What do you think?
Rate this book
Fool Me Once #2
The Boyfriend Candidate
A laugh-out-loud rom-com about learning to embrace living outside your comfort zone.
As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—the humiliation is a wake-up call. She decides she needs to change, and what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?
Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Logan is audacious and filterless, making him Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm—and in their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees.
Alexis is bewildered until breaking news hits: pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. It turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot politician challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious images are poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: to squash the scandal, he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?
As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—the humiliation is a wake-up call. She decides she needs to change, and what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?
Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Logan is audacious and filterless, making him Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm—and in their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees.
Alexis is bewildered until breaking news hits: pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. It turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot politician challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious images are poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: to squash the scandal, he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2023
930 people are currently reading
37556 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Winstead
9 books5,429 followersAshley Winstead's bestselling, critically-acclaimed books have been translated into more than a dozen languages, optioned for television, named Library Read, Loan Star, and Amazon Editor picks, and covered everywhere from the New York Times to People magazine. She's a former academic who lives in Houston with her husband, three cats, and beloved wine fridge.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,581 reviews
February 5, 2023
we love a man losing his mind
July 1, 2023
Brilliant plot, absolutely one of the most captivating reads I couldn't put down!
Shy, reserved librarian Alexia crosses paths with the charismatic, direct, and undeniably sexy Texan/British politician, Logan, under the worst circumstances. Their disastrous night takes an unexpected turn, leaving scandalous consequences in its wake.
Of course, none of this was Alexis' fault! She was flawless in every way!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with her appearance! She was dressed to impress, ready to celebrate her Independence Day! Her ex, a one-of-a-kind jerk, cheated on her not once, but twice! He claimed to have special needs and blamed Alexis for being a boring partner in bed! I'm screaming "What a jerk!" along with you! And he's not the only one who makes her feel inadequate. Her overachieving older sister, Lee, constantly criticizes her lifestyle, pushing her to her limits.
Determined to break free from her constraints, Alexia embarks on a passionate one-night stand, meeting a man at Fleurs de Lis (symbolic of the Virgin Mary, which is a poetic name for a place). Even the name of the bar is a foreshadowing of the impending catastrophe!
Alexia is adamant about finding a man with no strings attached, no expectations or commitments. However, she ends up entangled with the most troublesome guy! Yes, the chemistry between them is undeniable, and Alexia finds herself passionately kissing him. To make matters worse, the fire alarm blares, disrupting their steamy encounter, and chaos ensues in the hotel.
Logan carries Alexia in his arms and, upon seeing vultures ready to capture their photos, he mysteriously disappears without saying goodbye.
The very next day, their photos flood the internet, exposing their secret rendezvous. Alexia soon discovers that Logan Arthur is not just an ordinary guy; he's a high-profile Texan politician running for the governor's seat. The leaked images threaten to ruin both of their careers.
Logan's consultant proposes a solution to Alexia. They can fake a relationship until Election Day. Once Logan secures the governor's seat, they can stage a breakup, citing irreconcilable differences.
Reluctantly, Alexia agrees to the proposition. However, her attraction to Logan intensifies with each planned date. Then, another man enters the picture, showing a keen interest in her. Alexia finds herself caught in a love triangle but is forced to sacrifice her own happiness to save Logan's career, despite growing fondness for him.
Will Alexia dare to cross boundaries and reinvent herself to find her own happily-ever-after?
I'm rounding up to 3.5 stars, making it a solid and entertaining 4-star read!
I enjoyed witnessing Alexia's character growth and her journey to assert herself. However, her sister Lee and love interest Logan rubbed me the wrong way. They both displayed alpha attitudes that I didn't appreciate when it came to my beloved Alexis! That's why I couldn't give it a full five stars!
A special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for generously providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter
Shy, reserved librarian Alexia crosses paths with the charismatic, direct, and undeniably sexy Texan/British politician, Logan, under the worst circumstances. Their disastrous night takes an unexpected turn, leaving scandalous consequences in its wake.
Of course, none of this was Alexis' fault! She was flawless in every way!
There is absolutely nothing wrong with her appearance! She was dressed to impress, ready to celebrate her Independence Day! Her ex, a one-of-a-kind jerk, cheated on her not once, but twice! He claimed to have special needs and blamed Alexis for being a boring partner in bed! I'm screaming "What a jerk!" along with you! And he's not the only one who makes her feel inadequate. Her overachieving older sister, Lee, constantly criticizes her lifestyle, pushing her to her limits.
Determined to break free from her constraints, Alexia embarks on a passionate one-night stand, meeting a man at Fleurs de Lis (symbolic of the Virgin Mary, which is a poetic name for a place). Even the name of the bar is a foreshadowing of the impending catastrophe!
Alexia is adamant about finding a man with no strings attached, no expectations or commitments. However, she ends up entangled with the most troublesome guy! Yes, the chemistry between them is undeniable, and Alexia finds herself passionately kissing him. To make matters worse, the fire alarm blares, disrupting their steamy encounter, and chaos ensues in the hotel.
Logan carries Alexia in his arms and, upon seeing vultures ready to capture their photos, he mysteriously disappears without saying goodbye.
The very next day, their photos flood the internet, exposing their secret rendezvous. Alexia soon discovers that Logan Arthur is not just an ordinary guy; he's a high-profile Texan politician running for the governor's seat. The leaked images threaten to ruin both of their careers.
Logan's consultant proposes a solution to Alexia. They can fake a relationship until Election Day. Once Logan secures the governor's seat, they can stage a breakup, citing irreconcilable differences.
Reluctantly, Alexia agrees to the proposition. However, her attraction to Logan intensifies with each planned date. Then, another man enters the picture, showing a keen interest in her. Alexia finds herself caught in a love triangle but is forced to sacrifice her own happiness to save Logan's career, despite growing fondness for him.
Will Alexia dare to cross boundaries and reinvent herself to find her own happily-ever-after?
I'm rounding up to 3.5 stars, making it a solid and entertaining 4-star read!
I enjoyed witnessing Alexia's character growth and her journey to assert herself. However, her sister Lee and love interest Logan rubbed me the wrong way. They both displayed alpha attitudes that I didn't appreciate when it came to my beloved Alexis! That's why I couldn't give it a full five stars!
A special thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for generously providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
medium blog
November 10, 2024
4.5⭐️ i ADORED this
December 13, 2022
Alexis Stone decides to treat herself to a one-night stand one year after her boyfriend cheated, broke up with her and told her she was "mousy" and boring in bed. Wearing her red dress with the plunging neckline and back, and a pseudonym, Ruby Dangerfield, she heads to the bar, ready to take the first man who makes her an offer. Except the first man is some gross old guy. Alexis worries she's gotten herself into a horrible, scary mess, when a handsome stranger comes to her defense. Logan Arthur threatens to punch the sleezy stranger and runs him off. Logan shares a couple of drinks with "Ruby" and she spins a tale of an adventurous life very different from her own as an elementary school librarian. They leave the bar and get a room in the hotel next door, but the only room left is the Governor's Suite. Before they get up there, disaster strikes and they're separated—but not before the paparazzi get photos of them together and we find out who Logan REALLY is.
Fake dating, smoldering chemistry, an engaging plot and two very likable characters. Did I mention the chemistry? Loved this book!
Fake dating, smoldering chemistry, an engaging plot and two very likable characters. Did I mention the chemistry? Loved this book!
August 17, 2023
4.5 stars. I am *obsessed* with the way Ashley Winstead writes romance. This was SO good!!!!!
September 29, 2023
Writing: solid | Plot: caaauuutteeee BUT YES THERE'S POLITICS! READ THE SYNOPSIS! | Ending: ight... lol
3.5 rounded up
SYNOPSIS
Alexis' attempted one-night stand leads to photos of her and Logan, a candidate for the Texas governor's seat, going viral. The only solution to squash the scandal? Fake dating DUH!!!!
MY REVIEW
If you didn't know, I absolutely detested The Last Housewife. Don't even get me started. But I also have a three-strike policy with authors so I wanted to give Winstead another go. I decided to try her latest romcom because the streets said Midnight Is the Darkest Hour is chock-full of un-ironic Twilight references and I just can't handle that right now. Or ever.
After the major bummer that is The Last Housewife, the last thing I expected was to legit laugh-out-loud. Who knew that Ashley Winstead was so funny?? Softroundchonks.com (iykyk) will live in my head rent free. I WISH this was a real website. Anyways. I feel like I need to slap a millennial disclaimer on this one; I have no idea what tickles gen-zs particular tastes, but as a basic b1tch this made me laugh gleefully.
Now, as with most romcoms, you can't think too hard about this one. Just embrace the mindless vibes. Critical thoughts be gone! Is Alexis a stage 5 dumbass at most times? Absolutely. Does it make sense how she went from a nearly mute mouse to a ballsy spokeswoman of educators??? No. Is Logan unnecessarily rude to a waiter who's just doing his job? Yes. Is Alexis' sister a meddling wanker? Most certainly. AND WHAT THE FRESH FK DOES A BRITISH TEXAS ACCENT SOUND LIKE???? That's a combo NO ONE asked for. NO ONE. I lowkey wanted to rent the audiobook from the library just to see what the narrator was throwing down. Tbh, I hope he got paid extra because that is not an easy 'accent' to imitate.
I would've happily slapped 4 stars on this baby because I'm slutty with my stars when it comes to romcoms, but that last spicy scene made me UNCOMFY. Considering it was their second time sleeping together, I'm not sure I'd be down to have my pucci used as a punching bag after you had a bad day. And her going along with it because she "understands grief" was a WIIIILLLDDD approach but okay. This whole debacle had me flip flopping between a 3 and a 4 but I went with the 4 based on vibes.
I'm not too keen to read her other romcom Fool Me Once because I don't care for the FMC (Alexis' sister). And YES, there are politics in this. The MMC is running for governor and the FMC is the sister of a senator. It would've been weird if the book was 100% political free considering their backgrounds. And tbh being a politician seems like a 24/7 job. I don't think they ever truly 'turn off'. Especially in the digital age when anyone can catch you slipping. Also, apparently Alexis doesn't have the credentials to call herself a librarian which some might find offensive.
All in all, long live soft round chonks.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: legit funny, cute storyline, banter did what it needed to do, good chemistry between the characters
Cons: you cannot activate one brain cell during this or the whole thing will crumble like a house of cards LOL
3.5 rounded up
SYNOPSIS
Alexis' attempted one-night stand leads to photos of her and Logan, a candidate for the Texas governor's seat, going viral. The only solution to squash the scandal? Fake dating DUH!!!!
MY REVIEW
If you didn't know, I absolutely detested The Last Housewife. Don't even get me started. But I also have a three-strike policy with authors so I wanted to give Winstead another go. I decided to try her latest romcom because the streets said Midnight Is the Darkest Hour is chock-full of un-ironic Twilight references and I just can't handle that right now. Or ever.
After the major bummer that is The Last Housewife, the last thing I expected was to legit laugh-out-loud. Who knew that Ashley Winstead was so funny?? Softroundchonks.com (iykyk) will live in my head rent free. I WISH this was a real website. Anyways. I feel like I need to slap a millennial disclaimer on this one; I have no idea what tickles gen-zs particular tastes, but as a basic b1tch this made me laugh gleefully.
Now, as with most romcoms, you can't think too hard about this one. Just embrace the mindless vibes. Critical thoughts be gone! Is Alexis a stage 5 dumbass at most times? Absolutely. Does it make sense how she went from a nearly mute mouse to a ballsy spokeswoman of educators??? No. Is Logan unnecessarily rude to a waiter who's just doing his job? Yes. Is Alexis' sister a meddling wanker? Most certainly. AND WHAT THE FRESH FK DOES A BRITISH TEXAS ACCENT SOUND LIKE???? That's a combo NO ONE asked for. NO ONE. I lowkey wanted to rent the audiobook from the library just to see what the narrator was throwing down. Tbh, I hope he got paid extra because that is not an easy 'accent' to imitate.
I would've happily slapped 4 stars on this baby because I'm slutty with my stars when it comes to romcoms, but that last spicy scene made me UNCOMFY. Considering it was their second time sleeping together, I'm not sure I'd be down to have my pucci used as a punching bag after you had a bad day. And her going along with it because she "understands grief" was a WIIIILLLDDD approach but okay. This whole debacle had me flip flopping between a 3 and a 4 but I went with the 4 based on vibes.
I'm not too keen to read her other romcom Fool Me Once because I don't care for the FMC (Alexis' sister). And YES, there are politics in this. The MMC is running for governor and the FMC is the sister of a senator. It would've been weird if the book was 100% political free considering their backgrounds. And tbh being a politician seems like a 24/7 job. I don't think they ever truly 'turn off'. Especially in the digital age when anyone can catch you slipping. Also, apparently Alexis doesn't have the credentials to call herself a librarian which some might find offensive.
All in all, long live soft round chonks.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: legit funny, cute storyline, banter did what it needed to do, good chemistry between the characters
Cons: you cannot activate one brain cell during this or the whole thing will crumble like a house of cards LOL
June 26, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ this had me swooning!!!!
logan. wow. i loved him. if we had gotten his pov, this probably would be a 4 stars for me. he was literally everything to me.
alexis was so sweet and relatable. i really liked seeing her grow.
the only thing that wasn’t my ✨vibe✨ was the miscommunication throughout the entire thing. i wish we would’ve gotten a lil less of that. but the fake dating!!!!! the slowburn!!!! loved all of that so much. logan’s quotes had me on the ground screaming at how CUTE THEY WERE.
“i never realized how much i love the color green until i met you.”
“of all the wine joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
logan. wow. i loved him. if we had gotten his pov, this probably would be a 4 stars for me. he was literally everything to me.
alexis was so sweet and relatable. i really liked seeing her grow.
the only thing that wasn’t my ✨vibe✨ was the miscommunication throughout the entire thing. i wish we would’ve gotten a lil less of that. but the fake dating!!!!! the slowburn!!!! loved all of that so much. logan’s quotes had me on the ground screaming at how CUTE THEY WERE.
“i never realized how much i love the color green until i met you.”
“of all the wine joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
dnf
June 29, 2023DNF @ 38%
Uggh!!!
I brushed off a lot of political talk because while I don't agree with a lot of what was being said, the fact that he's a politician had me expecting some. I'm a teacher, so I was even feeling pretty good about the idea of her fighting for more budgeting in schools!
I just drew the line when all the social justice warrior stuff became a little too excessive. It felt like a book about those subjects and how this previously coined "mousy" librarian becomes an advocate instead of a romance book. I read romance to escape and, as I've said before, I don't want to be reading a book that is focusing so much on politics-- especially when they aren't in line with my own political beliefs...
Sorry, not sorry 🤷🏻♀️ just not my cuppa
Uggh!!!
I brushed off a lot of political talk because while I don't agree with a lot of what was being said, the fact that he's a politician had me expecting some. I'm a teacher, so I was even feeling pretty good about the idea of her fighting for more budgeting in schools!
I just drew the line when all the social justice warrior stuff became a little too excessive. It felt like a book about those subjects and how this previously coined "mousy" librarian becomes an advocate instead of a romance book. I read romance to escape and, as I've said before, I don't want to be reading a book that is focusing so much on politics-- especially when they aren't in line with my own political beliefs...
Sorry, not sorry 🤷🏻♀️ just not my cuppa
August 9, 2024
4 Stars
I can’t stop to chat about this book right now. I’m too busy fantasising about a certain British-Texan politico, with a great head of hair, a filthy mouth, and a passion for justice that just won’t quit. #swoon #instantbookboyfriend
**************************
TWO WEEKS LATER:
I’m still thinking about this book incessantly. Addictive. Smile-inducing. Swoony. I couldn’t get enough.
The charming meet-cute, the high-risk fake-dating scenario, the slow-burn relationship from pretend-to-oh-so-very-real and the explosively sexy final act, when librarian Alexis and politician Logan FINALLY admitted the depths of their feelings and went to town on each other!!! *fans self* *then swoons*
This was one of those contemporary romance reads where the writing, the characters and the romance were just on-point for me and I knew it was going to be a win practically from the first page.
This was my first Ashley Winstead novel but I enjoyed myself to such a degree that sitting in eager anticipation for her next novel feels like a very natural state for me to inhibit going forward.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: Although not denoted as a sequel, secondary characters here feature in Winstead’s previous novel, Fool Me Once (Alexis’s sister’s story), which I didn’t find necessary to read first in order to enjoy/understand this one. Honestly, the sister was my ONE problem with this entire story, so backtracking and reading her story will not be on my agenda (mostly because it’s a second-chance romance, where the couple once dealt with infidelity, and that is SO NOT my thing in romance reading).
I can’t stop to chat about this book right now. I’m too busy fantasising about a certain British-Texan politico, with a great head of hair, a filthy mouth, and a passion for justice that just won’t quit. #swoon #instantbookboyfriend
**************************
TWO WEEKS LATER:
I’m still thinking about this book incessantly. Addictive. Smile-inducing. Swoony. I couldn’t get enough.
The charming meet-cute, the high-risk fake-dating scenario, the slow-burn relationship from pretend-to-oh-so-very-real and the explosively sexy final act, when librarian Alexis and politician Logan FINALLY admitted the depths of their feelings and went to town on each other!!! *fans self* *then swoons*
This was one of those contemporary romance reads where the writing, the characters and the romance were just on-point for me and I knew it was going to be a win practically from the first page.
This was my first Ashley Winstead novel but I enjoyed myself to such a degree that sitting in eager anticipation for her next novel feels like a very natural state for me to inhibit going forward.
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: Although not denoted as a sequel, secondary characters here feature in Winstead’s previous novel, Fool Me Once (Alexis’s sister’s story), which I didn’t find necessary to read first in order to enjoy/understand this one. Honestly, the sister was my ONE problem with this entire story, so backtracking and reading her story will not be on my agenda (mostly because it’s a second-chance romance, where the couple once dealt with infidelity, and that is SO NOT my thing in romance reading).
May 10, 2023
Ok, not only was this book hard to get into as we barely see Logan fully engage with the heroine until 150 pages in…but to make it this political? I for one have no problem with making the candidate Democratic or Republican, but come on? Now you’re talking about the ban on children’s books talking about masturbation and of course the h believes anti-censorship is the way to go!
why are we addressing these issues in a ROMCOM?
“My name is Gabby Bui. My middle school is located in a conservative district, and I found out we’re banning a book that addresses sexuality in what I believe is a frank and helpful way. Parents have complained to the city council that teaching kids about things like masturbation and how their bodies are going to change during puberty is too graphic, but I think they’re stigmatizing what’s natural.”
and of course the h says:
“Absolutely,” I said, without thinking twice. “The campaign will see what we can do to bolster the Library Council’s anti-censorship efforts. It’s critical we defend First Amendment rights.” From the front row, Logan gave me a discreet thumbs-up.
Relief flooded Gabby’s face. “Thank you. It’s been a lonely road.”
“Don’t worry. We’re with you.”
this is just a controversial topic people from all sides agree and disagree with so why add it into what’s supposed to be a light hearted book? I just don’t get it.
this part just kind of turned me off and I just already hate dealing with politics in everyday life and now I have to read about it in a book that’s supposed to help me get rid of reality for a few hours? Hard no.
why are we addressing these issues in a ROMCOM?
“My name is Gabby Bui. My middle school is located in a conservative district, and I found out we’re banning a book that addresses sexuality in what I believe is a frank and helpful way. Parents have complained to the city council that teaching kids about things like masturbation and how their bodies are going to change during puberty is too graphic, but I think they’re stigmatizing what’s natural.”
and of course the h says:
“Absolutely,” I said, without thinking twice. “The campaign will see what we can do to bolster the Library Council’s anti-censorship efforts. It’s critical we defend First Amendment rights.” From the front row, Logan gave me a discreet thumbs-up.
Relief flooded Gabby’s face. “Thank you. It’s been a lonely road.”
“Don’t worry. We’re with you.”
this is just a controversial topic people from all sides agree and disagree with so why add it into what’s supposed to be a light hearted book? I just don’t get it.
this part just kind of turned me off and I just already hate dealing with politics in everyday life and now I have to read about it in a book that’s supposed to help me get rid of reality for a few hours? Hard no.
August 27, 2023
i can't prove it but i think ashley winstead wants to f*ck beto o'rourke
January 30, 2023
hi, i binged this book in a day 🥹🙌🏼🫶🏼👏🏼 4-4.5 stars on Winstead’s latest for me! i am so torn on if i liked this or FOOL ME ONCE more… a great problem to have 🤪🤓
if you read Ashley’s romance debut FOOL ME ONCE, you’ll see the similarities and character crossovers in THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE. i’m forever impressed by authors who can write across multiple genres (yes this is the same author of THE LAST HOUSEWIFE and IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE). the talent!!!!
THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE had everything i want out of a romcom—some laugh out loud moments, it’s believable andddd it’s deeper than just a romance. this fake-dating trope romance also has so many fun side themes—the MC loves reading, sister themes/family relationships, character crossovers from FOOL ME ONCE (the MC is the sister of the MC in FOOL ME ONCE), a sexy library scene in the stacks 👀, a more relatable MC, knowing your worth/believing in yourself and putting yourself first, doing something you’re passionate about and that makes a difference, dealing w grief and loss (the acknowledgements w Ashley’s dad🥹). see?! MUCH more than just a romcom!!
similarly to FOOL ME ONCE, TBC covers politics again but in my opinion it’s not as heavy as in FOOL ME ONCE since the MC isn’t a politician, instead her fake bf and sister are. heads up there bc some of you have asked or called that out as a “dislike” in FOOL ME ONCE!
full review to come closer to pub day. sooo grateful to Ashley & her publicist for getting this in my hands early AND partnering with me on the cover reveal 🥹
add this to your spring TBR and let me know what you thought!!
if you read Ashley’s romance debut FOOL ME ONCE, you’ll see the similarities and character crossovers in THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE. i’m forever impressed by authors who can write across multiple genres (yes this is the same author of THE LAST HOUSEWIFE and IN MY DREAMS I HOLD A KNIFE). the talent!!!!
THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE had everything i want out of a romcom—some laugh out loud moments, it’s believable andddd it’s deeper than just a romance. this fake-dating trope romance also has so many fun side themes—the MC loves reading, sister themes/family relationships, character crossovers from FOOL ME ONCE (the MC is the sister of the MC in FOOL ME ONCE), a sexy library scene in the stacks 👀, a more relatable MC, knowing your worth/believing in yourself and putting yourself first, doing something you’re passionate about and that makes a difference, dealing w grief and loss (the acknowledgements w Ashley’s dad🥹). see?! MUCH more than just a romcom!!
similarly to FOOL ME ONCE, TBC covers politics again but in my opinion it’s not as heavy as in FOOL ME ONCE since the MC isn’t a politician, instead her fake bf and sister are. heads up there bc some of you have asked or called that out as a “dislike” in FOOL ME ONCE!
full review to come closer to pub day. sooo grateful to Ashley & her publicist for getting this in my hands early AND partnering with me on the cover reveal 🥹
add this to your spring TBR and let me know what you thought!!
June 4, 2023
The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead is a contemporary romance that had one of my favorite romance tropes in fake dating but one of my least favorite topics in politics. I was a little concerned with taking a chance on this one but having read this author before and enjoying her work my curiosity obviously won out and I gave this one a chance and was quite happy that I found myself ending this one at four stars.
Alexis Stone is a shy librarian that would rather curl up with a book that go out and mingle with strangers. When Alexis gets dumped being told she’s too meek she decides to get out of her comfort zone and go out and find a one night stand for the first time in her life to cheer herself up and prove her ex wrong.
Alexis finds herself at the bar feeling awkward but pushes herself to converse with a handsome stranger. Of course the night became steamy but apparently the hotel was even hotter than the hook up with fire alarms sounding. Alexis doesn’t realize until later that the man she had met was none other than Logan Arthur, a local politician, when the pair of them make the news in their late night escape.
The story in The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead was a fun one despite my dislike for politics with me even rooting for Alexis’s agenda of help for education. The characters were likable and the story definitely started off with me laughing which is always promising in a rom-com. After the opening chuckles I quickly became engaged in the relationship and enjoyed the twists that came along the way to make a fake relationship become real. Glad I took a chance on the story and will definitely return to this author again in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Alexis Stone is a shy librarian that would rather curl up with a book that go out and mingle with strangers. When Alexis gets dumped being told she’s too meek she decides to get out of her comfort zone and go out and find a one night stand for the first time in her life to cheer herself up and prove her ex wrong.
Alexis finds herself at the bar feeling awkward but pushes herself to converse with a handsome stranger. Of course the night became steamy but apparently the hotel was even hotter than the hook up with fire alarms sounding. Alexis doesn’t realize until later that the man she had met was none other than Logan Arthur, a local politician, when the pair of them make the news in their late night escape.
The story in The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead was a fun one despite my dislike for politics with me even rooting for Alexis’s agenda of help for education. The characters were likable and the story definitely started off with me laughing which is always promising in a rom-com. After the opening chuckles I quickly became engaged in the relationship and enjoyed the twists that came along the way to make a fake relationship become real. Glad I took a chance on the story and will definitely return to this author again in the future.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 26, 2023
3.5 stars
When a shy school librarian, Alexis, attempts to have a one night stand with a hot guy, Logan, she met at a bar, a freak lightning strike hits their hotel before they can do the deed. The hot guy turns out to be in the race for the next state governor, the two enter a fake dating agreement.
I think I would have liked this more if it wasn't so far fetched. Yes, it's fiction. And yes, it's a romance. But I found a lot of the aspects of both of the characters professions to be wildly unbelievable. Since when can public schools afford two librarians? They can't even afford one most are run by paraprofessionals. And why would anyone care about who a gubernatorial candidate is dating? Enough for a rando to take a picture of who they're dating and it to go viral? I don't know.
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more with the wee bit if angst we got and the fake dating trope. But lots of things just didn't make sense to me. Three and a half stars because I mostly enjoyed despite all these things.
When a shy school librarian, Alexis, attempts to have a one night stand with a hot guy, Logan, she met at a bar, a freak lightning strike hits their hotel before they can do the deed. The hot guy turns out to be in the race for the next state governor, the two enter a fake dating agreement.
I think I would have liked this more if it wasn't so far fetched. Yes, it's fiction. And yes, it's a romance. But I found a lot of the aspects of both of the characters professions to be wildly unbelievable. Since when can public schools afford two librarians? They can't even afford one most are run by paraprofessionals. And why would anyone care about who a gubernatorial candidate is dating? Enough for a rando to take a picture of who they're dating and it to go viral? I don't know.
I would have enjoyed this book a lot more with the wee bit if angst we got and the fake dating trope. But lots of things just didn't make sense to me. Three and a half stars because I mostly enjoyed despite all these things.
April 10, 2023
This was a slow, slow, burn, full of misunderstandings and unsaid things. Logan, a gubernatorial candidate, is caught in a compromising position with Alexis, an elementary school librarian. To save his campaign from scandal, they agree to fake date until the election was over. Of course, feelings developed as they do, and this ended on a sweet note. Both had reasons to hesitate and shy away from a real relationship. I thought Logan’s character was well-developed and strong, and while we didn’t get his POV, he was still fleshed out and multi-dimensional.
Alexis on the other hand, irritated me. Her character went from shy, stuttering “mouse” in public one minute to a political juggernaut the next week with no problems whatsoever speaking in front of crowds and rallying the constituents. She repeatedly broke the rules she and Logan agreed upon and justified them in a selfish way. I didn’t feel she really regarded how her actions would affect others. The side characters were awesome and I do hope Nora gets a book because she was a real powerhouse of a campaign manager.
The writing was great, but there were a few things that kept me from really loving this novel. This is a romance/romantic comedy and yet so much of it was filled with political talk. Yes, the male main character was running for governor, and yes, I like when the character has a passion and love of their job or hobby, but I read romance to largely escape from all that is wrong with the world. So while I don’t mind bits and pieces of reality to seep in, this was a little much. There would be 2-3 pages at a time of political rhetoric, and I did find myself saying “good point!,” but I also started to skim those pages because I was here for the characters and the romance, not a discourse on initiatives and campaign promises. If this sounds like your cup of tea though, then I definitely recommend this book to you!
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Alexis on the other hand, irritated me. Her character went from shy, stuttering “mouse” in public one minute to a political juggernaut the next week with no problems whatsoever speaking in front of crowds and rallying the constituents. She repeatedly broke the rules she and Logan agreed upon and justified them in a selfish way. I didn’t feel she really regarded how her actions would affect others. The side characters were awesome and I do hope Nora gets a book because she was a real powerhouse of a campaign manager.
The writing was great, but there were a few things that kept me from really loving this novel. This is a romance/romantic comedy and yet so much of it was filled with political talk. Yes, the male main character was running for governor, and yes, I like when the character has a passion and love of their job or hobby, but I read romance to largely escape from all that is wrong with the world. So while I don’t mind bits and pieces of reality to seep in, this was a little much. There would be 2-3 pages at a time of political rhetoric, and I did find myself saying “good point!,” but I also started to skim those pages because I was here for the characters and the romance, not a discourse on initiatives and campaign promises. If this sounds like your cup of tea though, then I definitely recommend this book to you!
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
May 3, 2023
Love on the campaign trail might be my new favourite trope ✨ This book ticked all the boxes for my politics loving self. A one night stand turned political scandal between a governor prospect and a school librarian? SIGN ME UP ✍️
This book has:
• Opposites attract: Our hero, Logan, is an outspoken and charismatic politician running for governor. Alexis is Logan’s total opposite, and she’s happy to stay out of the spot light, until she meets Logan
• The one night stand trope
• Fake dating: To help combat his playboy image, Alexis agrees to fake date Logan for the rest of his campaign. I love a good fake dating trope, and this book DELIVERED
• A grumpy hero who’s a major cinnamon role for his girl!! 🥺
• He falls first and harder: This man was so in LOVE it hurt! He really didn’t know what to do with himself, and I ate it up
• A love triangle: This trope really isn’t my cup of tea, but it didn’t occupy too much of the story
Overall, this was one of my favourite reads of 2023 so far! It’s the perfect fake dating slow-burn to read if you’re in the mood for tons of angst.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
This book has:
• Opposites attract: Our hero, Logan, is an outspoken and charismatic politician running for governor. Alexis is Logan’s total opposite, and she’s happy to stay out of the spot light, until she meets Logan
• The one night stand trope
• Fake dating: To help combat his playboy image, Alexis agrees to fake date Logan for the rest of his campaign. I love a good fake dating trope, and this book DELIVERED
• A grumpy hero who’s a major cinnamon role for his girl!! 🥺
• He falls first and harder: This man was so in LOVE it hurt! He really didn’t know what to do with himself, and I ate it up
• A love triangle: This trope really isn’t my cup of tea, but it didn’t occupy too much of the story
Overall, this was one of my favourite reads of 2023 so far! It’s the perfect fake dating slow-burn to read if you’re in the mood for tons of angst.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
May 29, 2023
Poorly researched. As an Austin librarian I can tell you there are so many factual errors it made my head spin.
The most glaring issue being that the main character is referred as a librarian even though she doesn’t have any qualifications for the job. It’s offensive to my entire industry to erase our credentials.
The most glaring issue being that the main character is referred as a librarian even though she doesn’t have any qualifications for the job. It’s offensive to my entire industry to erase our credentials.
May 1, 2024
I absolutely HATED every single second of this book.
I have loved every single Ashley Winstead book I have read before this one. Rated them all 5 stars. Loved her two thrillers and I even really really loved her first adult contemporary romance, Fool Me Once which was a bit controversial because it included a topic that a lot of people dislike in romance .
So of course this book, The Boyfriend Candidate was one of my most anticipated books of 2023. I truly didn't think there was any chance of not loving it.
Ha.
If only.
To be clear, I agree with the politics that our main characters partake in. Was it a bit heavy handed? Absolutely. But, whatever. My main issue is with our main character, Alexis, and the romance with Logan.
They had no chemistry. At all. They barely interacted with each other after their first initial meeting for almost 200 pages. All the while Alexis is the most annoying character I've ever had the misfortune of reading about. And from just her POV no less! I thought she was weak, annoying, and her motivations made no sense. The whole love triangle that was randomly thrown in halfway through by Lee was ABSOLUTELY. FUCKING. RIDICULOUS. Everything I liked about Lee from book 1 was turned on it's head. She was a bitch in this book and treated her sister like crap.
Throughout this entire book Alexis continued to hurt Logan and act incredibly immature. It just wasn't fun to read about.
I ended up skimming the last 45% of this book and I'm so glad I didn't waste another second on it. Everything about this book sucked. The main characters. The side characters. The politics plot was so heavy handed that it made me cringe. The romance. The love triangle. The conflict. Bitch ass Lee!!!!!
I have loved every single Ashley Winstead book I have read before this one. Rated them all 5 stars. Loved her two thrillers and I even really really loved her first adult contemporary romance, Fool Me Once which was a bit controversial because it included a topic that a lot of people dislike in romance .
So of course this book, The Boyfriend Candidate was one of my most anticipated books of 2023. I truly didn't think there was any chance of not loving it.
Ha.
If only.
To be clear, I agree with the politics that our main characters partake in. Was it a bit heavy handed? Absolutely. But, whatever. My main issue is with our main character, Alexis, and the romance with Logan.
They had no chemistry. At all. They barely interacted with each other after their first initial meeting for almost 200 pages. All the while Alexis is the most annoying character I've ever had the misfortune of reading about. And from just her POV no less! I thought she was weak, annoying, and her motivations made no sense. The whole love triangle that was randomly thrown in halfway through by Lee was ABSOLUTELY. FUCKING. RIDICULOUS. Everything I liked about Lee from book 1 was turned on it's head. She was a bitch in this book and treated her sister like crap.
Throughout this entire book Alexis continued to hurt Logan and act incredibly immature. It just wasn't fun to read about.
I ended up skimming the last 45% of this book and I'm so glad I didn't waste another second on it. Everything about this book sucked. The main characters. The side characters. The politics plot was so heavy handed that it made me cringe. The romance. The love triangle. The conflict. Bitch ass Lee!!!!!
June 29, 2023
More thoughts can be found in my reading vlog.
The Sisters Stone have to be the saddest sibling in The Lone Star state, because what was this?
I know that I dabble with romance, I'm not a true connoisseur of the genre, and part of the failure of this book I will take credit for. Unless the writing is doing something pretty spectacular, I think that most single perspective romances are going to be a failure. Most of the time it really feels like one character is spending the whole book living in a completely different reality, clueless to the world around them so that we can pretend that the love interest isn't interested. Or, what feels like is happening here, the moments with the love interest read as vague enough to believe that real bonding is happening, that there is real character growth; but upon reflection it's all shallow. So yeah, getting Logan's perspective might've helped a little bit.
I can't take all the credit though, because the fake dating curse continues. Again, I'm firmly on the train that if you're a full grown adult then I'm going to need a stellar reason why you need to be fake dating at your big age. When you're old enough to be running to be the governor of Texas then I'm gonna need that reason to be pretty bulletproof, and then I'm going to need the people doing the fake dating to really feel like they're fake dating.... I don't think that either of those criteria were met.
In addition to Alexis being the embodiment of pure foolishness what her sister asks her to do in this book takes dumb to a level never before seen in a romance novel. I didn't think this was fun, didn't think that any of the characters were engaging. All around a book I cannot think of an audience for.
The Sisters Stone have to be the saddest sibling in The Lone Star state, because what was this?
I know that I dabble with romance, I'm not a true connoisseur of the genre, and part of the failure of this book I will take credit for. Unless the writing is doing something pretty spectacular, I think that most single perspective romances are going to be a failure. Most of the time it really feels like one character is spending the whole book living in a completely different reality, clueless to the world around them so that we can pretend that the love interest isn't interested. Or, what feels like is happening here, the moments with the love interest read as vague enough to believe that real bonding is happening, that there is real character growth; but upon reflection it's all shallow. So yeah, getting Logan's perspective might've helped a little bit.
I can't take all the credit though, because the fake dating curse continues. Again, I'm firmly on the train that if you're a full grown adult then I'm going to need a stellar reason why you need to be fake dating at your big age. When you're old enough to be running to be the governor of Texas then I'm gonna need that reason to be pretty bulletproof, and then I'm going to need the people doing the fake dating to really feel like they're fake dating.... I don't think that either of those criteria were met.
In addition to Alexis being the embodiment of pure foolishness what her sister asks her to do in this book takes dumb to a level never before seen in a romance novel. I didn't think this was fun, didn't think that any of the characters were engaging. All around a book I cannot think of an audience for.
April 3, 2023
Thank you to Edelweiss Plus and Graydon House Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Color me impressed! Having recently read In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, I am absolutely blown away that this sweet, charming novel was written by the same author. Ashley Winstead can DO IT ALL! She wasted no time in The Boyfriend Candidate and got right into the story. Yeah, there was immediate kissing! Logan just might be the best book boyfriend I’ve ever read, and the fake dating arrangement between Logan and Alexis was to die for. But, Creya, didn’t you just dislike Yours Truly because of the endless miscommunication that comes with fake dating? Yes, HOWEVER, Winstead is a bomb ass writer who conveyed it in a non-annoying way. To me, the miscommunication here made perfect sense, as I would have been in my head exactly as the main character was. Speaking of our main character, who doesn’t love librarians? More than “just” a romance, the novel included a lot of topics such as the importance of education, the annoyances of censorship, and the media’s abilities to unfairly shape our views of others. I will read anything this woman writes. Well done, Ashley, and your dad would have loved it. ❤️
“‘Caring about someone is such a risk. We shove our hearts in their hands and all we can do is hope they don’t crush us. I’m an artist. I make things. I like control. Love is the opposite.’”
Color me impressed! Having recently read In My Dreams I Hold a Knife, I am absolutely blown away that this sweet, charming novel was written by the same author. Ashley Winstead can DO IT ALL! She wasted no time in The Boyfriend Candidate and got right into the story. Yeah, there was immediate kissing! Logan just might be the best book boyfriend I’ve ever read, and the fake dating arrangement between Logan and Alexis was to die for. But, Creya, didn’t you just dislike Yours Truly because of the endless miscommunication that comes with fake dating? Yes, HOWEVER, Winstead is a bomb ass writer who conveyed it in a non-annoying way. To me, the miscommunication here made perfect sense, as I would have been in my head exactly as the main character was. Speaking of our main character, who doesn’t love librarians? More than “just” a romance, the novel included a lot of topics such as the importance of education, the annoyances of censorship, and the media’s abilities to unfairly shape our views of others. I will read anything this woman writes. Well done, Ashley, and your dad would have loved it. ❤️
“‘Caring about someone is such a risk. We shove our hearts in their hands and all we can do is hope they don’t crush us. I’m an artist. I make things. I like control. Love is the opposite.’”
May 15, 2023
it was good until it wasn’t
May 29, 2023
2.5 stars ⭐️
I’m not a fan of miscommunication trope. It drives me crazy. And there is a lot of that here. I’m also not a political person, so obviously this wasn’t my favorite storyline. Also, this is the slowest of the slow burns in history of romances! My gawd!!!
Read this if you like:
✓ Fake Dating
✓ One-Night Stand
✓ Political Campaigning
✓ Rally/Political Activism
I’m not a fan of miscommunication trope. It drives me crazy. And there is a lot of that here. I’m also not a political person, so obviously this wasn’t my favorite storyline. Also, this is the slowest of the slow burns in history of romances! My gawd!!!
Read this if you like:
✓ Fake Dating
✓ One-Night Stand
✓ Political Campaigning
✓ Rally/Political Activism
September 21, 2023
I couldn’t love this more.
October 30, 2023
5 stars!!!
I love a fake dating romance, and this set up (shy school librarian FMC + aspiring politician MMC + fake dating to preserve his reputation after their attempted one night stand gets in the papers) was catnip for me.
I loved Alexis and Logan - they were both super likeable - and their chemistry was off the charts. I would 100% read another 500 pages of them being charming together. The “it was real for me all along” vibes were strong. I legit squealed with happiness/giddiness while listening to the audiobook and did that weird thing where I hold my fist to my chest (it translates to heart eyes).
The narrator also has great comedic timing. I laughed out loud at so many points during this book.
As an aside, this is the second low-to-medium steam book that I have really loved recently (the other one being The Bodyguard by Katherine Centre). I think I need a whole new shelf for this.
I love a fake dating romance, and this set up (shy school librarian FMC + aspiring politician MMC + fake dating to preserve his reputation after their attempted one night stand gets in the papers) was catnip for me.
I loved Alexis and Logan - they were both super likeable - and their chemistry was off the charts. I would 100% read another 500 pages of them being charming together. The “it was real for me all along” vibes were strong. I legit squealed with happiness/giddiness while listening to the audiobook and did that weird thing where I hold my fist to my chest (it translates to heart eyes).
The narrator also has great comedic timing. I laughed out loud at so many points during this book.
As an aside, this is the second low-to-medium steam book that I have really loved recently (the other one being The Bodyguard by Katherine Centre). I think I need a whole new shelf for this.
May 30, 2023
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE by Ashley Winstead is an absolute treat of a fake romance/rom-com contemporary romance featuring a shy, book loving school librarian and a foul-mouthed, audacious politician running for office. Opposites attract in this slow burn fake romance.
Alexis Stone has always preferred books over people and has a job she loves as a school librarian. When her boyfriend cheats on her for a second time and blames her, she is determined to change her life. She gets dressed up and goes out looking for a one-night stand. When she is hit on by an obnoxious drunk, the gorgeous man next to her at the bar rescues her.
Logan Arthur just wants some down time and stops for a drink after work in the bar by his office. He stands up to the obnoxious man hitting on the woman next him at the bar and finds he loves listening to her stories. As they go to leave, both find they want each other. But when a lightening strike starts a fire in the hotel, they find themselves outside, half dressed, and Logan takes off, leaving Alexis when the photographers start taking pictures.
Logan is single and running for Governor and the scandal of coming out of a hotel with a woman brings up his playboy history, so his campaign finds Alexis and proposes a fake relationship just until the election in two months.
I really loved the opposites attract dynamic between Alexis and Logan. They both learned from each other how to be bold and when to hold back, while both were trying to get beyond being hurt by others in the past. While there is plenty of romance, it is a slow burn with a love triangle thrown in three quarters of the way through the story. I felt the entire romance plot moved at a believable pace with no sex scenes until almost the end of the story, but plenty of chemistry between the H/h. The election and campaign issues added interest to the overall story, also. All the characters are fully fleshed and believable. This is an overall enjoyable read with fun characters, dialogue, and plot.
THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE by Ashley Winstead is an absolute treat of a fake romance/rom-com contemporary romance featuring a shy, book loving school librarian and a foul-mouthed, audacious politician running for office. Opposites attract in this slow burn fake romance.
Alexis Stone has always preferred books over people and has a job she loves as a school librarian. When her boyfriend cheats on her for a second time and blames her, she is determined to change her life. She gets dressed up and goes out looking for a one-night stand. When she is hit on by an obnoxious drunk, the gorgeous man next to her at the bar rescues her.
Logan Arthur just wants some down time and stops for a drink after work in the bar by his office. He stands up to the obnoxious man hitting on the woman next him at the bar and finds he loves listening to her stories. As they go to leave, both find they want each other. But when a lightening strike starts a fire in the hotel, they find themselves outside, half dressed, and Logan takes off, leaving Alexis when the photographers start taking pictures.
Logan is single and running for Governor and the scandal of coming out of a hotel with a woman brings up his playboy history, so his campaign finds Alexis and proposes a fake relationship just until the election in two months.
I really loved the opposites attract dynamic between Alexis and Logan. They both learned from each other how to be bold and when to hold back, while both were trying to get beyond being hurt by others in the past. While there is plenty of romance, it is a slow burn with a love triangle thrown in three quarters of the way through the story. I felt the entire romance plot moved at a believable pace with no sex scenes until almost the end of the story, but plenty of chemistry between the H/h. The election and campaign issues added interest to the overall story, also. All the characters are fully fleshed and believable. This is an overall enjoyable read with fun characters, dialogue, and plot.
May 15, 2023
I felt that the main storyline was more about politics and the romantic angle was secondary. Personally, I do not enjoy books that emphasize politics as reading to me is an escape from all the chatter around us.
May 19, 2023
[ 2.75 Stars ]
the miscommunication ruined everything, the cover is really beautiful but the book felt a little shallow
the miscommunication ruined everything, the cover is really beautiful but the book felt a little shallow
November 28, 2024
Queen of starting romance series out of order (you cannot control me lol).
[future self here: past me WAS RIGHT TO DO THIS]
I completely fell in love with this book from the first chapter. After that I was literally obsessed, it's been a while since a book had me salivating, thinking about it constantly even when I wasn't reading. I love playful slowburn romcoms that keep you entertained and on your toes, building the tension up and making you scream to just KISS ALREADY DAMMIT. This one had so much politics, but in a captivating way that just raised the stakes higher. It also added a lot of banter and awkward scenes that made me actively laugh. I need more pure romcoms like this one.
If it wasn't for those last few chapters I would have given this a higher rating (spoilery thoughts: I'd like to unread that please), but I still loved this one a whole lot: even though it wasn't perfect, it was almost a new favorite book. I had a feeling this author could be for me and now I can't wait to try her entire backlist.
[future self here: past me WAS RIGHT TO DO THIS]
I completely fell in love with this book from the first chapter. After that I was literally obsessed, it's been a while since a book had me salivating, thinking about it constantly even when I wasn't reading. I love playful slowburn romcoms that keep you entertained and on your toes, building the tension up and making you scream to just KISS ALREADY DAMMIT. This one had so much politics, but in a captivating way that just raised the stakes higher. It also added a lot of banter and awkward scenes that made me actively laugh. I need more pure romcoms like this one.
If it wasn't for those last few chapters I would have given this a higher rating (spoilery thoughts: I'd like to unread that please), but I still loved this one a whole lot: even though it wasn't perfect, it was almost a new favorite book. I had a feeling this author could be for me and now I can't wait to try her entire backlist.
June 3, 2023
4.5 stars! Fun and very entertaining, couldn’t put it down! 😍
May 9, 2023
I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I went into The Boyfriend Candidate knowing it would be political, so the politics isn't the reason behind my low rating; it's fairly easy for me to dissociate politics from romance. This book has such a delicious premise: after the paparazzi catches Alexis Stone outside a hotel with governor candidate Logan Arthur, she agrees to fake date him in public to save his campaign. I couldn't resist this storyline, especially since I've previously enjoyed Ashley Winstead's books. But my issue with this particular book is that the romance gets bogged down by the political storyline and the inconsistent characterization of the heroine Alexis. To me, it felt like the politics was the primary storyline and the romance was secondary, which is not what I was expecting.
Let's being with what I liked. Logan...I loved him as a hero. He's bold, brash, and blunt. He's Alexis's complete opposite and he perfectly complements her, personality-wise. He's also very grumpy, which is an added bonus. His overall vibe and energy is incongruent with his career. He's not going to appeal to everyone as a hero, but I loved him. His only flaw is that he's a Spurs fan 🤣 There were also a couple of things I liked about the romance, mostly thanks to Logan's contribution. The swoon-worthy kisses. This book has one of the best first kisses ever. The cuddling on the couch was very cute. Logan being vulnerable with Alexis. Logan and KITTENS!!!! 😍
My main problem is with Alexis; I had a hard time understanding her characterization. First of all, Alexis's political activism came out of nowhere. There was no basis supporting her sudden interest in political activism. She has never once fought for educators and librarians in the past. If Alexis had a history of fighting for educators on a local level, then her activism on a state level would have made more sense. It was also hard to believe that a shy introvert like Alexis kept nailing all of her public speeches.
Secondly, a huge part of Alexis's character is that she's always in the shadow of her older sister Lee, including the fact that she has no friends her own age. Alexis does have an important talk with her sister about this in the end, which I appreciated. But Alexis is also stuck becoming friends with her sister's friend Zoey, who only approached Alexis on behalf of Lee. Wouldn't it have made more sense for Alexis to strike out on her own and find her own circle of friends? That would have been an integral part of her journey. It would have added more depth to her journey and growth. It would have proven that she can make friends with people her own age, without the influence of her older sister. Alexis's friendship with Zoey came out of nowhere and contributed absolutely nothing to her growth as a character.
Lastly, instead of following the rules set out by Logan's staff, Alexis holds rallies on behalf of his campaign without checking with his team first. She constantly makes stupid decisions on her own and breaks the rules that she herself agreed to. She never tells the campaign before making stupid decisions that go completely against the rules, decisions that have massive repercussions on Logan and his campaign. She does this not once, but twice, completely negating any sort of character development. Alexis will tell you that she likes following rules, but her actions prove otherwise when she constantly breaks the rules to defy Logan. She expects Logan to drop everything for her, even when he is literally in the middle of a shitstorm, but it's okay for her to go behind his back to break their agreement multiple times. She keeps messing up, and get this...Logan is the one who keeps apologizing her, even though he has nothing to apologize for. Who's really the victim here? It is an affront to Leslie Knope that the characters in this book compared idiot Alexis to her. Homegirl should remain an assistant librarian. She's clearly too dumb to be a librarian.
I'm getting heated all over again because of dumbo Alexis. I wish Logan had dropped Alexis lol. I couldn't stand her.
I went into The Boyfriend Candidate knowing it would be political, so the politics isn't the reason behind my low rating; it's fairly easy for me to dissociate politics from romance. This book has such a delicious premise: after the paparazzi catches Alexis Stone outside a hotel with governor candidate Logan Arthur, she agrees to fake date him in public to save his campaign. I couldn't resist this storyline, especially since I've previously enjoyed Ashley Winstead's books. But my issue with this particular book is that the romance gets bogged down by the political storyline and the inconsistent characterization of the heroine Alexis. To me, it felt like the politics was the primary storyline and the romance was secondary, which is not what I was expecting.
Let's being with what I liked. Logan...I loved him as a hero. He's bold, brash, and blunt. He's Alexis's complete opposite and he perfectly complements her, personality-wise. He's also very grumpy, which is an added bonus. His overall vibe and energy is incongruent with his career. He's not going to appeal to everyone as a hero, but I loved him. His only flaw is that he's a Spurs fan 🤣 There were also a couple of things I liked about the romance, mostly thanks to Logan's contribution. The swoon-worthy kisses. This book has one of the best first kisses ever. The cuddling on the couch was very cute. Logan being vulnerable with Alexis. Logan and KITTENS!!!! 😍
My main problem is with Alexis; I had a hard time understanding her characterization. First of all, Alexis's political activism came out of nowhere. There was no basis supporting her sudden interest in political activism. She has never once fought for educators and librarians in the past. If Alexis had a history of fighting for educators on a local level, then her activism on a state level would have made more sense. It was also hard to believe that a shy introvert like Alexis kept nailing all of her public speeches.
Secondly, a huge part of Alexis's character is that she's always in the shadow of her older sister Lee, including the fact that she has no friends her own age. Alexis does have an important talk with her sister about this in the end, which I appreciated. But Alexis is also stuck becoming friends with her sister's friend Zoey, who only approached Alexis on behalf of Lee. Wouldn't it have made more sense for Alexis to strike out on her own and find her own circle of friends? That would have been an integral part of her journey. It would have added more depth to her journey and growth. It would have proven that she can make friends with people her own age, without the influence of her older sister. Alexis's friendship with Zoey came out of nowhere and contributed absolutely nothing to her growth as a character.
Lastly, instead of following the rules set out by Logan's staff, Alexis holds rallies on behalf of his campaign without checking with his team first. She constantly makes stupid decisions on her own and breaks the rules that she herself agreed to. She never tells the campaign before making stupid decisions that go completely against the rules, decisions that have massive repercussions on Logan and his campaign. She does this not once, but twice, completely negating any sort of character development. Alexis will tell you that she likes following rules, but her actions prove otherwise when she constantly breaks the rules to defy Logan. She expects Logan to drop everything for her, even when he is literally in the middle of a shitstorm, but it's okay for her to go behind his back to break their agreement multiple times. She keeps messing up, and get this...Logan is the one who keeps apologizing her, even though he has nothing to apologize for. Who's really the victim here? It is an affront to Leslie Knope that the characters in this book compared idiot Alexis to her. Homegirl should remain an assistant librarian. She's clearly too dumb to be a librarian.
I'm getting heated all over again because of dumbo Alexis. I wish Logan had dropped Alexis lol. I couldn't stand her.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,581 reviews