What do you think?
Rate this book
The Problem with Perfect
When style is everything, will Ethan learn that true beauty is on the inside?
Chase Myles can throw together a swinging dinner party or redecorate an entire townhouse with jaw-dropping elegance. Followers scroll his Insta and see effortless workouts, exotic travel, and an adoring boyfriend. The world believes Chase is a style icon. The world is mistaken.
Ethan Wells is actually the one who knows what to wear, what to eat and how to do it but he’s happy staying behind the scenes producing their hit LGBTQ show Myles of Style. When Chase walks off set just before the Pride live TV show that will make or break Ethan’s career, Ethan thinks it’s just another tantrum… until Chase’s Instagram shows him partying hard in Abu Dhabi.
Out of options, Ethan drives up to rural New York to convince Chase’s estranged twin, Beau, to pass him off as Chase for a week, but Ethan finds a hairy, rugged mountain man who couldn’t be more different from his social butterfly, influencer brother.
Can Ethan transform Beau into the star of the show and fool his bosses and Chase’s followers? And when Beau turns out to be kind, romantic and everything that Chase is not, does he really want Chase back, anyway?
A gorgeously uplifting queer romance that is a love letter to NYC, featuring a fake-fake boyfriend, opposites attract and a vintage convertible full of elderly drag queens, don’t miss the feelgood read of 2023! Fans of Casey McQuiston, Boyfriend Material and Beth O’Leary will love this.
Chase Myles can throw together a swinging dinner party or redecorate an entire townhouse with jaw-dropping elegance. Followers scroll his Insta and see effortless workouts, exotic travel, and an adoring boyfriend. The world believes Chase is a style icon. The world is mistaken.
Ethan Wells is actually the one who knows what to wear, what to eat and how to do it but he’s happy staying behind the scenes producing their hit LGBTQ show Myles of Style. When Chase walks off set just before the Pride live TV show that will make or break Ethan’s career, Ethan thinks it’s just another tantrum… until Chase’s Instagram shows him partying hard in Abu Dhabi.
Out of options, Ethan drives up to rural New York to convince Chase’s estranged twin, Beau, to pass him off as Chase for a week, but Ethan finds a hairy, rugged mountain man who couldn’t be more different from his social butterfly, influencer brother.
Can Ethan transform Beau into the star of the show and fool his bosses and Chase’s followers? And when Beau turns out to be kind, romantic and everything that Chase is not, does he really want Chase back, anyway?
A gorgeously uplifting queer romance that is a love letter to NYC, featuring a fake-fake boyfriend, opposites attract and a vintage convertible full of elderly drag queens, don’t miss the feelgood read of 2023! Fans of Casey McQuiston, Boyfriend Material and Beth O’Leary will love this.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 10, 2023
60 people are currently reading
1279 people want to read
About the author
Philip William Stover
6 books138 followersPhilip William Stover splits his time between Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and New York City. He has an MFA in writing and is a clinical professor at New York University.
As a freelance journalist, his essays and reviews have appeared in Newsday, the Forward, the Tony Awards, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Houston Chronicle, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and other national publications. For many years he ghosted for an international best-selling women’s fiction author. He has published multiple middle-grade novels for Simon & Schuster and was the American Theater critic for About.com.
He grew up tearing the covers off the romance novels he devoured so he wouldn’t get teased at school. Now he enjoys traveling the world with his husband of over twenty years and would never consider defacing any of the books he loves.
He can be found on social media as Philip William Stover.
Adult fiction:
https://www.philipwilliamstover.com
Middle-grade fiction:
http://www.tweenink.com
As a freelance journalist, his essays and reviews have appeared in Newsday, the Forward, the Tony Awards, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Houston Chronicle, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and other national publications. For many years he ghosted for an international best-selling women’s fiction author. He has published multiple middle-grade novels for Simon & Schuster and was the American Theater critic for About.com.
He grew up tearing the covers off the romance novels he devoured so he wouldn’t get teased at school. Now he enjoys traveling the world with his husband of over twenty years and would never consider defacing any of the books he loves.
He can be found on social media as Philip William Stover.
Adult fiction:
https://www.philipwilliamstover.com
Middle-grade fiction:
http://www.tweenink.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
June 23, 2023
I’m on BookTube now! You can find my channel here! =)
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for giving me an opportunity to read this book.*
"You went to culinary school? How? When? Where?" Is there anything this guy hasn't done? I wonder if he's flown the space shuttle or knows how to shear sheep.
I wondered the same thing while I read “The Problem with Perfect” because Beau seemed to be, well, almost too perfect?! If that makes sense. But then again this fact aligns with the title of the book so who am I to judge? ;-) Truth be told, this story was a lot of fun to read and I enjoyed picking it up whenever I had a quiet moment. Stover’s writing style is easy to read and the plot around Ethan and Beau kept me entertained enough to want to know what would happen next and that’s always a plus in my book. As is good humour and I’m happy to say that this book delivered on that front.
"We'll see what you say when you look at the bathroom. I took enough hair off this guy to make a third."
"Please don't even joke about there being another one. I can barely handle two."
It’s not the kind of “laughing out loud” humour you’d have expected from a rom-com, but more some sort of fine humour that will cause you to smirk at some scenes. It kind of fits to the characters and the overall mood of the book, though. So I think this was well done and totally in line with the story the author wanted to convey. As for the characters: Ethan was a very likeable control freak who, if possible, would have done everything himself without relying on others. It’s a shame he chose Chase as his style icon in front of the camera because those two honestly couldn’t have been any more different even if they’d tried. While Ethan wants to control everything and does his best to make the Instagram posts perfect, Chase seems to be determined to make life difficult for literally everyone on set. Considering their dynamic at the beginning of the book, I wasn’t surprised that Chase ditched Ethan and his career in order to party in Abu Dhabi instead. Thankfully Chase has an identical twin who has to pay a couple of debts and agrees to take over until Chase comes to his senses and returns back to New York.
”You think I'm only motivated by money? I know my brother is but it sounds like you're just as shallow as he is if you think you can throw a pot of money at me and I'll do what you say."
Still, Beau might have had to pay some debts but he had a will of his own and integrity. I loved that about him and was happy to see that he questioned the things he had to do and challenged Ethan to think outside of the box he had created for himself and the followers of “Myles of Style”. I think in some way Beau is actually some sort of catalyst that forces Ethan to rethink his choices and what he is representing with his IG page. It might have started out with good intentions but at some point, the industry and sponsors clearly took over the stage. Of course, Ethan is painfully aware of this fact, but he thinks there is nothing he can do about it. After all, keeping the sponsors happy, keeps the page running, right?
”By suggesting that only a certain type of jawline is beautiful it also suggests that those who don’t fit the standard are therefore less-than when that’s certainly not the case. For example, Ethan, your face is beautiful but your jawline isn’t overly developed.”
Everyone on set gasps. One person drops a cup of coffee.
I really liked how the topic of sponsors controlling the content was broached in this story and how it was challenged as well. No matter if it was by Ethan’s superior that pitched the most ridiculous ideas whenever they met (I mean a personal lubricant that has Golden Girls flavors and is an energy drink as well?! Are you kidding me?!) or the fact they tried to sell products from a company full of homo- and transphobes just because they needed a sponsor and the company tried to polish its image. We have it all in here and even though the ridiculousness of it all caused me to chuckle, it also made me think because unfortunately things like this actually happen and people basically sell their souls for recognition and validation.
”I’ve been so driven by ambition and moving up that I’ve become a stereotype of myself and I’m beginning not to like it. I know I’m gay. I’m gay all day, but I don’t like being forced to have my identity take center stage over my personhood.”
And yes, you guessed right, one of them is Ethan. To follow his character arc and to see him finally giving a voice to his inner thoughts was cathartic and one of the things I liked the most about this book. Another one were all the diverse and amazing side-characters. I loved Kiara and The Giblet Triplets, a fabulous drag queen trio, which rolled through Pride riding a Ford Fairlane Sunliner and rocked the stage whenever they could. They were amazing and I absolutely loved Uncle Clams and Amnesia. Their found family vibes were impeccable and the strong bond between Ethan and his Uncle was so sweet to read about. I just loved that Ethan might have lived for his work and “Myles of Styles” but that he quite literally would have dropped everything in order to help his Uncle and to be there for him if he needed him.
”I’m sorry I’m making you do all this,” I say. “I hope it isn’t a trigger.”
“Nope. It’s fine and you aren’t making me do anything. It’s my choice. In fact, I wasn’t going to admit it but I think it’s been good for me. You’ve been good for me.”
On a finale note, I have to mention that I really liked the slow-burn romance between Ethan and Beau. Those two worked so well together and it was very endearing to see those two different characters help each other find their way. They weren’t just good for each other but also brought out the best in each other so that was extremely nice to read about. Also, Beau and Kiara were both bisexual and I always appreciate seeing some bi representation in my books.
”As queer people we grow up being told how we should behave and now we’re on TV and in movies and we’re told how we should be gay, how we should be queer. We have to stop allowing that. We have to start celebrating all the talents and gifts we already have.
All told, I really enjoyed “The Problem with Perfect”. It was a nice rom-com with a cute slow burn that didn’t shy away from addressing an important topic as well. Namely how much some sponsors control the content their influencers create and how toxic this can actually be. In addition to that the overall message of the book, to be who you truly are and to be your authentic self, is a beautiful one and definitely worth spreading. Still, if there was one thing I didn’t like then it was the rather abrupt ending. I get that the author wanted to end the book on a positive note, but I still have so many questions left and I really would have liked to find out how the Chase/Beau situation would have been resolved. Apart from that I had fun reading “The Problem with Perfect” and definitely will watch out for the author’s next book. I’m sure it will be good as well.
___________________________
This was fun and I really enjoyed reading it.
The ending was a little abrupt but aside of that and a couple of still open questions; I had a really good time with Ethan and Beau.
Full RTC soon! Stay tuned! =)
____________________________
I was lucky enough to get approved for an ARC of this book and I’m so ready!
I mean look at that cover and the blurb!!!
Chase Myles, the star of a famous IG account decides to ditch the mastermind behind it and takes off to Dubai and now Ethan the actual star behind the scenes (and account) has to find a replacement?!
And said replacement is none other than Chase’s twin brother a hairy, rugged mountain man named Beau?!!
Oh, please! Give me all this queer fun in N.Y. City! =)
Have you heard of this book already and is it on your radar?!
Find me on:
My Blog
Instagram
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for giving me an opportunity to read this book.*
"You went to culinary school? How? When? Where?" Is there anything this guy hasn't done? I wonder if he's flown the space shuttle or knows how to shear sheep.
I wondered the same thing while I read “The Problem with Perfect” because Beau seemed to be, well, almost too perfect?! If that makes sense. But then again this fact aligns with the title of the book so who am I to judge? ;-) Truth be told, this story was a lot of fun to read and I enjoyed picking it up whenever I had a quiet moment. Stover’s writing style is easy to read and the plot around Ethan and Beau kept me entertained enough to want to know what would happen next and that’s always a plus in my book. As is good humour and I’m happy to say that this book delivered on that front.
"We'll see what you say when you look at the bathroom. I took enough hair off this guy to make a third."
"Please don't even joke about there being another one. I can barely handle two."
It’s not the kind of “laughing out loud” humour you’d have expected from a rom-com, but more some sort of fine humour that will cause you to smirk at some scenes. It kind of fits to the characters and the overall mood of the book, though. So I think this was well done and totally in line with the story the author wanted to convey. As for the characters: Ethan was a very likeable control freak who, if possible, would have done everything himself without relying on others. It’s a shame he chose Chase as his style icon in front of the camera because those two honestly couldn’t have been any more different even if they’d tried. While Ethan wants to control everything and does his best to make the Instagram posts perfect, Chase seems to be determined to make life difficult for literally everyone on set. Considering their dynamic at the beginning of the book, I wasn’t surprised that Chase ditched Ethan and his career in order to party in Abu Dhabi instead. Thankfully Chase has an identical twin who has to pay a couple of debts and agrees to take over until Chase comes to his senses and returns back to New York.
”You think I'm only motivated by money? I know my brother is but it sounds like you're just as shallow as he is if you think you can throw a pot of money at me and I'll do what you say."
Still, Beau might have had to pay some debts but he had a will of his own and integrity. I loved that about him and was happy to see that he questioned the things he had to do and challenged Ethan to think outside of the box he had created for himself and the followers of “Myles of Style”. I think in some way Beau is actually some sort of catalyst that forces Ethan to rethink his choices and what he is representing with his IG page. It might have started out with good intentions but at some point, the industry and sponsors clearly took over the stage. Of course, Ethan is painfully aware of this fact, but he thinks there is nothing he can do about it. After all, keeping the sponsors happy, keeps the page running, right?
”By suggesting that only a certain type of jawline is beautiful it also suggests that those who don’t fit the standard are therefore less-than when that’s certainly not the case. For example, Ethan, your face is beautiful but your jawline isn’t overly developed.”
Everyone on set gasps. One person drops a cup of coffee.
I really liked how the topic of sponsors controlling the content was broached in this story and how it was challenged as well. No matter if it was by Ethan’s superior that pitched the most ridiculous ideas whenever they met (I mean a personal lubricant that has Golden Girls flavors and is an energy drink as well?! Are you kidding me?!) or the fact they tried to sell products from a company full of homo- and transphobes just because they needed a sponsor and the company tried to polish its image. We have it all in here and even though the ridiculousness of it all caused me to chuckle, it also made me think because unfortunately things like this actually happen and people basically sell their souls for recognition and validation.
”I’ve been so driven by ambition and moving up that I’ve become a stereotype of myself and I’m beginning not to like it. I know I’m gay. I’m gay all day, but I don’t like being forced to have my identity take center stage over my personhood.”
And yes, you guessed right, one of them is Ethan. To follow his character arc and to see him finally giving a voice to his inner thoughts was cathartic and one of the things I liked the most about this book. Another one were all the diverse and amazing side-characters. I loved Kiara and The Giblet Triplets, a fabulous drag queen trio, which rolled through Pride riding a Ford Fairlane Sunliner and rocked the stage whenever they could. They were amazing and I absolutely loved Uncle Clams and Amnesia. Their found family vibes were impeccable and the strong bond between Ethan and his Uncle was so sweet to read about. I just loved that Ethan might have lived for his work and “Myles of Styles” but that he quite literally would have dropped everything in order to help his Uncle and to be there for him if he needed him.
”I’m sorry I’m making you do all this,” I say. “I hope it isn’t a trigger.”
“Nope. It’s fine and you aren’t making me do anything. It’s my choice. In fact, I wasn’t going to admit it but I think it’s been good for me. You’ve been good for me.”
On a finale note, I have to mention that I really liked the slow-burn romance between Ethan and Beau. Those two worked so well together and it was very endearing to see those two different characters help each other find their way. They weren’t just good for each other but also brought out the best in each other so that was extremely nice to read about. Also, Beau and Kiara were both bisexual and I always appreciate seeing some bi representation in my books.
”As queer people we grow up being told how we should behave and now we’re on TV and in movies and we’re told how we should be gay, how we should be queer. We have to stop allowing that. We have to start celebrating all the talents and gifts we already have.
All told, I really enjoyed “The Problem with Perfect”. It was a nice rom-com with a cute slow burn that didn’t shy away from addressing an important topic as well. Namely how much some sponsors control the content their influencers create and how toxic this can actually be. In addition to that the overall message of the book, to be who you truly are and to be your authentic self, is a beautiful one and definitely worth spreading. Still, if there was one thing I didn’t like then it was the rather abrupt ending. I get that the author wanted to end the book on a positive note, but I still have so many questions left and I really would have liked to find out how the Chase/Beau situation would have been resolved. Apart from that I had fun reading “The Problem with Perfect” and definitely will watch out for the author’s next book. I’m sure it will be good as well.
___________________________
This was fun and I really enjoyed reading it.
The ending was a little abrupt but aside of that and a couple of still open questions; I had a really good time with Ethan and Beau.
Full RTC soon! Stay tuned! =)
____________________________
I was lucky enough to get approved for an ARC of this book and I’m so ready!
I mean look at that cover and the blurb!!!
Chase Myles, the star of a famous IG account decides to ditch the mastermind behind it and takes off to Dubai and now Ethan the actual star behind the scenes (and account) has to find a replacement?!
And said replacement is none other than Chase’s twin brother a hairy, rugged mountain man named Beau?!!
Oh, please! Give me all this queer fun in N.Y. City! =)
Have you heard of this book already and is it on your radar?!
Find me on:
My Blog
May 2, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley & Hera Books for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
3.5 stars
The Problem with Perfect is very enjoyable. I requested this ARC when I saw it was recommended to fans of Casey McQuiston and Boyfriend Material - since I'd say I fall squarely in that demographic - and I do think the comparison holds up. For the most part.
Beau and Ethan were both very sweet characters. Beau is reserved at first, but his personality quickly shines through. He is unfailingly kind in every situation, puts others first, is always willing to help, and stands up for his beliefs. It’s easy to see how much work he’s put into himself, and when he tells stories about his past, it’s clear he’s aware of the changes he needed to make and worked hard to make them happen. Ethan is a bit more of a work in progress. He seems pretty sure of what he wants in life while also being aware that it’s unlikely to make him happy. And while many of his doubts sit below the surface, being around Beau and his unfailing honesty starts to force him to confront a lot of brutal truths. I love his relationship with Clams and how quick he is to drop everything to help him when necessary, but it just makes you wish he would take care of himself in a similar manner.
Unfortunately, Chase was a little too evil. Very one dimensional, he’s selfish and does whatever he wants whenever he wants to. He flaunts his ignorance, has no desire to improve himself or help those around him, and is so gullible he’ll fly to Saudi Arabia without even being aware of where he’s going. It seems crazy that he and Beau would ever be able to heal their relationship, let alone that they could have ever been close or even friendly. I found it hard to believe that he could have committed to this show or fake relationship for as long as he supposedly has without messing everything up.
While I enjoyed The Problem with Perfect and really responded to Ethan and Beau, I do think there was a lack of depth. The first half to three quarters feel pretty fleshed out, but the last quarter flies by. When we need details to support the formation of a possible relationship and to determine a future or consider a different career path, things just start happening, and we’re moving from event to event with almost no background information or motivation. I just felt let down in the end.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
3.5 stars
The Problem with Perfect is very enjoyable. I requested this ARC when I saw it was recommended to fans of Casey McQuiston and Boyfriend Material - since I'd say I fall squarely in that demographic - and I do think the comparison holds up. For the most part.
Beau and Ethan were both very sweet characters. Beau is reserved at first, but his personality quickly shines through. He is unfailingly kind in every situation, puts others first, is always willing to help, and stands up for his beliefs. It’s easy to see how much work he’s put into himself, and when he tells stories about his past, it’s clear he’s aware of the changes he needed to make and worked hard to make them happen. Ethan is a bit more of a work in progress. He seems pretty sure of what he wants in life while also being aware that it’s unlikely to make him happy. And while many of his doubts sit below the surface, being around Beau and his unfailing honesty starts to force him to confront a lot of brutal truths. I love his relationship with Clams and how quick he is to drop everything to help him when necessary, but it just makes you wish he would take care of himself in a similar manner.
Unfortunately, Chase was a little too evil. Very one dimensional, he’s selfish and does whatever he wants whenever he wants to. He flaunts his ignorance, has no desire to improve himself or help those around him, and is so gullible he’ll fly to Saudi Arabia without even being aware of where he’s going. It seems crazy that he and Beau would ever be able to heal their relationship, let alone that they could have ever been close or even friendly. I found it hard to believe that he could have committed to this show or fake relationship for as long as he supposedly has without messing everything up.
While I enjoyed The Problem with Perfect and really responded to Ethan and Beau, I do think there was a lack of depth. The first half to three quarters feel pretty fleshed out, but the last quarter flies by. When we need details to support the formation of a possible relationship and to determine a future or consider a different career path, things just start happening, and we’re moving from event to event with almost no background information or motivation. I just felt let down in the end.
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
Amazon | Blog | Bookstagram | Reddit | Wishlist
June 4, 2023
Okay, I loved this book. Every snarky aside, every astute comment about the horrors of celebrity worship, Uncle Clams and the rests of the glamorous Giblet Triplets, Fire Island, etc. It's all very good stuff.
From page one, the (okay, very implausible) story grabs your attention with the tale of Ethan, who quickly learned "I couldn't control the big things but I could make the details of my life shiny" and as the creative genius behind gay lifestyle show Myles of Style, strives for his next big network promotion to VP of Diversity Programming while keeping his star Chase Myles engaged and charming, not to mention stopping him from using an iron in a segment about getting rid of facial wrinkles ("So what? I wasn't going to plug it in") or claiming he is a queer role model like "Harley Milk."
But when Chase jets off to "Dabu Bobby" ("It's in the Middle East somewhere ...") with a Greek fishing tycoon, Ethan realizes the only way he can finish all the promotional material he needs yesterday is to find a Chase Myles substitute ... one Beau Myles, Chase's twin brother who lives in a yurt in upstate New York ("His hair must have been cut with a rock, his beard makes him look like he should drive a buggy or brew his own ale in Williamsburg ...") and is desperate enough for money he is willing to be manscaped, tweezed and spray-tanned to within an inch of his life.
What follows is a sweet, sexy, irreverent adventure (no explicit on-page sex but the perfect touch of lusting and longing) complete with a fake/fake boyfriend plot, a weekend on Fire Island (more Cherry Grove than the Meat Rack), and the realization that, as Beau says, "You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be yourself."
Granted, it takes a while (okay, far too long) to get Ethan to fully understand how he is not living the life he wants to, but the perfectly lovely epilogue and HEA is like the icing on the cake.
4.5 stars for a great read with plenty of heart mixed with gobs of snark (and topped with "Power Top Pop" - a ghastly "combination energy drink and personal lubricant" [...] in four fabulous flavors. Each one inspired by a different Golden Girl.") Let's just say I adore Philip William Stover's snark.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
From page one, the (okay, very implausible) story grabs your attention with the tale of Ethan, who quickly learned "I couldn't control the big things but I could make the details of my life shiny" and as the creative genius behind gay lifestyle show Myles of Style, strives for his next big network promotion to VP of Diversity Programming while keeping his star Chase Myles engaged and charming, not to mention stopping him from using an iron in a segment about getting rid of facial wrinkles ("So what? I wasn't going to plug it in") or claiming he is a queer role model like "Harley Milk."
But when Chase jets off to "Dabu Bobby" ("It's in the Middle East somewhere ...") with a Greek fishing tycoon, Ethan realizes the only way he can finish all the promotional material he needs yesterday is to find a Chase Myles substitute ... one Beau Myles, Chase's twin brother who lives in a yurt in upstate New York ("His hair must have been cut with a rock, his beard makes him look like he should drive a buggy or brew his own ale in Williamsburg ...") and is desperate enough for money he is willing to be manscaped, tweezed and spray-tanned to within an inch of his life.
What follows is a sweet, sexy, irreverent adventure (no explicit on-page sex but the perfect touch of lusting and longing) complete with a fake/fake boyfriend plot, a weekend on Fire Island (more Cherry Grove than the Meat Rack), and the realization that, as Beau says, "You don't have to be perfect, you just have to be yourself."
Granted, it takes a while (okay, far too long) to get Ethan to fully understand how he is not living the life he wants to, but the perfectly lovely epilogue and HEA is like the icing on the cake.
4.5 stars for a great read with plenty of heart mixed with gobs of snark (and topped with "Power Top Pop" - a ghastly "combination energy drink and personal lubricant" [...] in four fabulous flavors. Each one inspired by a different Golden Girl.") Let's just say I adore Philip William Stover's snark.
I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2023
GREAT MESSAGE, NOT SO GREAT PACKAGING
This is one of those books were I can very clearly state what i did not like about it. And yet, I actually didn't hate this book at all. It was entertaining, even though it was flawed. In a way, it actually speaks to the message of the book. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be yourself.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Messages: There are two main messages of this book, and I loved both of them. The first is a kind of political message about the dangers of pink washing and social media. Big brands often try to seem more evolved than they actually are - or they simply state a belief without actually doing any work to make it a reality. Throwing a rainbow flag on your logo does not mean you are pro LGBTQ - it just means that you are willing to jump on the bandwagon to gain sympathy without actually doing anything to support the cause. And social media is a hot spot of pink washing - and also the place were bad mental health thrives. Often we present a certain image on social media, one that is almost impossible to live up to.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Ethan: Even though I really relate to Ethan's character and personality (being a perfectionist overachiever myself) I still found it hard to connect with him. As a narrator, Ethan is stiff and often I felt a disconnect between Ethan's actions and the way he describes himself as well as the way others describe him. It was odd, not being able to reconcile those two things, especially because it was obvious that the disconnect was not intentional. If only it had been. Then it would have been super great. But it wasn't.
Beau: I really wanted to like Beau. I was obviously supposed to love him. He was absolutely perfect. But that was exactly my issue with him. He was just too damn perfect. If only he had been a bit more burly or sour about all the things Ethan wanted him to do. If only there had been more friction between the two of them. But because Beau was so perfect, there was no friction. And therefore no real chemistry.
Chemistry: See above ☝️
Ending: In the end, the resolution just came to abruptly. If it had come more gradually through the last couple of chapters, I would have liked it more. But it just seemed to come out of the blue in the very last chapter. It felt rushed.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
This is one of those books were I can very clearly state what i did not like about it. And yet, I actually didn't hate this book at all. It was entertaining, even though it was flawed. In a way, it actually speaks to the message of the book. You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be yourself.
👍 What I Liked 👍
Messages: There are two main messages of this book, and I loved both of them. The first is a kind of political message about the dangers of pink washing and social media. Big brands often try to seem more evolved than they actually are - or they simply state a belief without actually doing any work to make it a reality. Throwing a rainbow flag on your logo does not mean you are pro LGBTQ - it just means that you are willing to jump on the bandwagon to gain sympathy without actually doing anything to support the cause. And social media is a hot spot of pink washing - and also the place were bad mental health thrives. Often we present a certain image on social media, one that is almost impossible to live up to.
👎 What I Disliked 👎
Ethan: Even though I really relate to Ethan's character and personality (being a perfectionist overachiever myself) I still found it hard to connect with him. As a narrator, Ethan is stiff and often I felt a disconnect between Ethan's actions and the way he describes himself as well as the way others describe him. It was odd, not being able to reconcile those two things, especially because it was obvious that the disconnect was not intentional. If only it had been. Then it would have been super great. But it wasn't.
Beau: I really wanted to like Beau. I was obviously supposed to love him. He was absolutely perfect. But that was exactly my issue with him. He was just too damn perfect. If only he had been a bit more burly or sour about all the things Ethan wanted him to do. If only there had been more friction between the two of them. But because Beau was so perfect, there was no friction. And therefore no real chemistry.
Chemistry: See above ☝️
Ending: In the end, the resolution just came to abruptly. If it had come more gradually through the last couple of chapters, I would have liked it more. But it just seemed to come out of the blue in the very last chapter. It felt rushed.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
Blog ✨ Facebook ✨ Instagram ✨ Twitter
Blog Post: Which Book Should you read next based on your favourite Jane Austen Heroine
April 9, 2023
***Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for sending me a free e-ARC in exchange for this honest review***
This novel is a fun read reminiscent of romcoms and what has previously been called 'chick lit' with a gay twist. At the heart of the message is a simple adage: it's always better to be yourself. While that message can feel tired, Stover did bring a fresh twist in the form of a critique on rainbow capitalism and how some members of the community can get caught up in the image-driven social-media powered world that can trap us in the 'right' way to be openly gay. Unfortunately, the novel does suffer in style largely from the voice of the narrator: Ethan. At times Ethan's narration takes some odd and stilted turns that can make it difficult for a reader to latch onto his character. And from a pacing point of view, it's intensely frustrating as a reader to watch it take so long for Ethan to finally snap and break away from the pressures of his oppressive television network bosses. I counted at least two opportunities where I felt the tension needing to break, but it didn't. Consequently, when the inevitable crash happens, it occurs in the space of a handful of pages right at the end. This is always a mistake from a reader's point of view because there isn't a sufficient denouement. Even in a fluffy romcom, we still want to see the characters work out their emotional beats with each other and feel like they have some real resolution for the internal crises as much as the external ones. Still, the deeper you get into the novel the more your heart opens up to Ethan--because you understand where he's coming from and why he can be so difficult--and you find yourself rooting for him and for the ever-endearing love interest, Beau. I recommend this book to readers looking for upbeat, fluffy reads all about learning how be brave enough to live your live honestly and authentically.
This novel is a fun read reminiscent of romcoms and what has previously been called 'chick lit' with a gay twist. At the heart of the message is a simple adage: it's always better to be yourself. While that message can feel tired, Stover did bring a fresh twist in the form of a critique on rainbow capitalism and how some members of the community can get caught up in the image-driven social-media powered world that can trap us in the 'right' way to be openly gay. Unfortunately, the novel does suffer in style largely from the voice of the narrator: Ethan. At times Ethan's narration takes some odd and stilted turns that can make it difficult for a reader to latch onto his character. And from a pacing point of view, it's intensely frustrating as a reader to watch it take so long for Ethan to finally snap and break away from the pressures of his oppressive television network bosses. I counted at least two opportunities where I felt the tension needing to break, but it didn't. Consequently, when the inevitable crash happens, it occurs in the space of a handful of pages right at the end. This is always a mistake from a reader's point of view because there isn't a sufficient denouement. Even in a fluffy romcom, we still want to see the characters work out their emotional beats with each other and feel like they have some real resolution for the internal crises as much as the external ones. Still, the deeper you get into the novel the more your heart opens up to Ethan--because you understand where he's coming from and why he can be so difficult--and you find yourself rooting for him and for the ever-endearing love interest, Beau. I recommend this book to readers looking for upbeat, fluffy reads all about learning how be brave enough to live your live honestly and authentically.
April 17, 2023
Fake Dating and Celebrity are two of my favorite tropes, so this quirky rom-com with a fake-fake dating twist of a fictional lifestyle celebrity and producer was speaking my language.
Ethan is the head producer of popular ‘Myles of Style’, a popular gay lifestyle show - teaching how to be perfect. The perfect party hosting, perfect cocktail, perfect exercise routine. However the host, Chase Myles is the worst human being. When he quits mid-production to go to a circuit party in Miami… Ethan doesn’t have many options to keep the show on track before their breakout LIVE Pride Broadcast.
Enter estranged identical twin brother Beau who is the complete opposite of Chase. Ethan drives upstate and begs him to fill in and pretend to be his brother. Not just for the show/promos, but also as Ethan’s fake-fake-boyfriend - Chase and he’s been pretending as the perfect-gay couple for network executives and sponsors.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 by Philip William Stover (2023)
Out on May 11th - ★★★.5
This was an enjoyable read and had plenty of LOL moments. The writing was a bit simple and repetitive, but didn’t distract. The side characters really made it for me - Uncle Clams and Amnesia especially were hilarious.
This is not a spicy book, which IMO would have upped the my rating and the relationship development between Ethan and Beau.
The message of the story is to be true to yourself - no need to be “perfect” if you’re being yourself. Always a worthy goal to remind ourselves of all the time.
Social commentary about corporatization of Pride and “perfect acceptable gay” were also good to see.
“𝘕𝘢𝘩, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”
Thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for a chance to early review this story in exchange for an honest review.
Ethan is the head producer of popular ‘Myles of Style’, a popular gay lifestyle show - teaching how to be perfect. The perfect party hosting, perfect cocktail, perfect exercise routine. However the host, Chase Myles is the worst human being. When he quits mid-production to go to a circuit party in Miami… Ethan doesn’t have many options to keep the show on track before their breakout LIVE Pride Broadcast.
Enter estranged identical twin brother Beau who is the complete opposite of Chase. Ethan drives upstate and begs him to fill in and pretend to be his brother. Not just for the show/promos, but also as Ethan’s fake-fake-boyfriend - Chase and he’s been pretending as the perfect-gay couple for network executives and sponsors.
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 by Philip William Stover (2023)
Out on May 11th - ★★★.5
This was an enjoyable read and had plenty of LOL moments. The writing was a bit simple and repetitive, but didn’t distract. The side characters really made it for me - Uncle Clams and Amnesia especially were hilarious.
This is not a spicy book, which IMO would have upped the my rating and the relationship development between Ethan and Beau.
The message of the story is to be true to yourself - no need to be “perfect” if you’re being yourself. Always a worthy goal to remind ourselves of all the time.
Social commentary about corporatization of Pride and “perfect acceptable gay” were also good to see.
“𝘕𝘢𝘩, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”
Thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for a chance to early review this story in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2023
Ethan is an uber intense lifestyle producer for a gay television streaming production company. He discovered Chase Myles because Chase would appeal to the majority, as an out and handsome gay man. The trouble is, Ethan created a bit of a monster and Chase becomes demanding, and prima-donna'ish. When Chase goes missing Ethan finds himself in a bit of a pickle, as Ethan's success and a future promotion is banking on Chase. They even have everyone fooled believing they are dating - for the cameras. Then Ethan remembers Chase has an identical twin brother Beau who might come in handy. Ethan sets about convincing Beau to moonlight as Chase which is where things start to go awry because now THEY have to pretend to be dating, and Ethan finds out Beau is nothing at all like Chase .... which is a really, really good thing.
The Problem With Perfect is a fun, quirky MM rom-com. I had imaginings of Queer Eye with Ethan the quintessential man about town in New York, and Chase a hairy, alternate, meditative type who has everyone wondering what's going on with Chase. I enjoyed the way Beau challenged Ethan intellectually (in ways Chase doesn't) and confronts Ethan's need for everything to be perfect, presentable, and preened. Ethan was surrounded by such a colourful group of friends and family, and I enjoyed his balancing this while yearning for someone to call his own. Beau was simply too good to be true I have to say, but it's a rom-com so I'll take him. He was just the balance to Ethan's high maintenance, the relaxed-zen vibe to Ethan's intensity. I didn't feel like the chemistry was overwhelming, but more a comfort level between the two of them, but this might be because any loving scenes occur off the page. It's sweet, a bit Priscilla Queen of the Desert vibes as well with the cast of drag queens whose adventures and banter were a "chef's kiss"
A really enjoyable read.
Thanks to Hera and Netgalley fo the digital copy of this book to read and review.
The Problem With Perfect is a fun, quirky MM rom-com. I had imaginings of Queer Eye with Ethan the quintessential man about town in New York, and Chase a hairy, alternate, meditative type who has everyone wondering what's going on with Chase. I enjoyed the way Beau challenged Ethan intellectually (in ways Chase doesn't) and confronts Ethan's need for everything to be perfect, presentable, and preened. Ethan was surrounded by such a colourful group of friends and family, and I enjoyed his balancing this while yearning for someone to call his own. Beau was simply too good to be true I have to say, but it's a rom-com so I'll take him. He was just the balance to Ethan's high maintenance, the relaxed-zen vibe to Ethan's intensity. I didn't feel like the chemistry was overwhelming, but more a comfort level between the two of them, but this might be because any loving scenes occur off the page. It's sweet, a bit Priscilla Queen of the Desert vibes as well with the cast of drag queens whose adventures and banter were a "chef's kiss"
A really enjoyable read.
Thanks to Hera and Netgalley fo the digital copy of this book to read and review.
May 5, 2023
I dnf'd this at 50%. Oh my goodness.... where was the chemistry? Where was the romance? Like I'm sorry if you can't convince me to people are going to fall madly in love in a romance book then I can't keep reading. Like I sensed some maybe thirsty lust from Ethan but that's about it. I really was expecting to love this book but there was no chemistry. And I refuse to keep reading a book where the chemistry is like stale bread. Even the characters were a tad boring, over the top and cliched.
June 27, 2023
A feel good and HILARIOUS fake dating/reality tv romance about a producer for a Queer Style show desperate to keep things going when the diva star, Chase Myles stalks off set. His solution: track down the star's twin brother Beau and convince him to fill in for a few days.
What follows is a great story about forgiveness, found family and finding love where you least expect it. The book also takes place during pride month and has the characters travelling to Fire Island, NY for a series of LGBTQIA events, including a drag ball.
This was my first book by Philip William Stover and I really enjoyed it! The chemistry between bisexual Beau and Ethan was everything and I loved how Beau forced Ethan to examine what he was doing sacrificing his integrity for a show he no longer loved.
Perfect for fans of Timothy Janovski, Roan Parrish or Alison Cochrun's The charm offensive and good on audio too. Plus I am seriously obsessed with the gorgeous rainbow cover design for this book!
Steam level: kissing only
What follows is a great story about forgiveness, found family and finding love where you least expect it. The book also takes place during pride month and has the characters travelling to Fire Island, NY for a series of LGBTQIA events, including a drag ball.
This was my first book by Philip William Stover and I really enjoyed it! The chemistry between bisexual Beau and Ethan was everything and I loved how Beau forced Ethan to examine what he was doing sacrificing his integrity for a show he no longer loved.
Perfect for fans of Timothy Janovski, Roan Parrish or Alison Cochrun's The charm offensive and good on audio too. Plus I am seriously obsessed with the gorgeous rainbow cover design for this book!
Steam level: kissing only
August 17, 2023
Lovely sweet story of Ethan trying to be perfect in his job with exhausting responsibilities. As Chase, the host of his lifestyle show fled for parts far away, he grabbed his twin brother Beau to help finish his tasks. Over time realizing he lost his passion, his direction and himself. Beau was a great person for him and together they were adorable. Ethan’s family and friends were an added beautiful bonus. The ending was cute. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.
dnf
June 29, 2025DNFed at 136 pages.
March 10, 2023
(3.5 stars!)
A queer rom-com, for fans of Boyfriend Material, The Problem With Perfect feels fresh, relatable, and fun!
TV producer, Ethan Wells, finds himself in a pickle when his show star Chase goes on an unplanned adventure, leaving Ethan in a bind and a tv schedule up in disarray. When Ethan is able to convince Chase's twin brother to leave his yurt in the middle of nowhere and take over his brother's socialite lifestyle, he soon realizes maybe Chase isn't wrong to want to leave his seemingly picture perfect life.
While I found the writing a bit repetitive and simple at time, I really enjoyed this read!
What I Loved:
- The main characters. I loved Ethan. He is funny but understandably frustrating. Yes, he's a neurotic control freak, but he's been through so much and loves people so deeply and just wants to be somebody and live a life others will think is worthy. And even if that's problematic, it's relatable. Beau comes into his life on a fluke but it's clearly the perfect time to show up and show Ethan the authentic life he could be living! Beau is introspective and self aware and has also clearly been through a lot. His characterization is a little too matter of fact sometimes, but he's layered and more than hot mountain main. I grew to love both of them so much!
-The side characters. A black trans woman best friend living her most authentic life. Middle aged drag queens acting as the voices of reason. An assistant who's entire being is totally hilarious "Tina has cried every day since the day I hired her". Hysterical! This cast of found family was PERFECTION!
-The pop culture reference. The social commentary on social media and sponsorships. And moments that's make you laugh out loud!
Is this a ground breaking read? No, but it's a simply fun rom-com that shows us there's no one perfect way to be and the only way we should want to be is the one that feels the most authentic and makes us the most happy and that's something I can get behind and know readers of all kind will appreciate.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
A queer rom-com, for fans of Boyfriend Material, The Problem With Perfect feels fresh, relatable, and fun!
TV producer, Ethan Wells, finds himself in a pickle when his show star Chase goes on an unplanned adventure, leaving Ethan in a bind and a tv schedule up in disarray. When Ethan is able to convince Chase's twin brother to leave his yurt in the middle of nowhere and take over his brother's socialite lifestyle, he soon realizes maybe Chase isn't wrong to want to leave his seemingly picture perfect life.
While I found the writing a bit repetitive and simple at time, I really enjoyed this read!
What I Loved:
- The main characters. I loved Ethan. He is funny but understandably frustrating. Yes, he's a neurotic control freak, but he's been through so much and loves people so deeply and just wants to be somebody and live a life others will think is worthy. And even if that's problematic, it's relatable. Beau comes into his life on a fluke but it's clearly the perfect time to show up and show Ethan the authentic life he could be living! Beau is introspective and self aware and has also clearly been through a lot. His characterization is a little too matter of fact sometimes, but he's layered and more than hot mountain main. I grew to love both of them so much!
-The side characters. A black trans woman best friend living her most authentic life. Middle aged drag queens acting as the voices of reason. An assistant who's entire being is totally hilarious "Tina has cried every day since the day I hired her". Hysterical! This cast of found family was PERFECTION!
-The pop culture reference. The social commentary on social media and sponsorships. And moments that's make you laugh out loud!
Is this a ground breaking read? No, but it's a simply fun rom-com that shows us there's no one perfect way to be and the only way we should want to be is the one that feels the most authentic and makes us the most happy and that's something I can get behind and know readers of all kind will appreciate.
Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 11, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an arc of this book. Below is my honest review.
Ethan is the executive producer on the show, Myles of Style, starring the utterly clueless Chase Myles. He has no real skills beyond his good looks and always throws a tantrum on every shoot. After a particularly bad fight at filming, Chase storms off right before the big pride parade. Livestreams, multiple segments, and even a ribbon cutting are in peril. Ethan needs the parade to go well so he can get a huge promotion. After going to Chase’s apartment, Ethan realized that Chase wasn’t really stressed out … he was just selfish. He left to go have fun in Miami. What is Ethan to do? Insert Beau, Chase’s twin with whom Chase had a falling out many years ago. Beau filling in for Chase is a brilliant idea, right? It isn’t like Beau is in deep debt or anything. Or, you know, of the gruff mountain man variety who lives completely off the grid. Not a problem in sight … not one.
This was really cute. Beau was awesome. I wish I knew more about the mountain man version of him. However, everything we did learn kept me interested and engaged. He kept impressing me with things he did and knows. Chase was a great “villain” whose selfishness and lack of awareness knows no bounds. The side characters (here’s looking at you Uncle Clams and the trope you instigated) were fun to get to know. Ethan was probably my least favorite character. He could have been a bit more likable. He wasn’t terrible, but clueless in his own way. The end was worth it though.
There were some super fun scenes in the book. One of which was the quintessential makeover scene. Some of the products “Chase” had to promote were hilarious.
If the synopsis seems like something you’d like … then definitely go for it! You won’t be disappointed.
CW: death of parents off page (accident, cancer), panic attack on and off page, family falling out described on page.
Ethan is the executive producer on the show, Myles of Style, starring the utterly clueless Chase Myles. He has no real skills beyond his good looks and always throws a tantrum on every shoot. After a particularly bad fight at filming, Chase storms off right before the big pride parade. Livestreams, multiple segments, and even a ribbon cutting are in peril. Ethan needs the parade to go well so he can get a huge promotion. After going to Chase’s apartment, Ethan realized that Chase wasn’t really stressed out … he was just selfish. He left to go have fun in Miami. What is Ethan to do? Insert Beau, Chase’s twin with whom Chase had a falling out many years ago. Beau filling in for Chase is a brilliant idea, right? It isn’t like Beau is in deep debt or anything. Or, you know, of the gruff mountain man variety who lives completely off the grid. Not a problem in sight … not one.
This was really cute. Beau was awesome. I wish I knew more about the mountain man version of him. However, everything we did learn kept me interested and engaged. He kept impressing me with things he did and knows. Chase was a great “villain” whose selfishness and lack of awareness knows no bounds. The side characters (here’s looking at you Uncle Clams and the trope you instigated) were fun to get to know. Ethan was probably my least favorite character. He could have been a bit more likable. He wasn’t terrible, but clueless in his own way. The end was worth it though.
There were some super fun scenes in the book. One of which was the quintessential makeover scene. Some of the products “Chase” had to promote were hilarious.
If the synopsis seems like something you’d like … then definitely go for it! You won’t be disappointed.
CW: death of parents off page (accident, cancer), panic attack on and off page, family falling out described on page.
March 10, 2023
This book - a funny, sweet, & heartwarming queer rom com - put the biggest smile on my face. The Problem with Perfect by Philip William Stover opens with Ethan Wells in crisis: Chase Myles, the vapid, shallow star of their gay lifestyle show Myles of Style, has gone to Miami after throwing a fit on set, and won't be returning in time to film crucial content. Faced with losing the job he's worked so hard for, Ethan heads up state to track down Chase's identical twin brother Beau - a man Ethan barely knew existed.
Beau is the opposite of Chase: besides looking like a mountain man, he's also thoughtful, kind, and about as anti-materialistic as they come. Beau doesn't want to help Ethan out, until Ethan says not only will it help relieve some of Beau's debt, it will also really piss off Chase. That's reward enough, and the two head to NYC.
Chase's brief Miami trip turns into an indefinite trip to Abu Dhabi, and Beau is conscripted to replace Chase full time for a month, to get them through the Pride Parade, which Myles of Style will be live-streaming for the first time. The one twist Ethan is reluctant to tell Beau about is that he and Chase also had a fake engagement (to appear like a stable gay couple to appease the network). Beau must now be fake-Chase AND Ethan's fake-boyfriend.
As expected, as Ethan and Beau work closely together, the chemistry mounts and hijinks ensue. I will be honest that towards the end of the book, some of the drama got a little too melodramatic for me, but when all was said and done, I really enjoyed this one. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a HEA for two really great male characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for the ARC.
Beau is the opposite of Chase: besides looking like a mountain man, he's also thoughtful, kind, and about as anti-materialistic as they come. Beau doesn't want to help Ethan out, until Ethan says not only will it help relieve some of Beau's debt, it will also really piss off Chase. That's reward enough, and the two head to NYC.
Chase's brief Miami trip turns into an indefinite trip to Abu Dhabi, and Beau is conscripted to replace Chase full time for a month, to get them through the Pride Parade, which Myles of Style will be live-streaming for the first time. The one twist Ethan is reluctant to tell Beau about is that he and Chase also had a fake engagement (to appear like a stable gay couple to appease the network). Beau must now be fake-Chase AND Ethan's fake-boyfriend.
As expected, as Ethan and Beau work closely together, the chemistry mounts and hijinks ensue. I will be honest that towards the end of the book, some of the drama got a little too melodramatic for me, but when all was said and done, I really enjoyed this one. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a HEA for two really great male characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for the ARC.
July 31, 2023
This book is the very definition of a romcom. The story hinges on many completely implausible and ridiculous scenarios. So some of my problems with this book were more of a me problem. I might be looking for a level of depth rarely reached in the average romcom. The main challenge for me was how completely unlikable Ethan is. The story is told in the first person from his POV. He's shallow and judgey and while he does show some growth by the end of the book, it feels like he so completely relies on Beau to get there. Beau was a delight though - I almost DNFed at 12% but decided I should wait until I met the love interest and I'm glad I stuck it out because the book does have a satisfying ending. I did also enjoy Ethan's found family but most of the other secondary characters were pretty one dimensional.
By the end of this book it almost crept up to 3.5 stars for me and I would definitely give the author another try in a non-romcom format.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Hera Books in exchange for an honest review.
By the end of this book it almost crept up to 3.5 stars for me and I would definitely give the author another try in a non-romcom format.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Hera Books in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2023
This book’s problem is
in the telling. Ethan talks
and nothing happens.
in the telling. Ethan talks
and nothing happens.
October 29, 2023
DNF at 56%
This was boring. The main character was frustrating and I didn't see how the love interest would be interested in him.
This was boring. The main character was frustrating and I didn't see how the love interest would be interested in him.
November 20, 2023
This book was really cute and fun! I'm absolutely a fan, although it didn't blow my mind, that really wasn't the intent. I'll certainly look up other books by this author.
December 11, 2024
2.5⭐️
A MM queer romance with some important messages! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
I was so in the mood for a MM romance and the idea of a fake romance really caught my attention. This attention soon dissipated when I started reading though and it never really returned.
When LGBTQ style icon Chase goes missing before the live Pride broadcast for his TV show, producer Ethan’s career hangs in the balance. Ethan tracks down Chase’s estranged twin brother, Beau, to pass him off as Chase for a week - but finds a hairy, rugged mountain man, the complete opposite of his brother... Can Ethan transform Beau into Chase, fool his bosses and save his job? And when Beau turns out to be caring, romantic and everything that his twin is not, does he really want Chase back, anyway?
What I loved about the book was how it brought to the limelight how under marginalised the LGBTQ+ community is and the constant homophobia they face. I loved the range of queer characters utilised to tackle this.
Told only from Ethan’s perspective, I would have loved to hear Beau’s POV too and I feel like this really hindered my connection with the story. I liked the premise and the transient on-off situation between Ethan and Beau, but it was too repetitive and over time, quite boring. Normally I love a grumpy sunshine romance.
Chase was incredibly cantankerous and I didn’t like him at all, or Ethan, to be fair. Everything had to be decorated to make life look perfect or to earn more money, but it was very silly. Their personalities were flatter than the NY sidewalk!
The book was very roll your eyes gay cliché and I wasn’t a huge fan of this. Throw in the miscommunication and it really made me unmotivated to pick it up. I was very tempted to DNF, but I had hope for the ending. It’s a shame that was rushed and abrupt after all the build up!
I buddy read this with @thebook_worm20 and @mynextreads and so regret gatecrashing. At least our chats provided entertainment! 🙈
Although I was not a big fan of this book, it did have some brilliant quotes and you may really enjoy this read. Don’t let me put you off! ☺️
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings!
A MM queer romance with some important messages! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
I was so in the mood for a MM romance and the idea of a fake romance really caught my attention. This attention soon dissipated when I started reading though and it never really returned.
When LGBTQ style icon Chase goes missing before the live Pride broadcast for his TV show, producer Ethan’s career hangs in the balance. Ethan tracks down Chase’s estranged twin brother, Beau, to pass him off as Chase for a week - but finds a hairy, rugged mountain man, the complete opposite of his brother... Can Ethan transform Beau into Chase, fool his bosses and save his job? And when Beau turns out to be caring, romantic and everything that his twin is not, does he really want Chase back, anyway?
What I loved about the book was how it brought to the limelight how under marginalised the LGBTQ+ community is and the constant homophobia they face. I loved the range of queer characters utilised to tackle this.
Told only from Ethan’s perspective, I would have loved to hear Beau’s POV too and I feel like this really hindered my connection with the story. I liked the premise and the transient on-off situation between Ethan and Beau, but it was too repetitive and over time, quite boring. Normally I love a grumpy sunshine romance.
Chase was incredibly cantankerous and I didn’t like him at all, or Ethan, to be fair. Everything had to be decorated to make life look perfect or to earn more money, but it was very silly. Their personalities were flatter than the NY sidewalk!
The book was very roll your eyes gay cliché and I wasn’t a huge fan of this. Throw in the miscommunication and it really made me unmotivated to pick it up. I was very tempted to DNF, but I had hope for the ending. It’s a shame that was rushed and abrupt after all the build up!
I buddy read this with @thebook_worm20 and @mynextreads and so regret gatecrashing. At least our chats provided entertainment! 🙈
Although I was not a big fan of this book, it did have some brilliant quotes and you may really enjoy this read. Don’t let me put you off! ☺️
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings!
June 21, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While the blurb for this book sounded so promising, it fell a little flat for me. I did love the idea of this book - popular social media manager uses popular influencer's twin brother to pass as his star - but the execution wasn't totally developed. While the book certainly had its moments that I loved, I found myself wanting a little bit more character development and more of a solid formation between Ethan and Beau. However, this book has a great message and if you're looking for a lighter read, I would recommend picking this one up.
The ending was kind of abrupt too but... meh. LOL.
While the blurb for this book sounded so promising, it fell a little flat for me. I did love the idea of this book - popular social media manager uses popular influencer's twin brother to pass as his star - but the execution wasn't totally developed. While the book certainly had its moments that I loved, I found myself wanting a little bit more character development and more of a solid formation between Ethan and Beau. However, this book has a great message and if you're looking for a lighter read, I would recommend picking this one up.
The ending was kind of abrupt too but... meh. LOL.
May 1, 2023
3.5⭐️
Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the overall storyline and message of this book. Ethan, Beau, and the rest of the found family were great characters and had great banter. It was a sweet story.
The reason for the rating is I felt that the writing wasn’t up to par than what I’m used to. When scenes switched, I felt like they happened too abruptly and I wasn’t able to be fully present within the whole story. And the ending for me was also too abrupt. I wanted more moments with Ethan and Beau. I just needed a bit more!
Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the overall storyline and message of this book. Ethan, Beau, and the rest of the found family were great characters and had great banter. It was a sweet story.
The reason for the rating is I felt that the writing wasn’t up to par than what I’m used to. When scenes switched, I felt like they happened too abruptly and I wasn’t able to be fully present within the whole story. And the ending for me was also too abrupt. I wanted more moments with Ethan and Beau. I just needed a bit more!
November 15, 2024
This is a fun, fast romp if you’re looking for something that isn’t heavy but has a respectable message this should be entertaining. I didn’t get the But I did like the read.
May 11, 2023
Three and a half stars.
Ethan Wells has been producing a lifestyle tv show Myles of Style hosted by an openly gay presenter, Chase Myles. Ethan is the brains and the flair of the operation, Chase is the pretty front-man, I was going to say nice but dim, but he isn't very nice, in fact he's a complete diva and very unprofessional. The studio also likes the idea of Chase and Ethan as a couple so the two of them have been fake-dating for years, even though Chase is sleeping with other men left, right and centre. When Chase swans off to a party in Miami when the team have time-critical social media pictures and content to film and post, Ethan can see his longed-for promotion slipping out of his reach. With no time to fly to Miami and drag Chase back, Ethan decides to try to persuade Chase's identical twin brother, who lives in the wilds of rural New York, to step and take the shots.
Chase's brother Beau is nothing like Chase, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, mindful, oh and he looks like the wild man of Borneo, although that's easily fixed. The trouble is, on set no-one can understand how 'Chase' is no longer throwing tantrums on a daily basis and suddenly remembers the names of all the crew members. But when Chase decides to fly off to Abu Dhabi with a film producer he met in Miami will Beau be able to pull off a longer deception? And what will happen when Chase eventually returns?
Literature and films are mildly obsessed by identical twins/doppelgangers. Just think of The Parent Trap, The Prisoner of Zenda, The Man in The Iron Mask, or Dave. So the idea of a look-alike or twin being nicer than the original is not a new one. But if you enjoy that sort of thing (which I do) then this is a fun take on the theme.
I think my grading would have been higher if Beau hadn't been so dargone perfect, he felt too good to be true. Even his big bad secret was truly nothing of the kind. And in contrast, Ethan seemed to be the one who had to change himself, it's interesting that this is often a complaint I make about hetero romances, it is always the woman who has the faults and has to change - maybe its just something that writers lean into more heavily on the protagonist rather than their love interest? Anyway, it did make me wonder what Beau found to like about Ethan when he was (apparently) so bossy and needed everything to be perfect. But a minor gripe, otherwise it was a fun read.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Ethan Wells has been producing a lifestyle tv show Myles of Style hosted by an openly gay presenter, Chase Myles. Ethan is the brains and the flair of the operation, Chase is the pretty front-man, I was going to say nice but dim, but he isn't very nice, in fact he's a complete diva and very unprofessional. The studio also likes the idea of Chase and Ethan as a couple so the two of them have been fake-dating for years, even though Chase is sleeping with other men left, right and centre. When Chase swans off to a party in Miami when the team have time-critical social media pictures and content to film and post, Ethan can see his longed-for promotion slipping out of his reach. With no time to fly to Miami and drag Chase back, Ethan decides to try to persuade Chase's identical twin brother, who lives in the wilds of rural New York, to step and take the shots.
Chase's brother Beau is nothing like Chase, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, mindful, oh and he looks like the wild man of Borneo, although that's easily fixed. The trouble is, on set no-one can understand how 'Chase' is no longer throwing tantrums on a daily basis and suddenly remembers the names of all the crew members. But when Chase decides to fly off to Abu Dhabi with a film producer he met in Miami will Beau be able to pull off a longer deception? And what will happen when Chase eventually returns?
Literature and films are mildly obsessed by identical twins/doppelgangers. Just think of The Parent Trap, The Prisoner of Zenda, The Man in The Iron Mask, or Dave. So the idea of a look-alike or twin being nicer than the original is not a new one. But if you enjoy that sort of thing (which I do) then this is a fun take on the theme.
I think my grading would have been higher if Beau hadn't been so dargone perfect, he felt too good to be true. Even his big bad secret was truly nothing of the kind. And in contrast, Ethan seemed to be the one who had to change himself, it's interesting that this is often a complaint I make about hetero romances, it is always the woman who has the faults and has to change - maybe its just something that writers lean into more heavily on the protagonist rather than their love interest? Anyway, it did make me wonder what Beau found to like about Ethan when he was (apparently) so bossy and needed everything to be perfect. But a minor gripe, otherwise it was a fun read.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
August 20, 2023
For having never heard about this book before and just randomly picking this up at the book store, this book was surprisingly really amazing! I had a super enjoyable time reading it, I liked both Beau and Ethan as characters and the way their romance developed was really sweet, but I also enjoyed that the romance was mostly kept in the background and the main focus was Ethan and what him figuring out what he actually wanted from life. I also really liked a peek behind the curtain of tv production, all the stress and work that goes into producing something in this day and age and how much it was weighing on Ethan was portrayed really well, in my opinion.
There were a couple small things that bothered me, like the fact that in a lot of aspects Beau wasn't trying at all to act like Chase, like him doing breathing exercises with everyone, especially the film crew, who must know that the real Chase would never do anything like it. How no one seemed to figure out that it wasn't the real Chase is beyond me. I also thought it was weird that Ethan's boss seemed to figure out their ruse right away, but later on Ethan was still super concerned about her finding out about it? But those are just some small inconsistencies that didn't take from my enjoyment too much.
Now what did bother me a little was... the amount of typos in this book. I can deal with a typo here and there, but there was a typo literally every chapter. It actively distracted me while I was reading and I just wouldn't expect this amount of typos in a trad-pub book.
But overall, I had a great time reading this, it made me emotional, especially towards the end and it made me laugh a couple of times, so I'd definitely recommend it!
There were a couple small things that bothered me, like the fact that in a lot of aspects Beau wasn't trying at all to act like Chase, like him doing breathing exercises with everyone, especially the film crew, who must know that the real Chase would never do anything like it. How no one seemed to figure out that it wasn't the real Chase is beyond me. I also thought it was weird that Ethan's boss seemed to figure out their ruse right away, but later on Ethan was still super concerned about her finding out about it? But those are just some small inconsistencies that didn't take from my enjoyment too much.
Now what did bother me a little was... the amount of typos in this book. I can deal with a typo here and there, but there was a typo literally every chapter. It actively distracted me while I was reading and I just wouldn't expect this amount of typos in a trad-pub book.
But overall, I had a great time reading this, it made me emotional, especially towards the end and it made me laugh a couple of times, so I'd definitely recommend it!
dnf-either-for-now-or-for-forever
May 14, 2023On the one hand, I really want to say this is a me problem and not the book problem. And to an extent, that's likely true. But at the same time, I really struggle with Ethan as our main character who is so focused on vilifying Chase in his inner monologue without ever seeming to accept responsibility for the part that he played too. Ethan chose Chase and decided that Chase would be the perfect person for him to mold into being his spokesperson for all of Ethan's ideas. When Chase goes away on a vacation, Ethan redecorates his apartment without seeming to ask Chase for input at all. But Ethan repeatedly gets frustrated with Chase for not thanking him, for not acknowledging all the work that Ethan does for him. Which is fair! Except... it's also grating. I'm not saying that having a character who makes their own problems and gets in their own way can't be interesting to read about, but it is not a read that I'm willing to put the time and effort into today.
That said, the messaging at the start of this book, being really critical of branding and sponsorships was pretty satisfying and I did appreciate that. Also, I already love Uncle Clams. Unfortunately, neither of those things are quite enough for me to stick it out any further.
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the e-ARC!
That said, the messaging at the start of this book, being really critical of branding and sponsorships was pretty satisfying and I did appreciate that. Also, I already love Uncle Clams. Unfortunately, neither of those things are quite enough for me to stick it out any further.
Thanks so much to Netgalley for the e-ARC!
July 3, 2024
2.2 ⭐
Just didn't vibe w/ it :(
(Also, the glossy parts on the cover just flaked off EVERYWHERE and made an annoying af mess (not effecting the rating tho))
Just didn't vibe w/ it :(
(Also, the glossy parts on the cover just flaked off EVERYWHERE and made an annoying af mess (not effecting the rating tho))
January 17, 2025
It may help to know before reading the book that the author self-describes their work/this novel as "chick-lit featuring gay male protagonists." If you generally enjoy chicklit, you will likely have a good time here.
Not being a chicklit devotee myself, I did still enjoy the clever characterization and humor, but was very much let down in the love story department. I wasn't looking for erotica, but I definitely would have opted out of the Hallmark Channel level of intimacy here had I known about it beforehand. It's easy enough to gloss over the plot's extremely fixable flaws and breaks of logic because the protagonist's POV is delightful enough to be entertaining, but when all the big moments forecasted for the central couple get skipped one by one then culminate in the NYC Pride Parade version of a chaste kiss in falling snow, I was annoyed that I'd given so much time to an unnecessarily long book that failed to surprise or to fulfill justified expectations. Might be an earth-shatteringly exciting read for a young reader, but since it's geared towards adults, I was left very confused and rather let down.
[John Solo's playful audiobook narration lends a lot of needed momentum and zest.]
Not being a chicklit devotee myself, I did still enjoy the clever characterization and humor, but was very much let down in the love story department. I wasn't looking for erotica, but I definitely would have opted out of the Hallmark Channel level of intimacy here had I known about it beforehand. It's easy enough to gloss over the plot's extremely fixable flaws and breaks of logic because the protagonist's POV is delightful enough to be entertaining, but when all the big moments forecasted for the central couple get skipped one by one then culminate in the NYC Pride Parade version of a chaste kiss in falling snow, I was annoyed that I'd given so much time to an unnecessarily long book that failed to surprise or to fulfill justified expectations. Might be an earth-shatteringly exciting read for a young reader, but since it's geared towards adults, I was left very confused and rather let down.
[John Solo's playful audiobook narration lends a lot of needed momentum and zest.]
Read
May 30, 2023Heat Factor: It’s not a slow burn, it’s a no-sex burn
Character Chemistry: There were moments it could have been great, but it never really clicked
Plot: Ethan keeps compounding his problems by trying too hard to make everything how it should be, and Beau opens his eyes to how he wants it to be
Overall: I liked it fine, but readers will probably enjoy it more if they expect a single personal growth arc rather than a glorious romance
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Character Chemistry: There were moments it could have been great, but it never really clicked
Plot: Ethan keeps compounding his problems by trying too hard to make everything how it should be, and Beau opens his eyes to how he wants it to be
Overall: I liked it fine, but readers will probably enjoy it more if they expect a single personal growth arc rather than a glorious romance
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Read
October 30, 2023A few grammar mistakes along with incorrect information on Harvey Milk stating “1980 the first openly gay person was elected to public office in San Francisco was named Harvey Milk..” Harvey Milk was assassinated in 1978 and won his election in 1978.
August 22, 2024
So funny, snarky, and sweet. I didn’t want it to end, loved every character and especially the drag queens.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews