The Build-a-Boyfriend Project

YA author Deaver (The Ghosts We Keep) makes their adult debut with a cute queer rom-com built around a classic fake dating setup. Eli Francis, a trans executive assistant at a Buzzfeed-esque online magazine, goes on a disastrous blind date with awkward coder Peter Park. After hearing about the evening, Eli’s boss suggests Eli give Peter dating lessons and write the experience up in a lighthearted, if somewhat mean-spirited, piece. Eli accepts the assignment and Peter agrees, though Eli tells him he would rather write an article about Peter’s experiences growing up queer in the South and coming out later in life. As the men go on a series of cute fake dates, Eli works on both articles, hoping he’ll be able to convince his boss to run his more considered piece over the clickbait. Along the way, Eli inevitably falls for Peter, but the threat of the mean article looms so large over the plot that it can be hard to sink into and fully enjoy the sweet love story. Still, after the requisite third act drama, Deaver sticks the landing. This should earn Deaver a whole new set of fans. (Aug.)
Correction: A previous version of this review referred to the author by the incorrect pronoun.