How To Be An Adult Fangirl

by Karah-Leigh Hancock

Harley has spent more than twenty years loving the world's biggest boy band from the safety of the crowd. Fandom has given her unforgettable memories, lifelong friendships, and enough meetings with lead singer Blake Beckett that he actually remembers her.

But Harley has a real life outside of the fandom: a career, a husband, responsibilities. So when she wins a once-in-a-lifetime date with her longtime celebrity crush on the Insomnia fan cruise, it's supposed to be nothing more than another incredible fangirl story to share when she gets home.

For one night, the fangirl and the famous boy bander get the chance to see each other differently.

As the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, Harley is forced to confront what she wants from the life waiting for her back home. And Blake can't seem to forget the woman who made him feel like something other than the guy onstage.

Some fangirl fantasies are supposed to stay fantasies.

What happens when one doesn't?

How to Be an Adult Fangirl is a contemporary boy band romance about fandom, unexpected connections, impossible choices, and discovering the person behind the celebrity you thought you already knew.

Tropes: Celebrity romance • Fangirl x boy bander • He falls first • Slow burn • Forbidden attraction • Protective MMC • Plus-size FMC • Anxiety representation • Dual POV • Found family • Music industry • Fangirl friendships • Plenty of boy band nostalgia

Genres: New Adult

338 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2018

About the author

Karah-Leigh Hancock is a romance writer, marketing professional, former award-winning journalist, and lifelong fangirl who believes the best love stories should have heart, humor, chemistry, and characters who feel real.

She is the traditionally published author of Backstreet Boys: 30th Anniversary Celebration and The Boy Bands Ultimate Trivia Book. After years of writing about music, pop culture, and fandom, she turned her attention to contemporary romance, especially stories featuring celebrity life, second chances, complicated emotions, and women figuring out what they really want.

Her writing is heavily influenced by music and the fangirl experience. She is a longtime Taylor Swift fan, believes almost every situation in life has a song for it, and has traveled across the country with her best friends to see her favorite boy band more times than she can probably count.

When she is not writing, Karah-Leigh works in marketing, reads romance novels, plans her next concert trip, and can usually be found with a Diet Coke nearby and her cat, Maddie, keeping her company.

Reviews

[Maddie Corder]

Arc received from author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 stars 🌟

My oh my did I have such a fun time reading this book! It is truly a fangirl’s dream in book form. It showcases so well that boybands and their respective fandoms are 1.) so back & 2.) for anyone and everyone and this book did such an amazing job of showcasing just that.

What’s so unique about this one in particular is it wasn’t this like meet cute moment one time, in fact it was a gradual progression of their relationship that made them getting together just feel so naturally like the next step.

((SPOILER WARNING ‼️))

Seriously I mean it, last chance!!


There is cheating in this book HOWEVER ‼️‼️ it is not the only cheating that happens. Between which characters? Well you are just going to have to read to find out!

At times (especially in the middle) it did feel a bit heavy but it showcased so well just how much people in the spotlight & their loved ones go through so it was heavy but needed. Not to mention there would be a joke or well timed comment made that made it feel not so heavy.

I enjoyed this one so much and I definitely recommend that you pick it up when it releases in December. Thank you so much for the early copy 🫶🏻🫶🏻

[Janis Dininio]

I received this ARC through BookFunnel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I read a lot of romance books in several tropes and genres. I have read books that tell the 'in love with a rock star or pop star' trope, and this is a pretty good one. I do think that the story takes a while to get there, but when it finally gets romantic, the characters have pretty good chemistry. I prefer a more spicier book, and this is lacking when it comes to that. However, the FMC is married for a large duration of the book and struggles with the feelings she has for the MMC and doesn't want to cheat on her awful husband. I think the book spent a little too much time with the ex-husband and would have been more exciting and interesting if we had more time with Harley and Blake as a fully fledged couple and had more spice.

[Rebecca Anderson]

I really had a blast reading this story...especially as a "fangirl!"
But it is deeper than the fangirl fantasy storyline (though that's there and its fantastic!) ...it also explores devolving relationships that we hang onto too long, family relationships and hardships of a public life.
Blake was great as the love interest/boy band crush! And Harley was very relatable female lead! I love that we get both of their points of view!
Whether you're a fan of...well, anything really...or are just looking for a fun romance on a rocky road to the start, this book will not disappoint! So glad I got the chance to read it!

[Paige]

So so so so so good
If you are a fangirl you NEED to read this book!!!