Thank you to Author Laura Briggs for my copy of Boyfriend by the Book. The novel is a self-published contemporary romance novel.
Description:
Jodi Nichols isn’t the most romantic girl on the planet. She doesn’t get mushy over fictional love stories, or picture herself getting swept away by a handsome hero. She’s much too grounded in reality—and much too busy working as a concierge at the luxurious Regent hotel. Helping customers is Jodi’s passion in life, and while romance may be on the back burner for now, she is nursing a little crush on Levi, the cute and friendly deliveryman for the hotel packages. And unless she’s imagining things, Levi feels the same way about her.
But Jodi’s friends think she’s turning into a lonely workaholic. They try to fix her love life, buying her a copy of the bestselling relationship guide that claims women can find true love by channelling the wisdom of famous storybook heroines. Jodi thinks it sounds crazy—no way is she acting like Jane Eyre or Lizzie Bennet to find a man! But when Levi suddenly grows distant and Jodi’s chances with him seem to fizzle before her eyes, she wonders if her friends might have a point after all. Disheartened and lonely, she decides to give the so-called relationship guide a whirl, with unexpected consequences.
Before you can say ‘Pride and Prejudice’, Jodi is up to her neck in handsome, brooding men that seem too much like fictional heroes to be true. Her attempts to think like the greatest heroines in romance lead her to meet everything from a modern Mr. Rochester to an angsty Heathcliff, and even a Darcy-esque novelist. But when a former crush re-enters her life in the form of a modern day Romeo, Jodi wonders if there might be something to this ‘inner heroine’ thing after all. Now, if she could just stop thinking about Levi, then maybe her happy-ever-after will fall into place…or is something still missing from Jodi’s storybook romance?
Boyfriend by the Book is a perfect feel good read for curling up with on a rainy day or a summer afternoon, with lots of laughs and surprises to keep the reader turning pages!
Indie Published July 19th 2016
MyThoughts:
This book captivated my attention from the first page to the very last, I loved it. It is the cutest story I have read in a while. With the good influence of classic books mixed in with good old easy read chick lit, its perfect for an lazy day feel good read.
Jodi is single, and all her friends are happily coupled up. So when one of her friends who works in a bookshop finds a book, which all the friends agree will help Jodi find love, the fun begins. They describe her as ‘romantically challenged”. So Jodi has to find her inner Heroine in order to find her beloved Hero and happily ever after.
I liked Jodi straight off, she describes her home as:
“…a jumble of books, magazine collages……..big stuffed armchairs and my chintz sofa with its brightly coloured pillows..”.
And then later on in the book, Jodi mentions that she is reading ‘Anne of Green Gables‘!! Then I really wanted to be her BFF!
I really enjoyed reading how Laura and her friends try to encourage Jodi’s inner Jane Eyre so that she can capture the heart of her very own Mr Rochester or Mr Darcy The book is funny, sweet, cute and thoroughly enjoyable. This is easy reading chick lit at its very best.
This is the first book I have read of Laura Briggs, but I will now be looking out for more. This book was self published and is brilliant. A five pink stars read for me!
The links below show you where to find the book, the Author, and there is also a link whereby you can read the first chapter. I absolutely recommend this book to all chick lit lovers and especially those that enjoy a bit of light classical book talk.
Links:
Twitter/PaperDollWrites
Blog page to read the first chapter HERE!
Paperdollwrites.blogspot.com
GOODREADS
AMAZON.COM
AMAZON.CO.UK
Author Biography:
Laura Briggs’ first stories were written in crayon about a rooster named Henry–but she was pretty young at the time, so it’s understandable. She eventually graduated to writing more complex plot lines and characters and writing her stories on a laptop. She tends to write stories with a romance theme, but as a reader she has a soft spot for mysteries, including those by Agatha Christie and Mary Roberts Rinehart. She also enjoys books by Jane Austen, Anne Tyler, Amy Tan, and too many others to name. In her free time, she likes to experiment with new recipes and tries to landscape her yard (a never-ending project).
ChocolatePages 
stephaniesbookreviews
July 24, 2016 at 2:59 pm
This looks really cute. Is it only for Kindle, though? I have a Nook and I couldn’t find it on the B&N site?
chocolatepages
July 25, 2016 at 10:56 am
I’m not sure as I only have the Amazon links, but I will ask the Author and let you know.
Laura Briggs
July 25, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Hi Stephanie! Thanks so much for asking about Boyfriend by the Book. I’m afraid that it won’t be available in Nook format for at least another week or two, as it is still going through the publishing process with the book distributor. However, I would be happy to offer you either a pdf or epub review copy for your lovely book site. Just let me know if you are interested, and thanks again for your comment!
Donna
July 24, 2016 at 5:05 pm
I loved squeezing this book between two heavier stories. It’s the perfect chick lit to read on one of those sweltering days we’re currently having. I only wished we’d had more details about the relationship guide itself.
chocolatepages
July 25, 2016 at 10:55 am
Yes, that would have been interesting to see more of what the guide book said. ‘Find your inner Jane’, I really did enjoy it. I’m glad you did too.
florence
July 25, 2016 at 8:38 am
The story line grabs me straight away, chick lit is perfect for a lazy day in the sun. Look forward to reading this one.
chocolatepages
July 25, 2016 at 11:08 am
Thank you, yes a great one for summer reading in the garden. I like to change about my reads, a easy reading chick lit then a more gripping crime thriller. This was the perfect easy read for me. I hope you enjoy it too if you read it.
Hannah Spannah Coco Banana
July 28, 2016 at 9:14 am
What a creative premise for a romance story. I wonder if that would work for me?! Ha ha! I wonder how I go about channelling my inner heroine?! Thanks for joining the #weekendblogshare
chocolatepages
July 28, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Thank you and thanks again for hosting. I guess this would be the only slight criticism about the book, I’d have liked to hear more about how the book says to channel your inner herione.