The Book Boyfriend

Book excerpt: After Callie’s debut romance novel is an unexpected hit, she thinks nothing can surprise her—until the man of her dreams seems to walk out of the book and into her life. The last thing Callie Richardson expected was her debut romance novel, Ready to Fall, to top the charts. Nor did she think her readers would become obsessive over her book’s hero, Hudson Newman. Life couldn’t get any stranger. But then her assistant announces that Hudson Newman wants to see her. She’s convinced her best friend is playing a joke on her, because no one in her office knows she’s written a book. Plus, the name is fictional, a mashup of famous actors. So when the stunning man steps into her office, she thinks she must be dreaming. Except this Hudson Newman wears a scowl rather than a model-worthy smile. After confirming his name is in fact the same as her character’s, he proceeds to tell Callie that her book’s success has turned his orderly world upside down. Not only that, but her readers have set out to make Hudson the hero of their hoped-for romances. After weeks of receiving gifts—from candy to lingerie to things that make Callie blush—Hudson has had enough and tells Callie she needs to get her overzealous fans off his back. He smiles smugly and gives her two choices—delist the book or date him. That was the moment Callie found herself in a fake relationship with a real-life book boyfriend.