Book Club Boyfriend is the latest release from Canadian author Jenny Holiday. Expected to be released on July 14, 2026, it introduces readers to Blair and Jack. After clashing over a proposal, Blair reaches out to Jack and invites him to stay with her. Will they be able to complete their respective projects, or will they continue to clash?
I want to thank Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Book Club Boyfriend. All opinions presented here are my own.
Synopsis from Goodreads
Blair Kellermoon—blond, bubbly, former rom-com star—has always worried no one would take her seriously as a producer. And with her latest film project stalled indefinitely, she’s starting to think desperate times call for desperate measures.
Enter bestselling author Jack, beautiful writer, awful person. Yet somehow, he and Blair have become unlikely text friends, despite his very public refusal to participate in her celebrity book club. And he’s confessed he’s dealing with his own hotly anticipated novel, which he can’t seem to write.
So Blair does something: she invites him to stay at her pool house. Now they’ve become two misfits bonding over movie nights, cheesy pasta, befriending wild crows, and solving the mystery of the weirdly green pool. Blair was sure she knew exactly how her story would end. But Jack might be proof that it’s only just beginning…
Positives
- Around 400 pages
- “Older” main characters, both are late 30s and early 40s
- Explores mental health
Negatives
- Maybe a bit too much “poor me” mentality between the main characters
My Opinions
Book Club Boyfriend flew under the radar; I was unaware of its pending release until 6 weeks before its scheduled release date. I’ve enjoyed the other books I’ve read by Jenny Holiday, so this was an instant add to my TBR.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Book Club Boyfriend. I’m unsure why it’s classified as an enemy-to-lovers story. Why? Because I don’t see it. Sure, Blair and Jack have a rough meeting at the beginning of the book. But that doesn’t mean they’re enemies. They are two opinionated people with different life experiences.
I loved that Blair and Jack are older than the typical leads in a romance. When I say they’re older, I mean they aren’t in their mid-20s like so many leads.
Another thing I loved was the exploration of mental health and childhood trauma. One character has anxiety and OCD. One character has a parent who was less than loving, maybe even a bit neglectful. But with these topics, there were many instances of “poor me” from both leads. While the characters have the right to feel their feelings, there were a couple of times when it felt too much. And a competition to see who was in the worst space.
If you like slow-burn romances, you should give Book Club Boyfriend a read.
Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
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