The Boyfriend Project by Farrah Rochon
Samiah Brooks never thought she would be “that” girl. But a live tweet of a horrific date just revealed the painful truth: she’s been catfished by a three-timing jerk of a boyfriend. Suddenly Samiah-along with his two other “girlfriends,” London and Taylor-have gone viral online. Now the three new besties are making a pact to spend the next six months investing in themselves. No men, no dating, and no worrying about their relationship status . . .
For once Samiah is putting herself first, and that includes finally developing the app she’s always dreamed of creating. Which is the exact moment she meets the deliciously sexy, honey-eyed Daniel Collins at work. What are the chances? When it comes to love, there’s no such thing as a coincidence. But is Daniel really boyfriend material or is he maybe just a little too good to be true?
“Alexa, play Drake.”
There is something about The Boyfriend Project that felt like a breath of fresh air. It was a reminder for me that I need to read romances every once in awhile- they are good for my soul!
The romance in The Boyfriend Project was sweet, but it was Samiah herself who was the highlight for me. She is someone who is not afraid to put herself first, and she will challenge others to recognize their biases and privileges. As a Black women who works in the tech industry, which is dominated by white men, Samiah has had to overcome numerous obstacles. At one point, she has a discussion with Daniel about how everything that she does will affect the next Black women who wants to work in the industry. That is a weight that I will never be able to understand, and she was able to describe it in a way that really forced me to think.
The first chapter is one of my favourite chapters in any romance, or any novel for that matter, and I loved seeing Samiah, London, and Taylor team up against a man they had all been betrayed by, which leads to them forming a bond. I felt myself actively cheering them on! Each of these three women has a strong voice, and I am thrilled that they will all have their own books.
Although The Boyfriend Project is a romance, I felt as though the romance was in the background of this story, which I actually enjoyed. It sent the message that having a relationship is not required to be fulfilled. There was certainly chemistry between Samiah and Daniel, but Samiah prioritized her career and her goal of creating an app. You knew that she would have thrived with out without him. There was just something so refreshing about this romance that I cannot adequately put into words- you simply have to read it!
One final thing that stood out to me is that, although there was conflict, it was not dragged out. Samiah and Daniel were able to act like mature adults and to understand one another’s perspective.
I highly recommend The Boyfriend Project for anyone looking for a refreshing romance to read this summer. It deserves all of the love that it has been getting. The sequel cannot get here soon enough!
