Review: Boyfriend by Sarina Bowen (Moo U #0)


Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

Originally released in November of 2020 as part of the free multi-author 'Tis the Season for Romance anthology, Boyfriend has been expanded into a full-length novel. Last year's novella also served as an introduction to the Moo U series, which was the first series launched in the World of True North book universe. So, if you've read the other Moo U books and are curious why this book is listed as number zero on Goodreads, it's no mistake because this is the story that kicked off everything for the series. That being said, all the Moo U can be read as standalones, although if you've yet to read the series (Seriously?! Hop to it ASAP!) my humble suggestion would be to read the books in order.

Boyfriend is the story of Weston Griggs, a twenty-one-year-old defenseman for the men's hockey team of Burlington University, affectionately known as Moo U and premed senior, and Abbi Stoddard, a twenty-year-old business major interning at Vermont Tartan and waitressing at The Biscuit in the Basket. When Weston posts a flyer on The Biscuit's board, it immediately catches Abbi's attention. Who wouldn't take notice one of Moo U's most popular student athletes as a boyfriend for rent on Thanksgiving? So, why not hire her longtime crush to serve as a buffer for her guaranteed to be uncomfortable "family" dinner? And why not return the favor for Weston's own sure-to-be tense family gathering over Christmas? These two are offering up a fake relationship, real family issues served with good food and a hefty serving of awkwardness wrapped up in all those holiday feels.

The fake relationship romance trope isn't my go-to. Been there, read that, yada, yada, yada. But there are a rarefied few authors who can actually get me to not just read a book they've penned with that particular trope but to make me fall in love with the story and characters. Sarina Bowen is one of those authors. I absolutely adored Weston and Abbi, aka Westie and Abbster. These two have noticed each other in all the time that their paths have crossed in The Biscuit in the Basket, but all it took was one flyer and a fake relationship for them to actually strike up a very real friendship--one that can become more if they can get out of their own way. Theirs a bit of angst courtesy of issues within their respective families, but for all intents and purposes, this was a lighthearted and fun-filled read. This book was both a fantastic addition to the Moo U series and the World of True North book universe as a whole. Boyfriend is a five-starred and recommended read!

Release Date: 12 October 2021

Date Read: 10 October 2021

Learn more about Sarina Bowen.

Pre-order Boyfriend on Amazon | Apple Books | B&N | Kobo.

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