What a deliciously witty debut! I am a huge fan of Ashley Poston so I was really excited to read this (and I'm a known sucker for anything with a bookish hook). It did not disappoint! I adored Emmy and there were so many times where I actually laughed out loud. Love a little bit of satire, and this nailed it. Being playful with romance tropes (and making fun of them) is something I've not read much of (or at all?) in rom-coms, but it was so well done. I absolutely LOVED the meta aspect of it. The fact that poor Will has an absolute existential crisis?! So, so good. And you know, the story really surprised me. I was worried about how things would work out and where the author would wrap the story up, but I thought it landed perfectly. A really lovely debut and I can't wait to read more from this author!

The description of this book drew me in. I thought what a clever take on the rom com books we have. And we meet Emmy a Japanese American who has given up on love after being with a not very nice man. After a trip to a sex therapist and buys a book. She wakes up in Will's bed in the book she just purchased. Ensues romance book tongue in cheek gags with everyone being hot and coming on to Emmy.
The book is very tongue in cheek and had be chuckling quite often. The ending was also lovely. Only quip I have is the author is white and The FMC is a Japanese. But there is no stereo typing. Emmy has to deal with racism. I would say it's well done and well researched
I did enjoy this book and would read more by Bex Goos
I do think having something in place to show who's POV we are in would help. Sometimes it flipped during a paragraph

I need to start off by saying - it's amazing that after reading hundreds of books, I can still be surprised and find a book that is super unique. The beginning of this book was unlike any other, and I loved it. It was refreshing and it drew me in. I ended up finishing this in a day, although it took me a minute to realize that it was the length of the chapter and not me. It was a fun story with great characters, and I'm glad I got to read this book!

4.5 Stars

Thank you to Bex Goos and NetGalley for the ARC.

Falling for the Protagonist is an incredible debut novel by Bex Goos! It follows Emmy Miura who is heart broken and out of luck with love, until she visits a sex psychic (yes, you read that right) and finds herself in bed with Will one morning. Now this wasn’t a one night stand situation, Will is none other than the MMC of the book sold to her by the sex psychic!

This book is quirky, unique and very funny in how Emmy and Will have to live out the stereotypical romance book storyline. Will’s existential crisis at learning about his fictional existence was also very interesting.

The only reason why this book isn’t a 5 star read for me is because it took me a good while to get used to the changes in perspective as this was done constantly with no warning. Eventually, I did become accustomed to it, so it may just be a me problem!

I really recommend this book to anyone who likes:
Forced proximity
Fake dating
Book-within-a-book
Magical realism

This book completely surprised me in the best way possible. Even after reading countless stories, it felt fresh, original, and exciting right from the start. The opening hooked me instantly, and before I knew it, I was racing through the pages and finished the entire book in a single day. The fast pacing, fun plot, and lovable characters made it impossible to put down. I had such a great time reading this and am so glad I picked it up!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw the title of this book, I immediately knew I had to read it. This may be the storyline every book lover is dreaming of! I have never read anything by this author, so I was curious how she was going to approach the storyline, and I can’t say I was disappointed.
The book started out strong with our likable and relatable main character, Emmy. She is a Japanese American who broke up with her racist ex-boyfriend a while ago. Not fulfilled with her place in life she is skeptical to begin with, but when her happy-go-lucky sister May announces that she is going to marry the love of her life she only recently got to know because a sex-psychic foretold their meeting, Emmy is more than irritated. Not accepting that Emmy is just going through life with nowhere to go and totally rejecting the idea of love May makes her go too. And that’s when the storyline starts to get interesting! Because while the reading itself is free of charge, the clients are welcome to purchase anything from the shop as compensation. Not knowing why Emmy is drawn to one book about a male nurse and his way to find love she picks that one up to purchase. Little does she know, that later while falling asleep, she will wake up in a completely different world, where love interests will spring out of every corner, just awaiting her arrival and she is about to change not only her own life completely, but find herself trying not to fall in love with Will, the main character, while fighting for a way out of this fictional prison… Or so she hopes!
When I started the book, I noticed that I really enjoyed the writing style and the energy Emmy projected. I’m normally more on the ‘The FMC is so annoying’-side of the bookish community, but this one just spoke to me. Not only is she relatable and witty, but she also knows how to help herself. During the book we get to see Emmys character grow and overtake insecurities as well as hurdles that appear along the path to get out of the book she is in.
I also really related to Wills character, the MMC, who fell into a sort of depression after realizing that his complete life was a lie. I could really feel the desperation he went through to find himself an anker to cling to, while questioning every daily interaction, every little detail of his existence and everyone around him. This is such a unique take on the storyline. While I have read books with similar plot lines none have ever approached the subject this way and while I hurt for Will I actually enjoyed the new angle and was curious how the character development went on.
The book as a whole was really enjoyable and quite refreshing. I loved the banter, the angles with the single men that were frankly portrait quite accurately compared to the real world in their insistence not to accept ‘no’ as an answer (the frequency being enhanced a bit of course). The only downside was that the chapters were quite long and I found myself wanting to skim the text sometimes, especially from around 30-60% when not that much plot progress was made. With this it was a bit irritating that the ending in comparison seemed to be rushed quite a bit. I would have loved to know how the relationship was built again after Emmy and Will met in the real world and the inner turmoil they both went though to get back to each other. With the rushed meeting and the blank before the Epilogue the ending was missing something for me and I left the book feeling somewhat unsatisfied.
Non the less the book was a good read and I would rate it 4/5 stars. I can recommend reading it and would love to read more from the author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A wildly clever, refreshing romcom with an irresistible alternate‑reality twist

This book hooked me from the very first chapter, and then completely won me over the moment Emmy slips—quite literally—into an alternate reality after falling asleep reading. The sudden shift into a storybook world is surprising, imaginative, and exactly the kind of twist I adore. I’m a huge fan of timeslip, time travel, and alternate‑reality romances, and this one delivers that vibe in such a fun, unexpected way.

The author packs the story with quirky, original details that make the world feel fresh and playful—yes, including a psychic sex tarot reading, which is as entertaining as it sounds. I also loved the meta book‑theory elements woven throughout: the characters discussing “context clues,” acknowledging that they’re stuck in “one of the most cliched and contrived romantic comedy plots” (the pretend‑relationship trope), and even speculating about the author’s credentials and romance‑writing logic. It’s smart, self‑aware, and genuinely funny.

Nothing about the plot feels predictable, and the whole experience is humorous, inventive, and thoroughly entertaining.

The story is told in third person—usually my least favourite perspective—but it works here, giving both main characters intertwined POVs within each chapter. Emmy herself isn’t described in much detail early on, though later she identifies as second‑generation Japanese American. There are occasional Japanese words sprinkled in without translation, which I found a bit frustrating, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall flow.

On the flip side, the book gifted me the brilliant made‑up term “mantagonist”—a word I immediately checked for in the dictionary (sadly, no luck). Still, I’m adopting it.

Overall, this is a refreshing, clever, and fast‑paced read full of great ideas. It’s easy to fly through, keeps you guessing, and offers a romcom experience that feels genuinely different.

Huge thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the uncorrected advance reader copy.
This book releases on May 7, 2026, and if you love romcoms with humour, meta commentary, and alternate‑reality twists, you’ll want to pick this up the moment it hits shelves—you won’t be disappointed!

This was such a cute read. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. The story was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author

Falling for the Protagonist delivers a wonderfully imaginative and heartfelt read that blurs the line between fiction and reality in the most delightful way.

The premise immediately pulled me in because it’s fresh, creative, and full of heart. I was as lost in this book as Emmy (the MC) was in hers. The writing flows easily, with vivid scenes and thoughtful emotion. I especially appreciated how the story explores all together; identity, choice, a spiritual fantasy and a satisfying romantic arc.

The characters are really likeable and well-developed, and the chemistry builds naturally. I think I also fell for adoringly sweet and loyal Will Barrett. He is the Protagonist in the book Emmy got from sex psychic, Lucy.

While a few moments felt slightly predictable, the unique concept and the author’s creativity and clear love for storytelling more than made up for it. This is the kind of book that feels cozy and fun, yet still leaves you thinking after the final page.

Overall, this was a delightful read, and I’m glad I had the chance to experience it early.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher, Aria & Aries for providing this ARC.

It was so original! The plot is such a nice touch, I've never read that. It's a bit like magic but also deeply contemporary. Both characters are enjoyable. The writing style is simple, so it's a good immersion and easy to read. I really recommend it. I had a fun time reading this!

Emmy Miura can't believe her sister believes her visit to a sex psychic is the reason she is now about to get married. She decides to have it out with her but things don't exactly as planned and she ends up buy a romance novel instead. She finds it hard to put down and ends up falling asleep reading it in bed, when she wakes she finds herself in the story in the bed of Will Barrett, the main romantic lead of the novel. Thing get weirder but its entertaining and oddly compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this arc.
Waking up as a character in your romance novel is definitely an interesting concept!
I really enjoyed how cynical Emmy was.
I felt bad for Will dealing with his existential crisis. Although his going off script did make me giggle when he first met Bright.
There’s a lot of weird things going on in this book, and uncomfortable undercurrent around Emmy’s interactions with other characters. Watching it come to a head made me love how strong Emmy is.
I struggled a little bit to get into this book, it took a few chapters for me. After the first few chapters I was hooked though.
It was such a sweet, emotional, funny book. I really enjoyed it.

Emmy literally enters a book she has read following a visit to a sex psychic. She meets Paediatric nurse, Will, and he helps her to try to get back to the real world she has left. The only problem is she realises she will be leaving the man she has fallen in love with. An enthralling theme, wondering how Emmy's life will end up.- Back in reality or staying in the fictional world of Will?

A fun romance read which I think would appeal to fans of Sarah Hogle's 'Just Like Magic' and the Rebel Wilson movie 'Isn't It Romantic'. I loved the premise of the heroine entering the world of the romance book.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Firstly i would just like to thank NetGalley, Bex Goos and the publisher for allowing me access to this ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am going to start by saying that this book is something i have never read about before. I don't believe that there is a book along the same lines that i have seen and i thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave me 'The Truman Show' energy in both the way the characters acted and the comedy that was present. The characters were fun and inviting and i loved seeing a FMC that didn't just believe in everything and needed supportive evidence for beliefs.

I felt sorry for the MMC when it came to his thoughts and what it brought up but i am glad that it was there and that it wasn't pushed aside. I related so much to the FMC as well when it came to her past relationships and how much they can effect your attitude and self worth. I'm so proud of her ending and what she accomplishes.

Such an enjoyable read im glad i got the chance to discover it

Falling for the Protagonist is a fun and charming adult romance that’s really easy to get into. The story has a playful, heartwarming vibe and keeps things engaging the whole way through.

i couldn't wait to step into the world of this book. i was immediately smiling from the lines on that first page. it held me throughout and had the lightness through it that fills the heart of a reader as you go along. i love books that manage to uplift me just for being them, just for me reading them. feel good books are extra special gems to find for me right now.
and somehow Bex makes it feel so very real, completely believable. i mean of course we know Emmy has just gotten herself dropped into a romance novel. it made me chuckle throughout with how this very premise managed to get Emmy to look upon the romance tropes but also somehow she was one. it was like that thing where you look at a mirror within a mirror within another mirror effect. all this had added charm when we also see the romance Emmy has landed is one with her book love, Will.
i love how the characters of the book she finds herself in were there like within a novel but also not because this somehow felt like Emmy's true story line too. i just keep smiling. and as with all our books that takes us on journey for our main character this one is doing it in such an original and clever way.
i loved the idea and thought behind how to make this real or work. this all being started off by Emmy going to a pyhschic only makes it feel like something solid, true, might be happening for Emmy. and i was intrigued of how it would play out with that in mind.
Emmy has to find her way through to the other side of the book and also to the other side of herself and her vulnerabilities. and she does just that with wit, warmth and heart. you really do see like you would a character in a book come such a long way for herself.
there of course is our main man Will. hes not without his own troubles and things hes been going through. this only made him more likeable. i very quickly wanted so much for him too. and he became part of what i ended up feeling for the book as a whole. i really like how Bex wrote what he was going through.
Will and Emmy are of course golden to read about. the imaginative way in which Bex wrote their connection and interactions made it all the better. i loved how it has fun at the romance tropes whilst also somehow using them to make this more real and with a really emotional depth and core to it.
this book took me into a whole new world. and then another when we slip with Emmy. and i then couldn't put it down because i had to know how this was all going to play out. how would Bex possible end this. this book was such a bright shining light of a read and i couldn't put it down, i was invested, i was in.
this is a cute rom-com with surprisingly aware and thoughtful and thought provoking moments made even more important when its woven throughout.
how often do we yearn or feel like book places, lives, story lines are one we want to step into. this made me realise how much better and sensible it is to live and love from the outside. and actually how much more gorgeous lives and locations we can soak up and keep making our souls feels good just by reading from the outside.
loved it.

Falling for the Protagonist is a cute, light-hearted rom-com where the main character Emmy just got out of a toxic relationship, and she meets a romance (sex) psychic to please her sister. She ends up getting stuck in the book she bought from her, and needs to find a way to get out of the book to be back with her family without (or with "winky emoji") falling for the protagonist.

It's a very slow paced book at the start, which was why it did take me a while to get into it, but after the 30% mark, I couldn't put it down. I loved the banter between both the main characters, and they were just so perfect for each other. It was also ironic how the author wrote the mmc in to have background trauma, and I feel like I'm a bad person for laughing, when he was going through a life crisis.

I also loved the character development. By the end of the book, it felt like both main characters had grown up so much, and it was an amazing journey to undergo with them.

Falling for the Protagonist by Bex Goos is a fun, romantic, and slightly chaotic escape that leans fully into its magical, book within a book premise.

I loved how quickly the story pulls you in. Emmy is such a relatable main character, a bit lost, a bit sceptical, and trying to figure out where she fits in life. Watching her suddenly wake up inside a romance book is such a great hook, and the story runs with it in the best way.

The dynamic between Emmy and Will is where this really shines. Their connection feels natural despite the surreal setup, and I enjoyed the tension of her trying not to disrupt his world while inevitably becoming part of it. The added complications with the “intended” love interest make it even more entertaining.

There is a playful tone throughout, with romance tropes, forced proximity, and a touch of spice, but underneath it all there is also a story about identity, purpose, and what it means to choose your own path.

A charming, escapist read with a clever concept and plenty of heart.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I actually thought that this was going to be a simple run of the mill romantic story only to find myself reading one of the most unique and fantastically written magical realism books I have ever read! I could not get enough of this book and devoured it in one sitting. Perhaps a new favourite? yes I really do think so

A must read, as in if I could make people read it I would lol

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

First of all, wow! This was such a fun premise. I found the story slowed down for a bit around the halfway point, but it picked right back up for the last third.

Emmy is down in the dumps after the terrible break up and is pushing everyone away. Her sister found the love of her life after the visit to a sex psychic and suggests Emmy go just for fun. She leaves the shop with a new romance books and the next morning, wakes up inside it!

Shenanigans ensue, strangers turn to friends turn to lovers, and personal growth abounds!

I laughed, I teared up, and I left this book with a smile a mile wide.

There was only one sex scene that would be very easy to skim (a positive for me).

What would you do if you suddenly realized you weren’t just reading a romance novel, but actually stuck inside one?

Falling for the Protagonist follows Emmy, who finds herself trapped in a story that feels suspiciously like a cliché romance novel: complete with a swoony love interest, a picture-perfect small town, over-the-top situations, and characters who seem to follow a script she can’t escape.

As a big fan of magical realism, this premise immediately hooked me and it absolutely delivered a fun and refreshing reading experience.

If you enjoy authors like Ashley Poston, this is definitely one to pick up. The story blends romance with a hint of magic and stands out through its playful, self-aware tone. I especially loved how it leans into classic romance tropes while also poking fun at them. The side characters, who treat Emmy exactly as you’d expect in a stereotypical romance, were genuinely hilarious and added so much charm.

The dual POV between Emmy and Will was interesting as well. It took a little time to adjust to the sudden switches at first, but eventually it felt natural and didn’t disrupt the flow.

Another highlight was Emmy herself. It felt refreshing to have a protagonist of Japanese heritage, and I really appreciated the subtle cultural elements woven into the story. It added an extra layer of depth (and definitely made me want to get a Daruma!).

Overall, this is a humorous, self-aware, and charming read with a unique concept and lovable characters. A great choice if you’re looking for something light, funny, and a little magical.

The description for this absolutely sold me before I had even read it.

Any bookish girlie is going to eat this up. This is magical realism at its absolute best, such a fun, creative take on a rom-com that completely hooked me from the start.

The trope lineup? Elite. Forced proximity, fake dating… it delivered on all of it. The longer chapter lengths definitely had me needing a break between them, so it felt like it took me longer to finish. It isn't as "bingeable".

Regardless, I genuinely didn’t want to put it down… although there was a moment where I was genuinely concerned about how this was all going to end, ha!

And it’s funny. Like actually laugh-out-loud funny. The second the naughty tarot cards came in (I’m still not over the “five of testicles”), I knew I was in for a good time.

Add in some solid spice and this was a romance that had me fully invested. Such an enjoyable, unique, feel-good read!

Thoughtful and romantic magical realism with a touch of the existential.

After Emmy Miura visits a sex psychic she wakes up in the pages of a romance novel. She meets Will, the MMC of the book. It’s not Emmy’s romance, but they hit it off. It’s very meta in a fun way as Emmy has to explain what has happened to her. Things get serious though when it triggers an existential crisis for Will – after all, if he is not real, then his family and his life aren’t real either, so what is the point of anything? Emmy has not long finished a bad relationship and she’s closed off from having another, but Will gets under her skin.

Emmy has the time and space to find her real self, so she gets to gardening and reflecting on what she really wants in her life. Will works as a nurse and he has to deal with this new take on his situation, as he falls for Emmy. In turn, Emmy wants to get back to her real life in time for her sister’s wedding. And she wants to keep Will.

There is a lot here to enjoy, especially when it is poking fun at romance tropes like the meet-cute – soooooo many handsome dudes asking Emmy out. Even so, it was a slight miss for me, only because I struggled with Emmy and I found the balance difficult between Will’s anguish and the humour of their situation. I love the premise though, and I’m excited for more from Bex Goos. If you like Ashley Poston and Sarah Adler, give this a read!

Thank you Bex Goos and Aria & Aries for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

4.5 ⭐

I loved the magical realism in this story. The concept was so cute and I will now be forever hoping to wake up inside a romance novel. This is a fun, light read that will have you giggling for sure!! Loved that the ending wasn't cliché or predictable.

Such a unique and wholesome romance!

I absolutely devoured Falling for the Protagonist! It was a new take on romcoms that made you believe in magic as well as Happily Ever Afters!

I loved the side characters as much as the MCs, they felt well rounded and their relationships to the FMC was felt through the pages.

The writing was really easy to follow and it left me really engrossed in the story. I will be recommending this book for sure!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book.

When I read the synopsis, I knew this book was for me. Emmy finds herself in the world of a romance book and she struggles to find her way out. She has to constantly avoid meet cutes with annoying guys and try not to loose hope. She turns to Will, the original protagonist in the book, for help.

This is a cute story with great characters. It was fun and l enjoyed reading it. It was the right mix of humour and seriousness. Emmy and Will making fun of romance tropes was great, definitely made me laugh.

I would say that the long chapters did put me off a little bit, I’m definitely a short chapter girlie.

I would recommend this to people who enjoy cute romance stories with a bit of spice

Bex Goss delivers a fresh twist on the romance genre in "Falling for the Protagonist", blending magic and reality with a unique and clever premise. The story follows Emmy, who wakes up as a character inside the romance novel she’s been reading, and desperately wants to return to her real life. However, as she becomes entangled with Will, the lines between fiction and reality blur, adding layers of complexity to her journey.

The characters are impressively realistic and believable, making it easy to root for Emmy and invest in her predicament. The narrative is peppered with several laugh out loud moments, which make for a fun and entertaining read. The authors writing is charming, and the magical elements add an enjoyable touch to the story.

Overall, this is a magical and very enjoyable novel, perfect for readers seeking something a little different in their romance fiction. With wit, heart, and plenty of surprises, "Falling for the Protagonist" earns a solid four stars.

Magical, Clever, and Delightfully Entertaining.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Getting over a bad break-up is hard, especially when your ex has taken an obscenely short amount of time to find a new girlfriend, and your sister is just about to marry the man of her dreams. So when Emmy Miura's sister persuades her she needs the guidance of the sex psychic who helped her find love, she decides to give it a go - even if she is a sceptic.

Post weird tarot reading, Emmy settles down with a cheesy romance novel that the psychic persuaded her to buy. After reading about the hunky, male nurse protagonist Will, Emmy finds herself drifting off to sleep... only to wake up the next morning in Will's bed. Somehow, she is now a character in the rom-com she had been reading the night before, and she is about to disrupt the entire story by displacing Will's intended love interest. Close proximity soon has the obvious attraction between them developing into love, but how can they ever be together?

This enchanting story drops Emmy into a romance novel, where her appearance has unintended consequences. Emmy suddenly has to negotiate multiple meet-cutes with an array of handsome, rom-com trope hunks while trying to find a way back to the real world, before she misses her sister's wedding.

Managing to convince Will the cosy, small town life he has been living in fictional Cobalt, Massachusetts, is just the plot of a novel gives him an existential crisis. However he agrees to help Emmy find her way back to the real world if he can. Getting back home proves to be no easy feat, and the more time they spend together, the fewer reasons they have to want to be parted.

The delightful mix of rom-com tropes in Cobalt give a lovely tongue-in-cheek vibe to this story, which works so well with the developing (and super hot) romance between Emmy and Will. Along the, very enjoyable way, Goos manages to explore a feast of heart-felt themes that echo between the fictional setting and Emmy's real world dilemmas - touching on family dynamics, unhealthy romantic relationships, true love, racism, and having the courage to follow your dreams.

Goos' writing is very engaging, the premise is so much fun, and the story sparkles with plenty of humour and tender moments. I was so invested in Emmy and Will's love story, desperate for them to find a way to be together, even if it seemed impossible - and the ending hits the 'ahh' hot-spot perfectly.

Full of Hallmark vibes, this was just the escapist gem I needed!

I really enjoyed the magical rom com. It was sweet and funny while still touching on deeper issues

I loved watching Will fight against the books script and all the handsome guys trying to have meet cutes with Emmy

The only thing I didn’t enjoy was how the POV kept switching even in the middle of chapter