Book Review: The Boyfriend Project
Author: Farrah Rochon
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Forever
Publish Date: June 9, 2020
Format: Hardcover
★★★★★
This book is perfect for those that like: Strong Women Characters, Romance With a Touch of Mystery, and Terrible Co-Workers Getting their Due.
You might not like this book if you aren’t into: Lying, Liars Who Steal, or Tech Talk.
Purchase: Bookshop / Barnes & Noble / Amazon
From Goodreads: Samiah Brooks never thought she would be "that" girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she's been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah-along with his two other "girlfriends," London and Taylor-have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men, no dating, and no worrying about their relationship status . . .
For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she's always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy, honey-eyed Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? When it comes to love, there's no such thing as a coincidence. But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?
Y’all. This book needs to come with a disclaimer: DO NOT START READING UNLESS YOU CAN TAKE THE DAY OFF BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP ONCE YOU START.
I mean, first off, the cover is perfection. The bold colors, the actual detail and shading on the character’s faces, the text bubbles that look like texts. I LOVE IT.
Second, the book is set in Austin, Texas! I may have been born in San Antonio, but I grew up in so many ways in Austin. It’s the place I love more than anywhere and to “see” so many recognizable places and streets was a delight.
Third- THE FIRST CHAPTER IS TO DIE FOR. I LIVE for characters getting their due in books and movies. That moment when you as the reader/viewer get to SEE the villain get the crap kicked out of them or called out in public. INJECT IT INTO MY VEINS. Usually, if you get this type of closure at all, it’s at the end of the book. Not here. Here you get it Chapter One, front and center and y’all, I died. Like I said, this should have come with a warning because I couldn’t stop after that first chapter. Not to mention that usually when the lead character finds out early on that they have been cheated/fired/broken-up with, it’s a sad, melancholy set-up that we know is supposed to be the start of this character’s journey. In The Boyfriend Project, Samiah was like, LOL, let me murder you in public AND get free food. And THEN befriend two other amazing ladies and get on with my life. She, along with her two new friends, Taylor and London, are my heroes.
Throw in a gorgeous new co-worker named Daniel, who might be changing Samiah's mind about swearing off men, a potential career change, some Real Talk about how Black Women are treated in the workplace, and the FBI and you have an amazing ride that I could not put down.
Y’all, even the lies, which don't get me wrong were serious, didn't make me hate Daniel. With alternating POVs, we come to find out early on that Daniel has some secrets and those will no doubt affect his relationship with Samiah. But it's because we get his thoughts and understand his internal battles-- always recognizing how his choices affect the potential loss of trust and harm to Samiah -- you can’t help but route for him even when you are yelling, DO NOT DO WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO DO DANIEL. And, my dude is a Consent AND Contraceptive Man. HERE FOR EVERY BIT OF IT.
I can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. If you’re looking for the perfect summer read this is it, y’all.