This book was a great surprise for me-zero spice (which isn’t usually my preference but it really worked here) and all heart!

If you were ever a tween who loved a boy band this book should make it onto your TBR. Come for the adorable boy band fan dream but stay for a genuinely touching exploration of grief and trust plus lots of foot kicking romantic moments. (They bond over naming puppies for the love 😍)

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley to the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I went in not knowing what to expect, and this book started off so strong. In the first few chapters, the banter, the dual narration, the way the protagonists finally put themselves out there--it was all delightful. I was fully bought into the early stages of their love story, which felt so realistic in how natural it feels when you meet someone you just click with.

As the plot twisted around Ch10, the book I thought I was reading morphed into something unexpected. At first, it was fun, but I soon realized this was 90% a book about Adam, his past, and reconciling his unresolved trauma with his future ambition. Laney plays an important role in that, but we ultimately learn very little about her. As the focus shifted toward Adam, their dynamic crept uncomfortably close to instalove (for my taste), and their HEA is basically her promising she's along for whatever he decides he wants to do. Personally, I like a little more balance in my romances.

All in all, I thought this was a fun idea and the writing kept me engaged; the execution just wasn't for me this time around. I'll definitely check out more of Jenny Proctor's work, and would absolutely read a sequel in this universe/with these characters.

Just a perfect love story!!
I love it, because I used to have a crush on a Backstreet boys member and this book it gave me a story I could have imagined.

If you loved '90s and '00s boybands, closed door romances, dogs and fake dating... This is the book for you! Such a cute book about Adam, a former boyband star who tries living on the down low with a secret identity, and Laney, a girl who used to have posters hanging above her bed from said artist. Loved following their stories in dual-POV, it really adds to the story. I also loved the way the author tackled grief in this book, without making it too heavy.
And the dogs!!

4 ⭐️

This book is for my fellow fangirls. It's silly, fun, heartwarming, emotional, and although a bit unrealistic, I was eating up every page. There is lots of talk of grief and losing a parent to cancer, which adds a lot of emotion to the story. I was flying through this book without even realizing it. I also loved all of our additional characters. My fingers are crossed that Freddie and Ivy have a book. 👀🤞🏼 If you're looking for a cute but heartfelt, no spice romance I highly recommend.


thank you netgalley for the arc 💓

Once Upon a Boyband by Jenny Proctor is a swoony romance book. Music, boybands, animal rescue, pets, all come together to make a sweet romantic book. I also loved the the lessons on healing, dealing with grief and building trust in relationships. Such a lovely and clean romance with no explicit scenes. Thank you, Netgalley and Jenny Proctor Creative for giving me this book in exchange for my honest feedback

The title and cover of this book sucked me in, but the characters and their story kept me reading. I loved the banter between Adam and Laney, and the relationships we see with the side characters as well. I found the FMC relatable and likeable, and who doesn't like a book with dogs in it?! There are many moments that were emotionally heavy to read, but the author still managed to infuse humor (like had me audibly laughing) and lightheartedness throughout. Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

Such a fun story! If I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. It was swooney love story without the angst and miscommunications that drive me crazy in romance books. I loved the main characters, and it was fun to see characters from some of her other novels make an appearance. I would like to read Freddie’s story next please, Ms Proctor! Write on!!

If you ever loved a boyband and dreamed of finding your happily ever after with a member of the band then this book is for you!

I absolutely loved this book, from start to finish and wholeheartedly recommend it!

The pacing is perfect. We don't have to wait too long to get to key moments but they don't feel rushed either.

What I loved most about the book? Laney and Adam communicate. Yes! They talk through how they're feeling and what they are thinking to build their relationship. Yes, there are difficult moments but they're set up earlier the story and aren't totally unexpected when they show up.

While this is not a spicy book, there is so much heat between Laney and Adam! It makes it the perfect book for anyone who loves both open and closed door romance books.

This isn't a completely lighthearted book. It's important to know that this book deals with death of a family member, guilt and how grief shows up in everyday life.

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!!

The writing of the book is great, with lovable characters, carrying the weight of their past. It was so fulfilling to see them grow throughout the book. I also loved that the book had such great supporting characters especially Sarah and Percy.

Biggest green flag about the book was that there were so many situations which could have turned it into a miscommunication trope. But the characters communicated with each other, sorted out the issues, unless you skip to the part where the author guides the situation where you can feel Adam's grief, guilt, insecurity everything. Loved how they came out stronger at the end.

I also want to applaud the author of weaving in that men should not be judged to take things slow and that everyone needs therapy at a point of time.

For all the effort and for writing such a great book, I don't have to think twice before giving it 5 stars.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable, looking forward to more of the authors work.

A great read. When Laney meets and falls for Adam, it's before she knows he used to be in her favourite boyband. I liked how it was told from both points of view, and couldn't wait to find out what happened in the end. Looking forward to the next books in this series.

Holy freaking fudgescicles!! Jenny does not miss! I absolutely love her writing! She has emotion, humor and swoons all in the same book! And it's just soo good! It didn't meet my expectations because I didn't expect to cry!
HIGHLY recommend this one to all
the ones who love a good romance!

"Once Upon a Boyband" is a delightful read from start to finish! If you have a soft spot for boybands, this book is a must-read. Laney and Adam's relationship is both heartwarming and captivating, and their journey of discovery and growth is incredibly engaging. I'm already looking forward to the next installments in the series!

Jenny Proctor’s latest romantic comedy, Once Upon a Boyband, invites readers into the heartwarming and humorous story of Dr. Laney Lawson, a small-town veterinarian with a deep love for music. As a teen, Laney was obsessed with Deke, the dreamy lead singer of the boyband Midnight Rush. Now, years later, she’s drawn to Adam Driscoll, a rugged dog rescuer with a flannel shirt and a beard as untamed as his wilderness lifestyle.

Unbeknownst to Laney, Adam is none other than Deke, who left Midnight Rush eight years ago, causing the band's unexpected breakup. Trading fame for the quiet life in the mountains, Adam falls for Laney while hiding the boyband past she once adored. When his former bandmates approach him about a reunion concert for charity, Adam faces a difficult choice: stay anonymous or reveal his true identity to the woman he's growing to love.

Once Upon a Boyband is a sweet, closed-door romcom that feels like what would happen if DreamStreet boys were dropped into a Hallmark movie—packed with charm, humour, and a dash of nostalgia.

Big thanks to Jenny Proctor Creatives and NetGalley for the ARC! Once Upon a Boyfriend is on sale now.

Ok, this was a really fun concept and honestly relatable to anyone who was once a teenage girl. I think almost every girl has had a crush on a boy band member at some point in their life, so getting to experience the fantasy of actually dating your teenage crush through Laney was really fun. I loved the idea of the band coming back together years later and doing a reunion tour, especially considering nearly every boy band these days has done that! I’m excited for the rest of this series and can’t wait for Freddy’s book (of course I’m picturing him as Harry Styles). It was also fun to see some of Jenny Proctor’s other characters make appearances throughout the book (sometimes I hate when authors do this and it feels so heavy handed, but in this case it worked and I enjoyed it). Jenny is so good at making light, sweet, fun romance into something that’s not boring or overly cheesy. I like everything she writes.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go fire up the ol’ Backstreet Boys playlist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Delightful! A great escape with all of the hallmark vibes. I enjoyed the characters, the plot was relatable and believable, and it had the perfect amount of humor and heart. Five stars all of the way.

Once Upon a Boyband - what can I say. This was so much fun to read! If you loved any boybands from the past, then you will love this book. Laney & Adam's relationship was phenomenal and precious. I loved watching them learn and grow and get to know each other. Excited about the next ones in the series already!

After his time in boyband Midnight Rush took away all that really mattered (or that's how it felt), Adam made a good life for himself in Lawson Cove, completely separate from his old life. And things only get better when accidentally locking his keys in the car force him to get a lift from his vet, Laney - and they suddenly click. But starting a relationship will require him to break the silence over his old career, and he soon learns that she was obsessed with Midnight Rush as a teen. Worse, the past is invading his new life in the form of pressure to do a reunion concert. Can he make peace with all that drove him to desert the band and his friends, or will history repeat itself? And can he and Laney form something real together, or will the pressure of fame separate them?

A great read, with a good mix of humour and emotion, spiced with kisses but nothing more. As someone who's never been into live music, would avoid such concerts like the plague, and has never had a poster of anyone on their wall, this seems an odd sort of story for me to enjoy, but I'm really glad I gave it a try - because while the band is an important part of the setting, the relationships are what matters, and they're universal. I appreciated the fact that while there are secrets kept and baggage to unpack, Adam and Laney don't spend all their time mired in misunderstandings. In fact, they communicate well, except when Adam disappears - and that's something they work through. As the author mentions at the start, there are some fairly emotional topics dealt with, but the result isn't a heavy read, just a rom-com with true heart. I love the humour, but I also really appreciate the more difficult topics that come into it, because it makes it feel real. All in all, a very well written story, clean and enjoyable - recommended, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Adam left his boyband days in the past, and he wants it to stay there. These days, he's focused on his dog rescue and wooing the beautiful town vet Laney Lawson. However, when he's just starting his relationship with Laney, one of his bandmates begs him to be a part of a reunion show. Because of how he left the band, he feels like he *has* to participate.

Laney is/was a super fan of the boyband Midnight Rush, so when she finds out that Adam is also Deke, her childhood crush extraordinaire. Laney is unsure if their brand new relationship survive the media attention, Adam's extremely complicated feelings towards his music career, and his unprocessed trauma.

What a sweet little palate cleanser this was! I'm a big fan of Jenny Proctor despite the fact that I usually read much spicier romances. She's really good at writing lovable characters and fun and engaging plotlines. Sneak peeks of some of the characters that live in that world (like the Hawthorne brothers and the Appies) is so fun - I love the little Easter eggs mixed in.