The Best Book Boyfriends of 2025

Whenever I pick up a new romance book I know I have the opportunity to meet a new, favorite book boyfriend and since I’m a collector of book boyfriends I like to share my list of favorites every year so that you can fall in love with them right along with me.

My favorite book boyfriends of 2025 include professional athletes, a Fae warrior, a quiet cinematographer, a cancer researcher, a single father, a widower, a wolf shifter, a farmer, and a lawyer into kink among others. I don’t discriminate when it comes to the romantic heroes I fall for only that they treat their partners RIGHT (and have that little something extra).

This list includes my favorite book boyfriends from the new releases that I read this year. Many are also from the books that made my list of best romance books of 2025, and I’m so happy that several were from picks for the She Reads Romance Books Book Club.

For even more book boyfriends, check out my Book Boyfriend Hub, but here’s to the men I fell for in 2025!

Happy reading…because life is better with a love story!

She Reads Romance Books Podcast Episode 136: Best Book Boyfriends of 2025

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My Favorite Book Boyfriends of 2025

Kingfisher
Brimstone
by Callie Hart

I fell so hard for Kingfisher reading both Quicksilver  and Brimstone this year. This Fae warrior has lived for over a thousand years and has endured hardships I couldn’t imagine but when it comes to his love and devotion to his mate, Saeris, OMG there’s no one who loves any deeper. Listening to Anthony Palmini’s voice is EVERYTHING in the duet narration audiobooks when Fisher is professing his undying love for Saeris. I seriously just want to rewind and relisten to those moments where he explains how deep his love for her goes, it’s what anyone would dream of in a partner.

James
In Your Dreams
by Sarah Adams

I joked in my review of In Your Dreams that I need to move to fictional Rome, Kentucky because my new favorite book boyfriend lives there and I NEED him. James is truly one of a kind. He’s not just a hunky farmer with a pretty face and hot bod (but I’ll take those too). I loved every moment that her saw Madison for who she is and for what she needed. In some cases, even more so than her siblings who she is very close to. I mean, the man created an entire new restaurant on his farm for her that he absolutely didn’t want, just to get her back in town!

He may come across as a cinnamon roll, but he also has his edges (drop that cig my man I need you living a long life!).  I may have been in my cowboy romance era this year but James is having me crave a farmer romance era 😊.

My book review of In Your Dreams.

Dan
It’s a Love Story
by Annabel Monaghan

Dan is one of those book boyfriends who has lived in my head long after finishing his love story with Jane. I just loved everything about this quiet hero who pursued his dreams even though they were the opposite of everyone in his family. He had this confidence in himself and I loved how some of that spilled into Jane during their quiet conversations each night in the dark. He is simply the best, most thoughtful man.

My book review of It’s a Love Story.

Xaden
Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros

In case I didn’t love Xaden enough after reading the first two books in the Empyrian series, there’s only more to love in Onyx Storm.  Oh, how I love this tortured hero who has even more demons to wrestle with in this book than he has in the previous books of the series. And yet, his devotion to Violet is steadfast and his love knows no bounds. He is TOP book boyfriend material and keeps grabbing more of my heart with each book.

My book review of Onyx Storm.

Emmett
Breathe With Me
by Becka Mack

Becka blew me away with Emmett’s depth in Breathe With Me, which is not only one incredibly hot book, but also a romance that tore my heart out and pulled on all my heartstrings. The struggle with fertility is real and affects so many couples, including the star married couple of the Playing for Keeps series. While this is definitely Cara’s story, Emmett showed up as the best husband (and therefore one of my favorite book boyfriends) to her from the moment he set eyes on her.

He is so sexy, so devoted, dedicated to his wife’s pleasure and happiness, and is one amazing hockey player and father.

Miles
Promise Me Sunshine
by Cara Bastone

Cara absolutely blew me away with this book this year. I mean how does one create the perfect slow burn romance amidst such heavy grief, but she nailed it! And why this book still has a hold on my heart is because of Miles. This man single handedly helped Lenny through the heavy grief that gripped her and kept her life stagnant.

Throughout the story, he is there for Lenny however and whenever she needs a shoulder to lean on, and yet never forced anything between them. If anything, he pushed her to make more friends, and to spend more time with people other than him and that’s when I knew he was so selfless and only wanted the best for her. Plus, he’s desperate to do anything to get closer to his sister and niece. I loved him so much – the perfect book boyfriend!

My book review of Promise Me Sunshine.

Henry
Grace and Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon
by Matthew Norman

Henry made my list of favorite book boyfriends for many reasons, top of which is how he saved the mice (and you’re just going to have to read this story to understand that!). This man was grieving his wife but slowly opened himself up to a friendship with Grace that slowly turned into more.

I loved how he was also there for Grace’s two kids and became a welcomed friend to them and how he ultimately put himself out there to her. The scene where he put his heart on the line broke me. He ultimately made my list of favorite book boyfriends because he is a man with such a sweet heart.

My book review of Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon.

Koen
Mate
by Ali Hazelwood

Surprisingly, Koen may be the only alpha male on my list of favorite book boyfriends this year and boy does he deserve this accolade. I loved his leadership and his dedication to his pack and how he never acted (or withheld action) without purpose. He might have been a man of few words, but when he used them it was either in the form of the best banter or the best dirty talk. And any book boyfriend who can take care of his mate while in heat and cater to her every need will earn a spot on my favorites list each and every time.

My book review of Mate.

Robbie
Pitcher Perfect
by Tessa Bailey

Tessa Bailey has completely wowed me with her Big Shots series with several of her heroes landing on my best book boyfriends list (I see you Wells and Sig!). But Robbie “orgasm donor” Carrigan…oh man, he instantly landed on this list because I loved how much attention, care and love he showered on Skylar.

Robbie was all in to help Skylar get the attention of another guy even though he fell head over heels after meeting her and it was so cute watching him do his best to win her over. Plus, he was the most amazing teacher in the bedroom with their hot and heavy make out sessions where he just made her feel confident and cherished. And the dirty talk, don’t even get me started. He was just the perfect package.

My book review of Pitcher Perfect.

Sig
Dream Girl Drama
by Tessa Bailey

While I loved Robbie, I cannot leave Sig out of my list of favorite book boyfriends of this year because this man was equally as gone for Chloe after their first meeting. And even though she was soon to become his step-sister, the man was there for Chloe in every way – helping her gain her independence in Boston with putting her up in an apartment, buying her her favorite Pop-Tarts, driving hours to get her her lucky shirt, getting up at the crack of dawn to keep her safe while walking her dog.

I mean the man was relentless in his acts of kindness and my heart was so full after the scene when Chloe realizes the extent to which he his actions have done for her. Love me this hockey hottie with a heart of gold!

My book review of Dream Girl Drama.

Forrest
Any Trope But You
by Victoria Lavine

I dare you not to fall hard for Forrest in this novel. I mean the man is the full package. He is not only a HOT lumberjack who chops wood but he’s also extremely intelligent and top in his field of cancer research. He can cook, has a heart of gold and is such a good caretaker of everyone in his life. Who wouldn’t want a Forrest in their life? He’s someone who is willing to sacrifice his own needs for the happiness of others and I just couldn’t get enough of him.

My book review of Any Trope But You.

Rhys
Wild Side
by Elsie Silver

Do I need to explain why Rhys made my list other than he is a professional wrestler, like WWE style? Besides his super cool profession, which you think would make the man a big wild or cocky or full of himself but he is quite the quiet man who becomes this rock for Tabitha and Milo. I mean he is willing to enter a marriage of convenience with a woman who does not like him and is not shy about sharing her dislike all because he wants to protect this boy who is not even his biological son.

But despite his crazy work schedule, he is THERE for Tabitha and present for them, trying his best to be helpful and supportive. And don’t even get me started about the man in the bedroom. He is sooo hot. Tabitha you are one lucky woman.

Shane
Willing Prey
by Allie Oleander

Shane was such a surprise and boy did I instantly love him in this kinky romance. He’s a man who totally fell hard for a woman who has a particular kink and then he went about educating himself on it even to the point of practicing it, just so that he could get the chance to invite her to become his prey. He is a total alpha on the hunts and I loved that about him, and yet underneath the alpha exterior is a man who I’d almost describe as a cinnamon roll in the way that he was such a newbie to kink and his obsession with Claire.

Isn’t that the best kind of book boyfriend. A man who would do anything for the woman he is obsessed with and who is a freak in the sheets (or in this case the woods) and yet who is also such a freakin’ sweetheart.

My book review of Willing Prey.

Sawyer
Sawyer
by Jessica Peterson

What is it about single dads that make themselves the best book boyfriends and boy does Sawyer take the cake in this one. The man looks fine in chaps, is a super hot cowboy who looks good on a horse or carrying sheep. He looks edible in a backward baseball hat, dancing at a honky tonk AND the man is all about supporting his partner and being an equal partner in all areas of their life.

He cooks, he cleans, he knows when Ava could use a time-out or a nap. Plus, he can laugh and balance being super fun and super hot in the bedroom. Who doesn’t want a man who doesn’t expect the woman to do it all but shares the load?

My book review of Sawyer.

Ryder
He Falls First
by Jill Shalvis

Ryder instantly became one of my favorite book boyfriends because he is so emotionally intelligent. He is the older brother of the family and is always the one who looks out for his younger siblings given how they grew up with an abusive father. Despite his past, he is a man who is extremely patient, kind and emotionally aware which makes him the perfect match for Penny because she just left an abusive relationship. Ryder made me swoon time and time again with his patience and how he let Penny set the pace for their relationship. I don’t think you can get any more perfect than that.

My book review of He Falls First.

Charlie
One Golden Summer
by Carley Fortune

Oh Charlie. How could I not include you this year because you are just so fun. I loved how carefree you were with Alice and how you helped her to let her guard down, relax and have fun. You were also such a good big brother, wanting for things to be just perfect for Sam and Percy and the treehouse you created for them. Plus, you are a man that would put aside his own desires or needs so that you wouldn’t hurt the ones you love. He definitely captured my heart this summer.

Holt
The Roommate Mistake
by Pippa Grant

I finally dived into OMG, Holt just made me blush and smile and swoon while reading this entire book. He is not only a hot rugby player, but he is so thoughtful, kind and caring. He opens his home to a pregnant Ziggy and the way that he swoops in to take care of her just make my heart sing. And when he would hold her and put his hand on her belly, I was done for. He loved this baby he called tater tot, as if it was his own. Such a good, good man.

Related Lists:

• Best Book Boyfriend Hub
• Best Romance Books of 2025
• Best Book Boyfriends of 2024
• Best Book Boyfriends of 2023
• Best Book Boyfriends of 2022

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