Book Review: The Stand-In Boyfriend by Christina Benjamin

Title: The Stand-In Boyfriend

Author: Christina Benjamin

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

This is a spoiler free review.

Summary

Parker Reed and Beth Bennett have been friends, and neighbors, their entire life. They know almost everything about each other and enjoy spending time together, going to the movies, the beach, and each other’s homes… but they are just friends! However, Parker has a major crush on Beth… and she has no idea. When Jared moves in across the street, Parker has to balance remaining friends with Beth while dealing with her new relationship with Jared. Will Parker be able to support Beth in this new relationship or will Parker’s heart take over from his head, potentially ruining their friendship?

Review

I have to admit, it has been way too long since I last read a romance novel. I don’t even remember what the last romance I read was. But this was what started my love of reading. I always looked for stories with romance in them. So, coming back to this genre was like greeting an old friend and it was refreshing. This story was a traditional high-school novel, which included classes, sports games, parties, and relationships. The story was so well written that I rarely felt like putting the book down. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, due to a large amount of inner dialogue from Parker about his love for Beth. This was necessary in setting up the characters however caused a slow start. However, I encourage readers to continue because it soon picked up and became a light, easy, and quick read.

The story is predictable in some ways and unexpected in others. It is a classic love story that has been done many times, however it adds twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. It also dives deeper into the life of a high-school student by dealing with college selection and the desire to appease parents.

There is an attention to detail in this book in regards to the characters, setting, and plot. The characters were all fully developed, with different character traits and behaviors that become expected of them. The setting and plot were well described and I was never unclear on the situation unfolding in the book. Parker and Beth have known each other for a long time and this shows in the story. Parker knows small stuff about Beth like the fact that only macarons from a specific bakery will cheer her up. Beth, who is interested in theatre, uses theatre terminology in her everyday life, which is incredibly detailed (and accurate… as a dancer, I do this all the time). This is the attention to detail that is characteristic of this novel. The description is also incredibly successful. I do not like the beach and this book made me want to go to the beach.

The character that shocked me the most was Jared. He is the typical jerk who gets in a relationship with Beth as a game. However his character develops much more depth than I was expecting and I believe this is why I appreciated the love triangle in this story more than I have in the past. I was surprised about how complex his character was. When one part of the triangle is a jerk, it is easy for the reader to pick a side and stay there. However, Jared had more depth than this and it left the reader on their toes, curious as to how he will turn out (even though I still think he is a jerk). The book is in multiple perspectives, so not only do we get a deep understanding of Beth and Parker as characters but we also get a glimpse into Jared’s mind and why he does the things that he does.

Words that I would use to describe this book:

Heart-warming

Cute

Classic

Charming

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