Bogormen

Title: Boyfriend Material
Author: Alexis Hall
Genre: LGBTQ+
Rating: 4/5
# pages: 427
Date read: May, 2021

Wanted:
One (fake) boyfriend
Practically perfect in every way

Luc O'Donnell is tangentially--and reluctantly--famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything.

To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened.

But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go.


Really cute, funny and charming book! I read a large bit of it in the middle of the night while I couldn't sleep, and literally had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing out loud and waking up my husband.

Another faux-romance and totally predictable, but the characters were (mostly) so likeable and (with one notable exception) relatable, that it was a pleasure to read all the same, and I finished the book in no time. I loved Lucien's found family, and how he started to thrive, once he actually started to believe that he deserved it.

I would have preferred a bit more closure regarding Oliver's family, but that's a minor nitpick in an otherwise very satisfying read.

Title: God, Where Are You?
Author: John Bevere
Genre: Christian non-fiction
Rating: 3/5
# pages: 159
Date read: May, 2021

Do you feel lost in a difficult season, wondering, “GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?!”

Perhaps you heard God speak, but now He seems silent. Maybe you moved forward in faith, but now His presence is nowhere to be found. Welcome to the wilderness—the place between receiving a promise from God and seeing it come to pass.

But here’s the good news—this is no purposeless wasteland. God uses the wilderness to prepare and equip you for your destiny—that is, if you navigate it correctly. Contrary to what many may think, getting through this season isn’t just a matter of waiting on God. You have a part to play in navigating through it. A big one. And if you don’t want to waste time wandering in circles, it’s important to learn what that is.


I bought this because I really enjoyed the YouVersion Bibel reading plan based on it. Unfortunately, the reading plan had all the best points, and I didn't really feel like it improved any from having those points elaborated on.

It was good - but never became personal. I never really connected to the teachings, which means that it'll unfortunately likely turn out to be very forgettable.

Title: Over the Woodward Wall
Author: A. Deborah Baker (aka Seanan McGuire)
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 2.5/5
# pages: 204
Date read: May, 2021

Avery is an exceptional child. Everything he does is precise, from the way he washes his face in the morning, to the way he completes his homework – without complaint, without fuss, without prompt.

Zib is also an exceptional child, because all children are, in their own way. But where everything Avery does and is can be measured, nothing Zib does can possibly be predicted, except for the fact that she can always be relied upon to be unpredictable.

They live on the same street.
They live in different worlds.

On an unplanned detour from home to school one morning, Avery and Zib find themselves climbing over a stone wall into the Up and Under – an impossible land filled with mystery, adventure and the strangest creatures.

And they must find themselves and each other if they are to also find their way out and back to their own lives.


Unfortunately I wasn't too impressed. It was okay, but even though it had no proper resolution, I don't actually think I'll read more of this series. I can't put a finger on what was wrong with it, because it was well-written, and I liked the characters alright - it just wasn't for me.

In style, it was very "absurd fairytale" - reminiscent of "Alice in Wonderland" more than anything else. (Which also happens to be one of the few cases, where I like the movie better than the book).

Title: If I Never Met You
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 432
Date read: May, 2021

If faking love is this easy... how do you know when it’s real?

When her partner of over a decade suddenly ends things, Laurie is left reeling—not only because they work at the same law firm and she has to see him every day. Her once perfect life is in shambles and the thought of dating again in the age of Tinder is nothing short of horrifying. When news of her ex’s pregnant girlfriend hits the office grapevine, taking the humiliation lying down is not an option. Then a chance encounter in a broken-down elevator with the office playboy opens up a new possibility.

Jamie Carter doesn’t believe in love, but he needs a respectable, steady girlfriend to impress their bosses. Laurie wants a hot new man to give the rumor mill something else to talk about. It’s the perfect proposition: a fauxmance played out on social media, with strategically staged photographs and a specific end date in mind. With the plan hatched, Laurie and Jamie begin to flaunt their new couple status, to the astonishment—and jealousy—of their friends and colleagues. But there’s a fine line between pretending to be in love and actually falling for your charming, handsome fake boyfriend...


I liked the first book I read by Mhairi McFarlane - I LOVED this one. Even though it was a lot more predictable, I just have to admit that I'm a huge fan of the fake-dating trope. Especially when it is done as well as it was here.

My heart broke for Laurie during the setup of the plot, but I loved seeing her come into herself, and play to her strengths, instead of letting others play to her weaknesses. I was kinda worried how the main conflict would be brought about, but it was less contrived than I had feared, and more easily resolved, so that was a huge plus. I really, really, really appreciate that McFarlane doesn't allow her characters to wallow in angst for too long, but have them actually communicate! A+.

My one complaint was that I think the end came too quickly. Would have liked to see just a chapter or two of "what came next" - especially at work.

And again, I loved how the characters were written, and how McFarlane explored the various relationships - both familiar, friendly and romantic.

(Oh, and I LOVED Hattie! More of her, please :D)

Title: The Flatshare
Author: Beth O'Leary
Genre: Chick-lit
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 336
Date read: November 2019, May 2021

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast.
Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash.

Their friends think they're crazy, but it's the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy's at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly-imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven't met yet, they're about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window...


I absolutely adored this book! It made me laugh out loud pretty much every single chapter (kinda embarrassing as I mostly read it on the train) and shed a few happy tears as well. I loved the characters, and love that Leon and Tiffy's friendship grew through post-it notes.

Honestly, I don't think there was anything about this book that I didn't love, which makes it incredibly difficult for me to write this review without just squeeing all over the place. It's not high literature, but it was charming, it was sweet, it was funny, it was poignant, it didn't just focus on romantic relationship but showed awesome friendships as well. All in all, it definitely earned itself a place on the list of best books I've read this year.

Reread 2021: Loved it just as much the second time around. Would have liked to see what happened to Justin (seems like he got off too easily), but that's a minor nitpick.