Once Upon a Boy Band by Jenny Proctor is a really good story. I enjoyed every minute of this read. The characters are realistic and relatable and endearing. Laney is a totally believable heroine. I certainly had tween/teen dreams of meeting Donnie Wahlberg from NKOTB. Sure, I played MASH and envisioned marrying him. But I never actually believed it would happen. Same with Laney. In fact, it’s quite hilarious when she discovers who Adam really is. I very much enjoyed that reveal! But I also enjoyed watching Laney be her authentic self with Adam before she knew who he really was and afterwards, too. Adam captured my heart from the very beginning. It is obvious he wears his big, squishy heart on his sleeve and he wants to be the best man he possibly can be. I love how Laney helps bring Adam out of his shell. In fact, Laney and Adam’s relationship journey is my absolute favorite aspect of this novel. I love how the two build each other up and are there for one another no matter what. They are really good friends first. Yes, their chemistry is amazing. But I really appreciate their friendship, their communication, and their ability to be vulnerable with each other. It’s so sweet, and I was cheering for them very early on. I’ve seen several reviews ask for this book to become a series so we can dive into the lives of the other boy banders, and I wholeheartedly agree. Not only did I love Laney and Adam, but I am so ready to read about Adam’s fellow bandmates. They all captured my heart! In addition to the well-done, excellently crafted characters, the topics that Proctor’s characters deal with over the course of this story are real and raw and full of depth. Don’t be fooled by the title of this book. This is a story that tackles a ton of stuff really well. Once Upon a Boy Band is definitely NOT a Hallmark-y story. My emotions ran the gamut. One minute I was smiling big time, then I was chuckling, and then I was crying. It was great, and I really did love every minute.

Once Upon a Boy Band is a really excellent Contemporary Romance. I highly recommend this story. If you are in the mood for a sweet, highly-engaging story that isn’t afraid to delve into deeper matters, then this is definitely the story for you.