How to Navigate Book Boyfriends, An Autobiography

Oh, so you’re new to being a fangirl and have only just discovered the beauty of joining a fandom? Welcome! Endless joy and pain await you! It can be tough being thrown into this dedicated life—attending countless book release parties, having 10 pre-orders arrive on the same day and deciding which “child” to read first, and just generally dealing with the ups and downs that accompany such a devoted existence.

This new topic series is here to help, whether to guide you through the evolution from one fandom to the next, reveal the best ways to recover from excruciating series-enders (it’s pronounced chuh-ko-let), or just to assure you that there are other fantastic and obsessive people out there. What a time to be alive! *winks*

One thing you must understand about being a fangirl: prepare to have multiple book boyfriends. I know, I know. I used to feel guilty when I would fall in love with the hero in a story, and then I’d pick up another book and instantly trip head-over-heels for yet another gentleman. The trick to managing these fictional fellows is to sort them into categories (i.e. the jokester, the heartthrob, the psychopath you wish wasn’t a psychopath because he’s so fabulous and entertaining).

Here are a few of my own past and present book boyfriends.

The Jokester

Carswell Thorne, Cress by Marissa Meyer (click here)

“I’m pretty, but tough, like a diamond. Or beef jerky in a ball gown.”

As much as I love the cast of The Lunar Chronicles, Thorne makes me want to read it again and again. He is overly-cocky and hilarious, terribly charming, and I can’t tell you the number of times I busted up laughing over one of his ridiculously well-timed jokes, or gave a little “Aww” during his sweet and sacrificial moments. Thorne became the heart of this series, and he definitely stole my heart and kept me reading.

The Clever Smooth-Talker

René Hasard, Rook by Sharon Cameron (click here)

“Being . . . how do you say, underestimated? That is never a bad thing.”

This. Boy. Has. Sass.
Oh, René. *sighs* Like Thorne, he offers SO MUCH humor to this book and is over-confident with his swagger, but you just can’t help adoring this Frenchman. At first, you think he’s a cocky playboy who’s only in the story to make you laugh with gut-busting anecdotes and saucy attitude. But then you realize it’s all a front and there is so much more to René—his kindness, cleverness in pretending to be a fool to get what he wants, and his caring attitude that he hides at first. There are just too many fabulous layers to him that make it impossible NOT to fall in love.

The Protective Heartthrob

Isaiah Walker, Crash into You by Katie McGarry (click here)

“I don’t want to be without you. I like when I’m with you, and I don’t want to go back to who I was before.”

Hoo-hah! *fans self* I don’t usually go for the bad boy, but when he’s a bad boy with a heart of gold who’s pretending to be tough and all devil-may-care to survive the rough lifestyle he’s forced to live—umm, yeah, sign me up! Isaiah definitely has some rough edges to him and a past that just tears your heart out, which is like a recipe for book perfection! ^_^ But I loved reading his perspective and seeing his protective side and the vulnerability he reveals when he’s with Rachel. And on top of the tattooed, car-racing swoon-factor, Isaiah lends a fantastic sense of humor and emotional depth to the story. This was a gobble-it-up read, and I loved every minute of it.

The Unloved Mystery
Will Taylor, Defying Shadows by *coughs* Ashley Townsend (click here)

“I will never stop trying to fight my way back to you. You’re a part of me now, and I will forever carry a piece of you with me.”

Is it cheating to have my own character on this list? Since Will was one of my first book boyfriends at 14, I’m going to let it slide. *winks* Will can be reserved and mysterious because of his tragic history, the loss of love in his life, and the way he has to preserve the secret of his nightly vigilante escapades. But I love watching his walls crumble piece by piece and how each bit of his character and story slowly reveal themselves. It warms my heart to see his sense of humor emerge and open himself to a love with no guarantees; it’s like watching him come to life! Plus, he’s totally knee-weakening charming, and tell me your heart doesn’t ache/jump to love him in his moments of feeling unlovable. Go on, pretend you didn’t just have a feels attack thinking about it.

The Lonely Alien Seeking Love on Earth

Evan Walker, The 5^th Wave by Rick Yancy (click here)

“To hold on, you have to find something you are willing to die for.”

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a sucker for the quiet, mysterious types in books who are just struggling to feel normal and loved. Well, Evan tries to find that in The 5th Wave . . . along with actually discovering his humanity. Because, you know, he’s an alien. But Evan has so many layers to him that make you fall in love at the same time you’re questioning who’s side he’s on. He can be protective and supportive, caring and mysterious, and just all around adorable and sweet. And if his character isn’t enough to convince you to watch The 5th Wave movie, the picture of Alex Roe in flannel should be sufficient.

The Classiest Book Boyfriend in Literary History
John Thornton, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell (click here)

“I know you despise me; allow me to say it is because you don’t understand me.”

Okay, I clearly have a thing for layered characters (see every single character above). Thornton is basically the Platinum Book Boyfriend Package; he is kind, though his pride sometimes presents him from revealing it, has immense character, and loves unconditionally. Oh, yeah, and I forgot the cravat and top hat. Win! Watching his pride melt away and his true characters unfold is like watching the flowers begin to bloom in spring, or seeing a newborn puppy open its eyes for the first time—purely magical. And when Margaret rejects him, let’s just say we all felt his sorrow. Thornton is the one literary figure that I will never get over, and he makes North and South for me with his depth and the true way he softens to the worlds. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s played by Richard Armitage.