Becky Dean

I haven’t read a YA Romance Book since I was a YA! Knee deep in adult contemporary romances, I wasn’t sure what to expect or if I would be able to understand or relate to the characters. I am so happy that I took a chance as this novel was fantastic. Great banter, sweet and innocent moments, and just enough drama and mystery to keep your full attention. Picture Perfect Boyfriend is a wonderful transition into the YA world, for those who are interested – sharing the same magic and leaving you with that warm and fuzzy feeling.

Most people dream to have something they are passionate about. For Kenzie, her love for photography is her curse. A passion that burns bright and deep, Kenzie is forced to extinguish the flame in order to appease her family. Her “hobby” was cute but she needed to get serious. To stop the judgment in the only way she knew how, Kenzie hangs up her camera and sets her sights on following the footsteps of the family business. The icing on the cake, she is even in a committed relationship. Jake, her pretend boyfriend, may be fake but the smile on her mother’s face and her families approval is very real. What harm can a little lie do? Apparently a lot when that little lie surprises you at the airport! Off-boarding the plane in Hawaii, Kenzie is greeted by her made up boyfriend who appears to have materialized and knows everything she has ever said about him/them. Determined to find out who this imposter is without blowing up her well-crafted lie, Kenzie attempts to balance small white lies, a complete stranger, and an inquisitive family in this young adult romance mystery.

What I like about it: This was such a sweet, clean, and wholesome young adult story. Kenzie may have been a senior in high school but her struggles and realizations can be experienced at anyone’s station in life. She tried so hard to fit into a mold that was based on the experiences of her parents. I loved how much she struggled to hide who she truly was, how the inner light she had refused to be dampened, especially when Jack gave it permission to shine. The two of them together was absolutely priceless.

What I love about it: I loved the family dynamic of this book. Mom and Dad were so incredibly straightlaced that you have to wonder if Alana was who she was because she chose to be or if she didn’t stand a chance. Being the golden child, Taylor and Kenzie never thought they could be anything else. I enjoyed how much that messed with the sibling structure.

The author did a fantastic job keeping the reader engaged with the mystery behind who “Jacob” was and why he was there. While some books string you along and create frustration until they reach the great reveal, this book blended the mystery with the budding of a potential relationship and the closeness of the characters. Like Kenzie, you had to keep reminding yourself you didn’t know this guy but couldn’t help how he brought out the best in her.

The overall message I took away from this book was the downside of living for others. Kenzie was so focused on the approval of her parents that she was willing to go to college, graduate school, and work in the family business – being an optometrist against every will and desire to be a photographer. She constantly kept suppressing what made her unique, and special,. You have to wonder how many teens feel this way, trapped between what they love and what is accepted by their family. It shows the importance of building an open line of communication with your child. Yes, you may not agree with what they want and they may not appreciate the future you prefer but that is why the word “compromise” exists.

While this may have been a young adult novel, the lessons within can be applicable to anyone needing guidance in this crazy journey called life. Whether you are a teenager trying to balance who you are and who you family wants you to be, an adult dealing with imposter syndrome, or even an adult who did stay on Kenzie original path – living a life dictated by others, this book is the warm embrace and encouragement, allowing you to realize there are other options, you just have to be brave.… (altro)

You would think that I would have been enthralled with a book I'd book talk as "The Amazing Race Meets Classic Literature." I mean, doing an activity or experience relative to the community, traveling by bus and rail, all of it would be my DREAM. Especially when some of the locations visited where due to Doyle and Austen. Like, come on!

But that alone is why I continued reading this book.

I really could have cared less about the main character. I get an injury had forever changed her life, her plans, and her aspiring soccer career....but when you just cannot seem to let it go. Like it's almost the internal monologue. No thanks. And then the romance was predictable as all get out (and the end scene bordered on cheese-cringe.....even for me). AND THEN the whole "needing to write a paper about the experience but not knowing what to write" blah blah blah

Sigh. If you enjoy British lit, that might keep you going through this book. But towards the end, yes, I skimmed. I just didn't care anymore.… (altro)

Fun and flirty with an inspirational message to be yourself and pursue your dream, not the one someone else plans for you.

Picture-Perfect Boyfriend is the latest contemporary young adult novel by author Becky Dean, and it is as fun as it is supportive of its theme to be true to oneself. I enjoyed this story, with its fine mix of romance, comedy, mystery, and inspiration, so much that I was smiling the entire time I turned its pages.

High school senior Mackenzie “Kenzie” Reed is an engaging and relatable main character on spring break with her family on the beautiful island of Maui. She’s spent the entirety of this final school year conforming to her parents’ ideal vision of how she should live her life. Kenzie wants to pursue photography, but her mother and father don’t believe it is a viable career goal and want her to join them in their family optometry business. Worn down by their years of criticism of her differences and the trivialization of her aspirations and talent, she had decided to do things their way. Happily, the story heads elsewhere.

The premise of the made-up boyfriend materializing in person hooked me the moment I read the blurb, and the story did not disappoint. Jacob/Jake, himself presenting two faces, was fun, flirty, and an enigma for much of the book. I laughed over the Eddie Haskell vibes I got from his interaction with Kenzie’s family members and was relieved to discover he wasn’t the “Stepford” boyfriend. The mystery of his identity and how he came to be on the island was brilliant.

The Maui setting was the perfect location to prompt Kenzie’s repressed desires and personality to be released. The descriptions of the lush surroundings and the inclusion of so many interesting places to visit on the island will have readers wanting to book their own visit.

With its engaging characters and fun and brilliantly executed premise, I recommend PICTURE-PERFECT BOYFRIEND to readers of contemporary young adult fiction, especially those who like an island setting, family drama, and romance.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.… (altro)