The Boyfriend Candidate A Novel

Ashley Winstead — 2023

“Charming, swoony, and utterly unputdownable. I LOVE this book!” —LYNN PAINTER, New York Times bestselling author of Better Than the Movies 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!—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. Audacious and filterless, Logan is 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. 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 suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. Turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?

Reviews

kels@kelseysoderberg

May 30, 2024

when will it be my turn

Marie@mariecze

Feb 8, 2024

Liked the setting and the characters a lot! Could've gone without the miscommunication but didn't mind it too much. Spice at the end was also good, a bit tame :)

Emma Kamer@emmakamer

Dec 29, 2023

I loved this book. It was such a fun original story. It was very easy to get into and it held my interest. The characters are lovely and very fun together. Its a beautiful book!

Lynn Braden@ftbooklover

May 23, 2023

Librarian Alexis Stone has always been fine living in the shadow of her sister, Lee, recently elected state senator, but when she is accidentally caught on camera in the arms of gubernatorial candidate, Logan Arthur, she is thrust into the limelight in a way that she never expected. Logan's campaign manager believes that the only way to stave off accusations that Logan is a playboy is for the two of them to say they have been hiding a secret relationship. When Alexis throws herself into the campaign, asserting teacher rights, her presence becomes more and more important to Logan in more ways than one.

The Boyfriend Candidate raises lots of hot button political issues while telling the story of two people who have always had trouble living up to the expectations of others. The problems in the world of education get special focus, but the rest of the story is fairly predictable and a basically average romance. While there is some laugh out loud humor in the story, the plot could have benefited from more banter and more scenes developing deeper drama. Overall, The Boyfriend Candidate is a cute romance that raises real political issues but might have had a stronger love story.