The build-a-boyfriend project A novel

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.

Hoping for a promotion, Eli Francis agrees to write an article detailing his effort to turn his disastrous date into a perfect boyfriend. Eli has spent the past five years as an assistant atVent, a website once known for its hard-hitting pieces but now mostly clickbait listicles. He dreams of becoming a staff writer and shepherding the outlet back to its roots, but his current day-to-day is filling coffee orders and trying to avoid his ex, who also works there. When his best friend convinces him to go on a blind date, gay and trans Eli is cautiously optimistic, but Peter Park makes one mistake after another. When his boss finds out about the awful date, he offers Eli the reward of a possible promotion if he writes a piece about teaching Peter how to be a better partner. Secretly, Eli plans to write a different article influenced by Peter about growing up gay and Korean in the south without a queer community for support. Peter only knows about the second article, but agrees to go on fake dates with Eli as learning opportunities. Soon, though, the lines between fake and real are blurred, and Eli finds himself falling for his subject. Deaver's adult debut is told solely through Eli's point of view and features lovable characters, especially sweetheart Peter, whose journey to confidence is incredibly endearing. Eli's job woes are relatable, but the double article plotline feels convoluted and leads to predictable, tedious drama. More rewarding is the thoughtfully done exploration of growing up queer in different types of communities and Eli's affirming trans identity. The queer characters at the heart of this romance make it shine. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.