Let’s be honest. We’ve all experienced little heart flutters and butterflies in the stomach while attempting to suppress an audible squeal as we fall madly in love (OK, in like) with fictional characters. They’re characters we love to love and love to share with friends.
So naturally we wanted to share our book boyfriends with you. See if yours made our favorites list—or meet someone new to swoon over!
“Levi from Fangirl is the absolute best book boyfriend out there. Someone who just wants to sit quietly and listen to you read aloud? Talk about dreamy!” ‒Heather Job, associate publicist
“My book boyfriend, who I’m happy to share with multitudes, is Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. A good boyfriend is, above all, a true friend, what Anne Shirley would call a “kindred spirit.” L.M. Montgomery wrote passionately about close friendship—about those we care for and those who care for us, even at our most imperfect and vulnerable—and Gilbert exemplifies this. He’s also made of starlight, which is just an objective fact.” ‒Becca Stumpf, associate manager, creative marketing
Listen to an excerpt ANNE OF GREEN GABLES
“Choosing just one book boyfriend is hard, but the fictional boy who sends me right back to being a swooning teenager is Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. There are so many things to love: he has a British accent but speaks French fluently, is an excellent friend and son, and his history-nerd ways make him the world’s best Paris tour guide. I’m not saying that I made the itinerary for my first trip to Paris based off this book…but I definitely did. And really, a guy who knows the best spot for sandwiches makes my heart flutter.” ‒Erin Murphy, assistant, creative marketing
Listen to an excerpt ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
“Percy Jackson from Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Seaweed brain? More like when he’s here, my brain turns into seaweed. Hideo Tanaka from Warcross: Smart, rich, completely unavailable, and ridiculously attractive? I’ll take two! A brother would work just fine too. Eragon from the Inheritance Cycle: Forget magic-carpet ride, I’ll ride with you on your dragon any day. Day from the Legend series: There’s just something about rebel boys that makes for the perfect mix of gentle and caring—without hesitating to make the hard decisions.”
‒Gilcy Aquino, publicity and marketing intern
“Obviously, there are oodles of book boyfriends I rotate through, but two of my all-time favorites are Marcus Flutie from the Jessica Darling series and Matthew Clairmont from A Discovery of Witches. Marcus is the misunderstood rebel who is smart and writes poetry (reminiscent of Jordan Catalano in My So-Called Life or Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You). You will fall for Marcus Flutie! Matthew is just as swoon-worthy. He’s incredibly intelligent, deeply cares about his family, charming, and since he’s a vampire, he was friends with amazing historical figures like Christopher Marlowe.” –Taraneh DJangi, senior manager, creative marketing
Listen to an excerpt A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES
“The first time I fell in love I was 8 years old reading The Secret Garden for the first time. Dickon Sowerby was my epitome of the perfect boyfriend. I wanted him to rescue me like he rescued all those orphaned foxes and crows so we could live happily ever after in our own secret garden. I am what you would call a hopeless romantic and dreamer, spending most of my time inside my head. I guess that’s why the men in books are sometimes more real and enticing than the men IRL. Here are just some of my other favorite book boyfriends: Peter Kavinsky (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before), Augustus Waters (Fault in Our Stars), Willem (A Little Life), Jojo (Sing Unburied Sing), Tate (Where the Crawdads Sing), Peeta (Hunger Games), Mr. Knightley (Emma), Tea Cake (Their Eyes Were Watching God), and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing). They may not exist in real life, but they are certainly real to me.”
–Alexis Patterson, manager, strategic events & special projects
Listen to an excerpt WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
“Mine is Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables, but when I was younger, Will Parry from The Subtle Knife was a pretty great option! Also, King Mendanbar from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, or Sturm Brightblade from the Dragonlance Chronicles.” ‒Margaret Dunham, social media manager
Listen to an excerpt THE SUBTLE KNIFE
Fall in love with some of our book boyfriends by listening to these audiobooks:
Listen to an excerpt CHARMED THIRDS
Listen to an excerpt THE INHERITANCE CYCLE
Listen to an excerpt THE SECET GARDEN
The post Our Fictional Boyfriends: Book Boys We Love appeared first on Penguin Random House Audio.