The Best Book Boyfriends of 2021
If you love accumulating book boyfriends as much as I do then you’re going to want to check out this list!
In it I share the top 10 best book boyfriends of 2021.
*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
You can never have too many book boyfriends, am I right?
It’s just one of the many perks of reading romance books in my opinion – finding another AMAZING book boyfriend to love and call my own.
Since I’m all about helping romance book lovers find the best romance books worth reading as well as the best book boyfriends to fall for, I decided to create an annual list of my favorites.
In this book list you’ll find my most favorite book boyfriends who emerged in new romance book releases of 2021, with most coming from my most favorite romance books of 2021.
While I can’t lay claim to finding every possible book boyfriend (as there are just SO many new releases being published each year), if every you were looking to find the best, then I volunteer these as tribute.
This year’s top 10 book boyfriends list are all contemporary romance heroes with the exception of one fantasy book boyfriend (no offense historical romance hero – I hope to find you next year!).
I know you’re going to love them as much as I do!
Check them all out below and then visit my Book Boyfriend page that has all things book boyfriend-related. Don’t forget to take my quiz to find out your book boyfriend type too!
My Favorite Book Boyfriends of 2021
Rhys from Exposed
by Kristen Callihan
Rhys completely and utterly captured my heart and he earned the top award for best book boyfriend of 2021. Let’s note his qualifications shall we?
- He’s a world-famous rock star who makes time for the important people in his life.
- After overhearing what Brenna needs, he volunteers himself to satisfy her in every and any way she needs it.
- The man is a bassist and clearly has skills with his fingers.
- He listens, doesn’t push and is honest with Brenna where he hasn’t been with anyone else.
Gah! This man was so hot and kind and just the overall full package in my book making him a top book boyfriend.
Book Synopsis:
Rye, the bassist for the biggest rock band in the world, and Brenna, his publicist are like oil and water. But everything changes when he overhears something he shouldn’t: a confession made in a moment of weakness.
Now the man Brenna’s tried so hard to ignore is offering her the greatest temptation of all—him.
Declan from Carnal Urges
by J.T. Geissinger
Declan took the award for best dirty talker in 2021 and it was totally deserved! Plus the man has an Irish brogue so come on – how can that idea alone not turn you on?
This man is alpha man personified given the business he’s in, and yet Sloane hung right with him. She was just so feisty and that brought out even more of his hot alpha-ness. I loved it.
He totally dominated Sloane while worshipping her like a queen.
But beyond his commanding ways, I loved the conversations between these two where they essentially bared their souls to one another. Gah- that is almost more hot than their under the covers time. Geissinger writes the best alpha heroes and best dirty talkers and Declan is definitely a keeper!
Book Synopsis:
Declan blames me for starting a war. Consorting with his enemies. Though I’m innocent on all charges, he wants his pound of flesh and makes me his captive.
But as we’ll both soon discover, there are more powerful urges than sticking it to your enemies.
Tobias from The Finish Line
by Kate Stewart
I don’t know, Tobias is right up there with Rhys as the best book boyfriend of 2021. Like most readers who have finished the Ravehood series note, this man sticks with you for days and months long after you finish this book.
I mean I’m still thinking about him a year later and reread my favorite passages from this book.
First of all, this man is French and presents a take no prisoners attitude when it comes to fulfilling his goals, no matter the cost. His dedication to his cause alone is one of the hottest things about the man.
Of course his absolute devotion and obsession with Cecelia is equally as hot because she captivates him body and soul.
This man YEARNS for his queen and will grovel and repent and turn his life upside down just to be in the same room as her.
The flashbacks in this book are what make the story for me and which help shape the man I had already fallen for in Exodus.
If I ever want another man in my corner to protect, love and cherish me – it would be Tobias. My Review.
Book Synposis:
My life has been full of secrets and lies for one purpose—revenge. To enact my revenge I had to deny my heart – until her.
Giving in, we exploded together but we’ve both paid the price. I tried living without her but now I’m back to claim her once again and hope that my past doesn’t get us both in the end.
Adam from The Love Hypothesis
by Ali Hazelwood
Adam takes the cake for the strong, silent book boyfriend who’s kindness sneaks up on you when he’s not presenting his grumpy side.
Hazelwood dazzled me with this professor whose book smarts and professionalism are as equally hot as his desire for Olive.
“He kisses, Olive thought, like a man starved.” Yes- this!!
Alex is the type of book boyfriend I adore who’s smart and opinionated and yet kind and gentle toward the woman who steals his heart. Plus, their first time together was just so perfect and REAL. I loved it and love him.
Book Synopsis:
As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn’t believe in lasting romantic relationships–but her best friend does, and that’s what got her into this situation.
Trying to convince Anh that she is indeed dating, Olive kisses the first man she sees – Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor–and well-known ass.
Adam surprisingly agrees to keep her dating charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive’s career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding…six-pack abs.
Aaron from The Spanish Love Deception
by Elena Armas
Aaron is an example of why I love so many book boyfriends in fake relationship romance books.
It’s the slow burn intensity and often the inability for the hero to deny his feelings for his woman that gets me every time and again in this romance which was one of my favorites of 2021.
Not only did I find Aaron is so incredibly HOT, especially in his bantering with Catalina, but this man takes the award for consent.
I just love how that came across in this book while also showing his dominant side in going after what he wanted.
Book Synopsis:
Catalina Martin is in a bind. She does NOT want to show up single at her sister’s wedding with her ex in attendance and his new fiancé.
Nor does she want to take up her infuriating co-worker’s offer to travel to Spain and be her fake boyfriend. Yet she really has no choice but to take up the charade.
Brendan from It Happened One Summer
by Tessa Bailey
This book just made me smile the entire time I was reading it because Brendan AND Piper just made me so happy. This was more of a lighter, flirty romance but still just as captivating and hot.
Brendan stands out as a book boyfriend because he loved Piper for who she was and never wanted to change her.
Despite being complete opposites and getting off on the wrong foot, he just fell for HER when others never really saw her for her or only used her for what she could offer.
That reason alone makes Brendan one of 2021’s best book boyfriends and this one of the best books of 2021. My Review.
Book Synopsis:
Piper Bellinger may be a fashionable influencer, but when her wild child reputation goes a bit too far and lands her in the slammer, her stepfather cuts her off.
Hoping to teach her a lesson, he sends her off to Washington to run her late father’s dive bar where she meets a big surly sea captain who instantly knows she doesn’t belong in their small town.
Brendan figures Piper won’t last a week outside of Beverly Hills even if there is an undeniable attraction between the two opposites.
Piper is determined to prove everyone wrong and can’t risk any distractions, including the feelings she’s beginning to have for the sailor.
Alex from The People We Meet on Vacation
by Emily Henry
Alex is an example of how my book boyfriends come in all types. He’s a bit reserved and a complete opposite to the carefree Poppy but he’s her person for better or worse.
I mean the man travels to all manner of places, even those he doesn’t care for, just to be with his friend who he cares for more than anything.
I legit balled my eyes out during parts of this book because they made me feel so much. Alex freely gives of his heart and yet fiercely protects it at the same time.
He’s the best book boyfriend because he was everything to Poppy.
Book Synopsis:
Alex and Poppy have been the best of friends ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago.
Despite being complete opposites and living far apart, every summer they have vacationed for a week together until two years ago when things were ruined.
Not having spoken since, Poppy realizes she needs to fix things and asks Alex to take one more vacation with her so that they can lay everything out on the table and make it right.
Casteel from The Crown of Gilded Bones
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Oh Casteel, be still my heart! I first fell for you in From Blood and Ash and you continue to steal my heart in the subsequent books in this series, including The Crown of Gilded Bones.
You may have torn my heart out though in this one with your sacrifice but man I do love you.
What’s so great about this series is that we get more of such a great couple AFTER they become a couple. In this book, I just soaked up each and every conversation between Casteel and Poppy.
It is Casteel’s constant devotion to Poppy, his protection of her and his love for her that knows no bounds that earns him the title of one of the best book boyfriends.
Book Synopsis:
Poppy is the Chosen, the Blessed. The true ruler of Atlantia. She carries the blood of the King of Gods within her.
By right the crown and the kingdom are hers and now she must choose to either forsake her birthright or seize the gilded crown and become the Queen of Flesh and Fire.
But as the kingdoms’ dark sins and blood-drenched secrets finally unravel, a long-forgotten power rises to pose a genuine threat to her and Casteel.
Gunner from Hard to Lose
by K. Bromberg
I dare you not to fall for Gunner. The veteran who gives back to his hometown and who is the perfect flirt! I adored his first meeting with Chase and then it was on.
I loved how both Chase and Gunner opened up to each other, shared their deepest truths and just fell head over heels for one another when it was something they least expected.
Gunner is the perfect book boyfriend because he’s just a nice guy. He’s open, caring, thoughtful and loved Chase for who she is.
Plus, he plans the BEST dates! That goes far in my book for any boyfriend 😊 My Review.
Book Synopsis:
Chase Kincaid is thrown when she receives a letter sent to her family’s sports agency that was sent five years earlier from a baseball prospect that never came to be because he enlisted in the army.
Something about that letter pulls on Chase so she’s off to find the mystery ball player – and possibly pull some good PR from him for her company. She just didn’t expect to fall for him.
Eli from The Plight Before Christmas
by Kate Stewart
Eli earned his spot on this list of best book boyfriends of 2021 for his tenacity and willingness to apologize and seek forgiveness when it was long overdue.
I mean the man has to be serious if he’s willing to crash an ex’s family Christmas, am I right?!
From the sweetness he showed Whitney’s nieces and nephews to his willingness to jump right in with the crazy Collins family, this man proved he was all in when it came to Whitney.
It was because he cared so much for her that he had hurt her in the first place, and his story as to the why broke my heart.
And his need to claim her when someone else looked like he was encroaching on his “territory” was amazing in more ways than one. My Review.
Book Synopsis:
Whitney Collins has had it rough the last month but she’s on her way to her grandparent’s cabin to spend the Christmas holiday with her family. She did not plan on also spending it with her ex whom her brother happens to bring along.
Now she’s stuck with Eli for the week, the man who broke her heart nearly two decades ago. Between memories that resurface and the way he’s looking at her, Whitney’s not sure her heart is going to survive the holiday.
Do you have a favorite book boyfriend who emerged in 2021? Please share him in the comments as we can never have too many book boyfriends!
Looking For More Book Boyfriends?
Don’t miss my one stop for all things book boyfriends including links to more lists like this one.
