-loud hilarious as the first book. I loved it!

Thanks to First Ink for the Review Copy.

[Takealookinsideabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patch is back at it again with his wild and wonderful antics! The humour is these books is spot on and I love the strong bonds everyone within this friendship group has got.

I think I found this one more emotional than the first. Sam is definitely one of my favourite characters too, I love how thoughtful and gentle he is. Peter is a sweetheart too and I'm so excited to read more about these characters inthe future (i hope).

If you're in the mood for a delightful and dramatic read filled with love and laughter then you need this book in your life.

[Zoe James-Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love YA romcoms full of humour, heart and wonderfully awkward teenage moments, this is a brilliant follow-up to The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King. Harry Trevaldwyn captures the chaos of first love, friendships and overthinking with warmth and sharp comedy, making Patch an incredibly likeable narrator. I laughed throughout, but there's plenty of heart beneath the humour too. A fun, uplifting read that I flew through and would happily recommend to teens and adults alike.

[Ashley Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah this made my gay heart very happy 🥹

Great characters, great story

If you love heartstopper you’ll definitely love this!!

[A.K. Adler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the central message of this book, that it's okay to be loud and dramatic, and Patch gets that message across perfectly! His flamboyance is lovely... the problem is that he's so self-obsessed. Any growing up he did in the first book has been forgotten, and we're back to him being an immature brat, until the final third of the book, where he suddenly starts being considerate without any reason or intermediate development. So his growth felt fabricated rather than authentic.

Overall, it was fun, but psychologically shallow.

[Jodie Rose Reads ✨️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read The Romantic Tragedies Of A Drama King last year and fell in love with Patch Simmons, so was eager to read the sequel!

Patch is such an hilarious character. He’s chaotic, dramatic and messy as anything, but he’s utterly endearing and his heart is in the right place. He feels so real and relatable, and it’s a delight to be inside his head.

The humour in this is great and there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and deliciously awkward scenes. Trevaldwyn is so skilled at writing comedy - I’ll definitely pick up anything he writes!

The friendships in this are also a treat. Each character feels distinct and fleshed out in their own way, making for a richer reading experience. I loved the way they play off each other and Jean’s support for Patch in particular is unmatched.

Despite all the laughs, this book has a whole lot of heartfelt moments too. It looks at identity, how relationships can change over time and grappling with the feeling of being ‘too much’.

Overally, this is a fun, easy-to-read series that is packed full of laughter and heart.

💫 What to expect 💫

🌈 Queer joy
❤️ Love triangle
😂 YA comedy
🤔 Themes of identity
🥰 Strong friendships

💖 Thank you to Pride Book Tours and First Ink Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lily Golding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Patch is back and he is as hilarious as ever. You can expect more relationship drama, more melodramatic moments and more times when you just want to shake him for being so self absorbed the whole time. I just can’t stop laughing at his antics.

Though not as good with the first one, I just really love how real these books feel. The characters are full of life and they act like typical teenagers rather than the airbrushed ones you see in the big YA fantasy books. Their worlds revolve around themselves, their relationships and their pen pal letters to someone who will never write back.

I think the reason I liked this one a little less is that I’m kind of fed up with the love triangle. It felt like it all was resolved in the last book and he was moving forward, but now things are rocky with Sam and Peter is still there and flirty and full of chemistry. Though I’ll be interested to see which one he ends up with I’d kind of like to see Patch in a relationship rather than just going backwards and forwards between the two.

Looking forward to seeing if there’s more books planned.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk