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Review: The Boyfriend List - Love in L.A. #2

The Boyfriend List book cover on blue background

The Sweet Hollywood Romance series continues with The Boyfriend List by Nicole Lam. List-makers will appreciate this logical approach to dating while having fun with the hilarity that ensues when lists are followed a little too closely. This book is being marketed as clean fiction written by a Christian author, so I will review the book accordingly. 

Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content to be aware of: yoga, mild curse words, drinking and drunkenness, living together before marriage (not the main characters), Catholic faith practices

Book Synopsis

The first rule of being a lawyer: always have a plan. So I’m applying the same principle to my love life.

Step one: List everything I want in a boyfriend.

Step two: Find a man who checks all my boxes.

Step three: Get married and live happily ever after.

My plan does NOT involve all my dates turning into disasters. Or my best friend, London, betting on my love life.

He bets there’s no way I’ll meet someone who satisfies all my requirements in two months. If he wins, I have to be his date to his sister’s wedding.

There’s no way I’ll lose. But as the two month deadline approaches, I’m less worried that I won’t meet the perfect man… and more worried that London might be the perfect man for me.

Because I want marriage and children. Meanwhile, he has zero interest in relationships, starting a family, or any relationship that might end up like his parent's toxic marriage.

So why is he checking off the boxes on my boyfriend list?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

Nicole Lam does it again in writing a sweet and swoony romance that conveys depth amid complex interpersonal relationships. Though on the surface, Gloria and London embark on a very rom-commy adventure involving a napkin contract between lawyers, this story takes the time to tackle difficult topics such as familial piety, parental expectations, and bearing others’ burdens, whether warranted or not. I appreciate that heavy issues aren't glossed over and that Gloria and London can confront their individual struggles in order to heal and move on from what has been holding them back. What I love most about this book is how Asian heritage plays a significant role, including the concepts of shame, saving face, and family provision.

As the second book in the Love in L.A. series, it's endearing to encounter Raina and Prince Kostas again. Friendship is written so well that readers will enjoy this element as they read this clean book. The spiritual content is written from Gloria's Catholic perspective given her Filipino background, so it's helpful to learn more about their religious traditions and practices, which the author helpfully explains. This book is a great introduction to P-pop (Pinoy pop) if you're new to that musical genre and provides enough tantalizing Asian culinary treats to make you want to drink a bubble tea as you read along. If you're looking for a book that checks off the list for funny scenes, poignant family moments, and memorable declarations of love, Gloria and London will have you adding The Boyfriend List to your TBR.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍
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