What Are Book Boyfriends? A List of the Most Swoonworthy Characters

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Learn the qualities of a Book Boyfriend & where this term came from

Co-authored by Grant Faulkner, MA and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: August 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is a book boyfriend?

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Origins

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Popular Book Boyfriends

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Why are book boyfriends so popular?

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Other Bookish Terms

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From Mr. Darcy to Xaden Riorson, writers have been giving us swoon-worthy male characters for centuries. These days, we even have a term for them—book boyfriends. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about book boyfriends, including what they are, where the term came from, and why they’re so popular. Plus, we’ve also compiled a list of some of the most popular book boyfriends to help you find your next fictional crush.

Book Boyfriends, Explained

A book boyfriend is simply a book character you have a crush on. They’re usually the love interest from a popular romance or fantasy series, though they can also be side characters. Book boyfriends are typically conventionally attractive and completely devoted to their love interest.

Section 1 of 5:

What is a book boyfriend?

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A book boyfriend is a fictional crush from a book. Book boyfriends are commonly found in romance, fantasy, and “romantasy” (romantic fantasy) books, and are usually the main character’s love interest. They’re typically portrayed as physically attractive and are written to be the perfect partner, so readers often develop a crush on them.^{[1]
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- People who like women often refer to their fictional female crushes as “book girlfriends.”
- A book boyfriend can also be a side character, though this is less common.
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Book boyfriends are typically ideal partners, but some can be toxic. Because everyone has different qualities they look for in a partner, there isn’t a set list of traits for a character to be considered a book boyfriend. In general, they’re the ideal romantic partner, so many of them are loyal, intelligent, respectful, and sensitive. However, others may be mysterious, brooding, and in some cases, even toxic.^{[2]
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- Some readers don’t view their book boyfriends as someone they’d want to date in real life. They’re aware of the character’s toxic qualities but still enjoy the fantasy while knowing the character wouldn’t be a good partner in real life.

Section 2 of 5:

Where did the term “book boyfriend” come from?

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The term “book boyfriend” likely originated in the romance community. While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact origins of the term “book boyfriend,” it is most prevalent in the romance book community. The phrase has been used in YouTube videos and blog posts for years.
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Book boyfriends started trending on TikTok in the early 2020s. Although the term “book boyfriend” has been used in the bookish community for years, it gained wider recognition outside of that community due to the rise of BookTok, the bookish side of TikTok. Popular creators post videos about their book boyfriends, and in turn, introduce the term to new readers or anyone who comes across their videos.
- Some authors also advertise their books by making TikToks labeling their characters as book boyfriends. Many authors have even titled their books Book Boyfriend, like Emily Wibberley, Lucy Vine, and Claire Kingsley.
- Creators also post about their book boyfriends on other social media platforms, like Bookstagram (the bookish side of Instagram).

Section 3 of 5:

Popular Book Boyfriends

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Rhysand from A Court of Thorns and Roses When readers are introduced to Rhysand in the first A Court of Thorns and Roses book, they usually don’t expect him to become the ultimate book boyfriend. However, it’s hard not to fall for him when you see his relationship with Feyre develop in A Court of Mist and Fury.^{[3]
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- Why do fans love him? Fans love Rhysand because he’s a complex character who is initially portrayed as morally gray and is later revealed to be caring, vulnerable, and charming. Readers also enjoy the flirtatious banter between him and Feyre.
- What’s the book about? The A Court of Thorns and Roses series follows Feyre, a young huntress who is taken from her home in the human world to live in the fae realm of Prythian, where she falls in love and fights to free the realm from evil forces.
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Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice Perhaps the original book boyfriend, Mr. Darcy is the love interest from Jane Austen’s classic novel, Pride and Prejudice. With how many Pride and Prejudice adaptations and retellings there have been over the years, there’s no doubt Mr. Darcy has been living in readers’ minds rent-free since 1813.^{[4]
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- Why do fans love him? Fans swoon over Mr. Darcy because of his character development. He begins as an aloof character who seems to look down upon others, including Lizzie and her family. However, his love for Lizzie forces him to confront his flaws, learn from his mistakes, and become a better person. Plus, who doesn’t love a good enemies-to-lovers trope?
- What’s the book about? Pride and Prejudice follows the love story of Lizzie Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a wealthy aristocratic landowner, as they overcome their (you guessed it) pride and prejudice toward each other and fall in love.
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Edward Cullen from Twilight In the early 2010s, you couldn’t go anywhere without Twihards (Twilight fans) arguing over who was better—Edward Cullen or Jacob Black. Twilight may not be as popular as it once was, but our list wouldn’t be complete without the brooding, mysterious (and sparkling) Edward Cullen.
- Why do fans love him? Readers obsess over Edward Cullen because of his protective nature and intense love for Bella. Fans also love his complexity, as he often grapples with his monstrous nature and his desire for Bella. Plus, a lot of people just think vampires are sexy.
- What’s the book about? Twilight is a YA (young adult) paranormal romance series that follows 17-year-old Bella Swan as she moves to the small town of Forks, Washington, and falls in love with her standoffish classmate, Edward Cullen, who is secretly a vampire.
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Xaden Riorson from Fourth Wing Fourth Wing is one of the most popular books on BookTok and for good reason—it’s fast-paced, adventurous, and it introduced us to Xaden Riorson. Thank you, Rebecca Yarros!^{[5]
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- Why do fans love him? Fans love Xaden because he’s a mysterious character with a dark past, who is also vulnerable and deeply devoted to Violet. Their emotionally-charged relationship is filled with tension and constantly leaves readers begging for more. Plus, lots of readers swoon over the book’s spicy scenes.
- What’s the book about? The Fourth Wing series follows Violet Sorrengail, the daughter of a military general, as she enlists in the Basgiath War College to become a dragon rider for her kingdom’s military. Along the way, she meets Xaden Riorson, the son of a rebellion leader forced to enroll at the college (by Violet’s mother) for his father’s crimes. Talk about a true enemies-to-lovers.
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Johnny Kavanagh from The Boys of Tommen The Boys of Tommen is one of the most popular romance series on BookTok, and fans just can’t seem to get enough of Johnny Kavanagh, the protagonist of the first two books in the series (Binding 13 and Keeping 13). These books are perfect if you prefer a slow burn, friends-to-lovers trope over enemies-to-lovers.
- Why do fans love him? Fans adore the raw and vulnerable relationship between Johnny and Shannon. They love how protective, loyal, and supportive Johnny is, and they’re charmed by his dimples and Dublin accent.
- What’s the book about? The Boys of Tommen is a book series set in Cork, Ireland, that follows the lives of Johnny Kavanagh, Shannon Lynch, and their friends as they navigate the complexities of their prestigious private school, Tommen College.
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Aaron Warner from Shatter Me If you like your book boyfriends a little villainous, Aaron Warner is the man for you. The Shatter Me series explores Warner’s complexity as he redeems himself, falls for Juliette, and becomes the perfect book boyfriend along the way.^{[6]
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- Why do fans love him? Fans love Aaron Warner because they resonate with his journey from a villain to a nuanced character. They adore his devotion to Juliette, his willingness to fight for her, and his ability to be both strong and vulnerable.
- What’s the book about? Shatter Me is a YA dystopian series that follows Juliette, a 17-year-old girl who can kill people with just her touch. After being jailed for accidentally killing a boy, Juliette is freed by Warner, the son of the dystopian government’s Supreme Commander, and it is revealed that the government intends to use her as a weapon.

Section 4 of 5:

Why are book boyfriends so popular?

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Book boyfriends are an escape from reality. Book boyfriends are, ultimately, a fantasy. Whether readers are single or in a relationship, they can imagine themselves in a perfect relationship with someone who embodies all the traits they look for in a partner. Having a book boyfriend allows readers to momentarily escape from the stress of modern dating.
- Having a book boyfriend while being in a real relationship doesn’t mean your partner doesn’t live up to your expectations or that you don’t want to be with them. It’s just a fictional crush!

Section 5 of 5:

Other Bookish Terms & Tropes

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IYTHIKY If you like your book boyfriends to be protective, this is the trope for you. IYTHIKY stands for “If you touch her, I’ll kill you.” This phrase (or something similar) is often uttered by book boyfriends when another character threatens or harasses their love interest.
- This phrase can also be a bit toxic, as characters who are jealous and possessive may threaten anyone who seems interested in their love interest.
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Enemies-to-Lovers Enemies-to-lovers is a popular trope used in romantasy books, and as the name suggests, involves two enemies falling in love with each other. The two love interests start off hating each other (or at least thinking they do) but ultimately come to realize their true feelings.^{[7]
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- Enemies-to-lovers is usually found in fantasy or romantasy books, though it can be used in contemporary romance, as well. In these cases, though, it’s usually more of a rivals-to-lovers situation.
- Want more book tropes? Check out our comprehensive list for the most popular genres!
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HEA The bookish community uses a lot of acronyms, so it can be hard to know what people are talking about if you aren’t in the loop. HEA is one of the most popular acronyms in the romance community, as it stands for “happily ever after.” This means that the couple stays together and metaphorically rides off into the sunset at the end of the book or series.^{[8]
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Grumpy Sunshine Grumpy Sunshine is one of the most popular romance tropes. It’s similar to “opposites attract” in that one character is grumpy and moody and the other is bubbly and cheerful. Despite their differences, the characters balance each other out well.^{[9]
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- In heterosexual romances, the male character is usually the grumpy one and the female character is usually the sunshine one. When these personalities are reversed, some readers call it “Reverse Grumpy Sunshine.”
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Who did this to you? Ah, the iconic “Who did this to you?” trope. This phrase is usually said by book boyfriends when they discover that their love interest has been hurt. In many cases, especially with enemies-to-lovers books, this is the first time the book boyfriend shows that he cares about his love interest—and fans eat it up!