Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Boyfriend Goals
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
NARRATOR: Iggy Toma
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 7 hours and 38 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 11, 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:
It’s impossible not to like Riley Hart’s Boyfriend Goals. It’s a funny, sweet, heartwarming story of two men who feel they never fit in, but find they fit in perfectly with each other. Milo is on the autism spectrum, and while not explicitly stated, it seems clear he’s a high-functioning ASD or Asperger’s type personality. He displays quirks, social skills challenges, difficulty understanding nuances and etiquette in conversation, and has a marked sensitivity to sensory inputs like crowds, loud noise, and chaotic environments. Milo refuses to let any of these things define him, though, and chafes against those who do.
I adored Milo and his refreshing honesty and directness, especially when paired with his internal monologuing about the appropriateness of sharing some of the thoughts that flit through his mind. Milo’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s so darn adorable in this story, that it’s hard not to fall for him and all of his idiosyncrasies. Gideon certainly does.
Gideon quickly becomes Milo’s bestie, especially because Gideon relates to him in many ways. Gideon feels like an outsider himself, particularly within his own family and friends group, and even with his (other) best friend Kris. Milo completely understands and accepts him, though, and vice versa. Milo’s sweet disposition lights up Gideon’s days like sunlight.
Hart does an excellent job in this story balancing sweetness, humor, and sexiness. We get a holistic view of Milo and Gideon’s relationship from their first meeting, to besties, to besties with benefits, to falling in love, and finally getting their HEA. They learn about each other and find a way to compromise on the things that matter.
Milo is independent, but because of his ASD, people think he needs protection. It’s a constant struggle for him to be allowed to make his own mistakes, to spread his wings even if it means he takes a few tumbles as he learns to fly. Gideon learns what Milo needs and strives to provide it, even though he missteps along the way due to his love and inherent need to protect Milo.
Acceptance is the underlying theme of Boyfriend Goals, and we see it beyond Milo and Gideon’s relationship. There’s healing and forgiveness needed between Milo and his mother, and Gideon and his family – his father in particular. Milo discovers he had a grandmother, and tentatively explores his feelings about this woman he never knew, but who profoundly changed his life all through the simple act of leaving Milo her bookstore. Milo learns about his grandmother mainly through poignant scenes with her partner, Gene. They are beautiful and moving, and I loved how Hart progressed Milo and Gene’s relationship. Milo, the man that never thought he fit in unwittingly creates his own perfect family in the most improbable way. I’d call it #familygoals.
Iggy Toma’s narration of the Boyfriend Goals audiobook is a perfect counterpoint to its quirky characters and unique story arc. Toma provides consistent distinction between Milo and Gideon’s voices and demonstrates his skill at effortlessly infusing the content with emotional connection and meaning. His performance is invested and intuitive. One of Toma’s strengths is his exceptional use of intonation, varying the pitch and inflection of certain words and phrases to convey his point. In addition, he uses thoughtful pacing and emphasis.
Toma’s inherent ability to deliver deadpan, matter-of-fact commentary dovetails perfectly with Milo’s personality. He uses his deeper, smokier tones for Gideon and it’s a perfect match, especially the slower speed of delivery. Toma gives Milo’s voice a higher pitch, which felt right to me vis-a-vis my impression of these two men. My only complaint here is that the timbre of Milo’s voice lands in the female alto range – it’s very similar to some lower-pitched female voices I’ve heard Toma narrate in the past. Further, he gives it a nasally, strained tone that’s a bit grating, which doesn’t really fit Milo’s sweet personality. I think the same pitch with a more rounded, smooth timbre would have worked better for Milo.
In the grand scheme of things, though, it’s not a significant issue. Otherwise, I adored this story and Toma’s vocal performance is well-acted and immersive. Boyfriend Goals is yet another example of Riley Hart delivering an authentic yet different M/M romance that’s easy to enjoy and fun to revisit.
RATING: 
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