03/16/2020
Rochon (the Holmes Brothers series) woos readers with ample wit and charm in this low-drama workplace romance. Samiah Brooks’s life takes a turn when she finds out via Twitter that her beau is cheating on her with two other women. In the applause-worthy confrontation that follows, Samiah loses a boyfriend but forges fast friendships with the women he’s cheated with, who join her in kicking the jerk to the curb. The trio, who dub themselves “Squad Goals,” makes a pact to forgo relationships for six months to focus on self-care and self-improvement. But then Samiah’s tech company hires dreamboat Daniel Collins, and Samiah becomes unsure that she’ll be able to keep her promise. Though Samiah and Daniel strike up a comfortable, flirtatious camaraderie that quickly becomes less work and more play, Rochon keeps their romance on a slow simmer as both put their career obligations before their desire to be together. Readers will long for greater emotional connection between the romantic leads but appreciate the emphasis on female friendship and empowerment. This effortless rom-com makes up for its lack of romantic conflict with an extra helping of sweetness. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (June)
"A prime example of how complex and insightful romances can be. Farrah Rochon deftly explores what it means to go viral, the unique joys of strong female friendships, and the particular struggles of Black women in the workplace, all within a great love story."—Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date
"The Boyfriend Project is rom-com joy... Rochon's warmth and easy humor sing off the pages, but the book also has plenty to say: about female friendships, about showing up for each other, about trust, and about racism. ...Rochon is incisively funny, gifted at winging between laugh-out-loud scenarios, crackling banter, and pointed social commentary. The Boyfriend Project is vibrantly realized, a modern-day tale with real-world stakes that will leave you giggling and swooning from cover to cover. Grade: A"—Entertainment Weekly
"A masterpiece of modern-day Jane Austen with effortless, razor-sharp social commentary, romance and humor. Farrah Rochon is one of the absolute best romance writers today. Period."—Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author
"A smart, funny digital-age romance about real women living in the real world. Couldn't put it down!"—Abby Jimenez, USA Today bestselling author of The Happy Ever After Playlist
"Farrah Rochon writes intensely real characters with flaws and gifts in equal measure. The Boyfriend Project is a multilayered story about friendship, love, and following your dreams — all of it told with heart and emotion."—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author
"Rochon's books are always witty, hot, and engaging."—BuzzFeed
"A smart, sexy and completely modern romance. The Boyfriend Project is the free-spirited, tell-it-like-it-is page-turner you've been looking for!"—Kwana Jackson, USA Today bestselling author of Real Men Knit
"I loved this book! The Boyfriend Project is a modern, cute, clever rom-com, and I can't wait for the next book. This is a girl gang I want to join."—Alisha Rai, author of The Right Swipe
"The Boyfriend Project is a wonderful mix of what I love in romance: romantic tenderness, great chemistry, bright individuals, expertise in their jobs, deep friendships with secondary characters, and excellent conflict between them leading to great trust-building."—Frolic
"Funny, fresh, sexy, and heartfelt. This is my new favorite romance series!"—Suzanne Brockmann, New York Times bestselling author
"Farrah Rochon writes delectable love stories with characters so warm that I want to hang out with them in real life. Samiah's hopes and dreams and fears are relatable and real, and I don't blame her at all for bending the rules of her no-dating pact with the extremely tasty Daniel. I smiled the whole time I was reading The Boyfriend Project."—Andie J. Christopher, author of Not the Girl You Marry
"The Boyfriend Project has it all-swoon-worthy romance, the power of true friendship, and a grand gesture that makes your heart sigh with pure satisfaction. Absolutely a must-read summer romance!"—Priscilla Oliveras, USA Today bestselling author
"Rochon is a romance master who adeptly writes interesting and dynamic characters. ...A richly layered conflict adds depth and complexity to this charming workplace romance."—Kirkus
"Rochon's latest is ideal for anyone wanting positive representations of strong women in STEM fields, especially with its exploration of the specific challenges faced by black women. It will also please fans of office romances and Christina Lauren's Dating You/Hating You."—Library Journal
"Rochon woos readers with ample wit and charm in this low-drama workplace romance."—Publishers Weekly
"There's so much to love in this — smart, highly competent and sexy romantic leads, strong female friendships and a dose of intrigue — and it kicks off what promises to be an excellent series."—NPR
"Rochon's new multicultural contemporary romance series deploys the delicious tensions generated by an office romance, corporate intrigue, and female empowerment."—Booklist
"A clever, pleasurable read."—BookPage
"Think John Tucker Must Die, but with an uplifting, female-empowerment twist."—Betches
“Rochon’s style is stunning, her characters are riveting, and the end of this novel will leave you wanting more.”—Marvelous Geeks Media
05/01/2020
When the man Samiah Brooks is dating turns out to be a three-timing jerk, she counts herself lucky to walk away with two new best friends and a renewed dedication to her personal goals. The three catfished women make a pact to spend the time they'd use on dating on themselves instead, but Samiah's resolve is immediately tested by the hot new hire at her office. Samiah and Daniel's attraction is instant but complicated by Daniel's motivation for joining her firm. While he has all the coding skills of a tech superstar, his true goal is uncovering and taking down a money-laundering scheme. Although some may struggle with the element of deception attached to Daniel's work, the slow-burn romance, supportive female friendships, and fresh, exciting depictions of working in a trendy Austin, TX, tech firm will leave most readers eager for more entries in the series. VERDICT Rochon's ("Moments in Mapleville" series) latest is ideal for anyone wanting positive representations of strong women in STEM fields, especially with its exploration of the specific challenges faced by black women. It will also please fans of office romances and Christina Lauren's Dating You/Hating You.—Meagan Day, High Plains Lib. Dist., CO
2020-03-15
After becoming the star of a viral video, a software engineer swears off dating.
Samiah Brooks is horrified to discover her new boyfriend was cheating on her with not just one, but two other women. After her very public breakup with him goes viral, she's surprised to find herself developing a close friendship with the other two girlfriends. The three women vow to work on achieving their individual goals rather than hunting for better boyfriends. Samiah, a talented and successful software engineer, decides to finally develop an app that would help people find platonic friends through shared interests. However, Samiah’s vow to swear off men is challenged by a new colleague at her high-powered Austin tech firm. Daniel Collins is a hardworking and handsome new member of her team. Instead of laughing at her viral breakup video, he is genuinely worried about her well-being. They strike up a tentative friendship, but Samiah doesn’t realize Daniel has his own reasons for fighting their growing attraction: He's working undercover for the Department of the Treasury, investigating a possible connection between their firm and a money laundering ring. Rochon is a romance master who adeptly writes interesting and dynamic characters. Samiah’s work ethic and need for control are rooted in childhood adversity, but she still craves friendship and love. After her public humiliation, she's relieved that Daniel seems so trustworthy and kind; meanwhile, he’s tortured by the fact that lying to her is a requirement of his real job. The conflict is thorny and real without being melodramatic. Notably, the book unflinchingly portrays the obstacles Samiah faces as a black woman in a STEM field and her determination to pull other black women and girls up the ladder.
A richly layered conflict adds depth and complexity to this charming workplace romance.
Narrator Je Nie Fleming adds sass and personality to this contemporary workplace rom-com featuring a Black woman who works in the technology sector. After Samiah Brooks discovers her boyfriend is triple-timing her, she befriends the other two wronged women, and together they vow to focus on their careers instead of their love lives. Fleming delivers the full gamut of Samiah’s reactions: her embarrassment at being in a viral Twitter video, her struggles with an idea-stealing co-worker, her loyalty to her new friends, and her passion for Daniel—the very cute recent hire at work. Despite her promise to ignore men, Samiah can’t help herself. Breath sounds and Fleming’s slightly choppy delivery aside, listeners will be fully engrossed in the hot romance and will root for Samiah as she proves herself to be a smart, powerful woman. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Narrator Je Nie Fleming adds sass and personality to this contemporary workplace rom-com featuring a Black woman who works in the technology sector. After Samiah Brooks discovers her boyfriend is triple-timing her, she befriends the other two wronged women, and together they vow to focus on their careers instead of their love lives. Fleming delivers the full gamut of Samiah’s reactions: her embarrassment at being in a viral Twitter video, her struggles with an idea-stealing co-worker, her loyalty to her new friends, and her passion for Daniel—the very cute recent hire at work. Despite her promise to ignore men, Samiah can’t help herself. Breath sounds and Fleming’s slightly choppy delivery aside, listeners will be fully engrossed in the hot romance and will root for Samiah as she proves herself to be a smart, powerful woman. C.B.L. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
