Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Boyfriend Goals

AUTHOR:  Riley Hart

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH: 261 pages

RELEASE DATE: May 6, 2022

BLURB:

Milo
Unusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. Maybe not anyone. When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life. Turns out, I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store for his tattoo parlor but my apartment too.

Did I mention he’s really hot? And surprisingly sweet?

Gideon
I wasn’t looking for a roommate, but it’s not like I can stay at Milo’s place while he’s banished to a hotel. Our unlikely friendship is instant. According to Milo, we’re bestie goals.

And if he doesn’t wear pants at home, who am I to complain?

Milo’s not like anyone I’ve ever known. I like laughing and flirting with him. He’s adorably honest, eager, and sexier than he realizes. Now I just have to figure out how to convince him that maybe it’s time for an upgrade from bestie to boyfriend goals.

REVIEW:

Boyfriends Goals is a super sweet story about a quirky newcomer to Little Beach Island and the sexy tattoo artist who sees past his idiosyncrasies to the wonderful man beneath. This book is packed full of fun tropes: opposites attract, friends to lovers, friends with benefits, and forced proximity among them.

Milo doesn’t relate well to other people and in return, they don’t readily accept him. He’s forthright and honest to a fault which doesn’t always fit behavioral norms. He’s an accountant in his mother’s firm in San Diego and follows stringent routines; he’s really overwhelmed if he doesn’t stick to them. So, when a grandmother he never knew he had leaves him an inheritance – a bookstore, an apartment above it, and a tattoo artist renting space – it’s a surprise to everyone, especially his overbearing mother, when he packs up and moves across the country to become a bookseller. That definitely is not in his routine. But Milo is ready for independence, for something new. Something different.

When he meets his renter – heavily tattooed and pierced Tattoo Guy (Gideon) – he’s agog. He rambles on about every observation, commenting without filter about things like Gideon’s flip flops he doesn’t like. Rather than think he’s weird, Gideon is delighted by adorable Milo’s straightforward, nothing left unsaid manner. He’s different but that’s not a bad thing.

Gideon’s lonely. He’s close to his family but often feels like he doesn’t fit in. He worries that his family wishes he was someone else, a more successful, college educated man ready to settle down. He and Milo have that in common: Milo is sure his parents wished he was someone else, too.

The men and up sharing the apartment and quickly becoming best friends. They love spending time together, talking about their days, and just sharing life. (And soon they’re sharing something else, ahem.) Being there for Milo makes Gideon feel important, but he needs to carefully navigate their friendship. He naturally wants to smooth the way for Milo – helping him feel comfortable around others and in stressful situations – but he can’t help too much and inadvertently take away the independence Milo longs for. Fortunately, the island seems to be filled with non-judgmental people. Soon Milo is wholeheartedly accepted by a few others who like him just as he is, quirks and all. There are wonderful side characters including Milo’s other new best friend, Rachel, Gideon’s family and friends, and Milo’s grandmother’s longtime partner.

They morph from roommates to friends to friends-with-benefits, and they eventually both admit they want to take it further, but they’re concerned about losing the best friendship either has ever had. Every phase of their relationship is lovely, and the experimentation in the FWB period is hilarious. Let’s just say Milo makes his needs and desires known bluntly. Gideon is more than happy to oblige.

This is a highly amusing novel. Milo can’t help but be endearing. He’s just so lovable, as is Gideon whom I adored for his easy acceptance and support in every way. I’m glad he didn’t have a perfect life and come in to rescue Milo. Milo gave Gideon just as much in return; they enhanced each other’s lives equally. At the end of the day, Milo didn’t need rescuing. His stubborn streak of independence led to a wonderful life partner and a fulfilling life he never could have imagined.

Boyfriend Goals is not like any Riley Hart book I can remember. Like Milo, it’s quirky and sweet, and fun, and I highly recommend it.

RATING: 

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