The 25 Best Book Boyfriends Every Reader Falls in Love With (Ranked by Someone Who's Read Far Too Many Books)

"Just one more chapter..."

Famous last words.

Every reader knows the feeling.

You pick up a new book because everyone keeps talking about it. You tell yourself you'll read a couple of chapters before bed.

The next thing you know, it's 1.30 in the morning, you've cancelled tomorrow's plans in your head because you're definitely going to be tired, and you've somehow become emotionally attached to a man who doesn't actually exist.

If you're here because you've been searching for the best book boyfriends, firstly, welcome. Secondly, you're in very good company.

Whether you love brooding fantasy heroes, witty rivals, emotionally available cinnamon rolls or the occasional morally grey man who could probably do with a bit of therapy, there's a book boyfriend for everyone.

And while we absolutely don't encourage comparing real people to fictional characters...

...we do understand why it happens.

Book boyfriends have a habit of raising the bar. They communicate. They show up when it matters. They'd cross kingdoms, fight dragons or start wars for the people they love.

No pressure, lads.

So, grab your favourite drink, move your ever-growing TBR pile slightly out of the way, and let's celebrate some of the fictional men who've stolen readers' hearts.

A quick warning before we begin...

Reading this list may cause:

• An uncontrollable urge to buy more books.
• Re-reading old favourites instead of tackling your TBR.
• Passionate debates about who deserves the number one spot.
• The sudden realisation that your standards have become... ambitious.

Let's begin.

• Found family

• Fantasy romance

• Protective heroes

• Witty humour

• Characters with emotional depth

...Rhysand deserves a place at the very top of your TBR.

🚩 Red flags

Can be frustratingly secretive.

Carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

💚 Green flags

Supportive.

Respectful.

Would quite literally move mountains for the people he loves.

🕯️ If Rhys were a candle...

Black plum, midnight jasmine and soft amber.

Elegant, mysterious and effortlessly comforting.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: Infinity out of ten.

Readers have been talking about him for years, and they're showing no signs of stopping.

• Golden retriever energy

• Friends to lovers

• Found family

• Humour

• Fierce loyalty

...Cassian will quickly become one of your favourites.

🚩 Red flags

Occasionally leaps before he thinks.

Can be wonderfully stubborn.

💚 Green flags

Makes people feel seen.

Supportive.

Funny.

Exceptionally loyal.

🕯️ If Cassian were a candle...

Warm sandalwood, bergamot and a hint of spice.

Cosy, energetic and impossible not to smile around.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10/10.

The human equivalent of being wrapped in a warm hug... who also happens to carry an impressive number of weapons.

Then there's Azriel.

Or, as many readers know him...

The mysterious one.

If you've ever found yourself instantly intrigued by the quiet character standing in the corner, congratulations.

You're exactly his type of reader.

Azriel doesn't need long speeches or dramatic gestures to leave an impression.

He says very little.

He notices everything.

And somehow that makes every scene he's in even more compelling.

There's a gentleness beneath his quiet exterior that readers can't help but love.

He's thoughtful.

Patient.

Protective.

He's also proof that confidence doesn't always have to be loud.

Sometimes the quietest person in the room is the one everyone remembers most.

Which probably explains why readers have spent years desperately hoping for more of his story.

• Quiet heroes

• Slow-burn romance

• Protective characters

• Mystery

• Emotional depth

...Azriel deserves your attention.

🚩 Red flags

Keeps everything bottled up.

Could probably benefit from talking about his feelings occasionally.

💚 Green flags

Kind.

Patient.

Always paying attention.

🕯️ If Azriel were a candle...

Smoked cedar, soft leather and dark amber.

Quietly comforting with hidden depths.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

Proof that silence can be incredibly attractive.

• Protective heroes

• Slow burn

• Fantasy romance

• Character growth

• Devotion over grand gestures

...Slade deserves a place near the top of your reading list.

🚩 Red flags

Can be frustratingly mysterious at first.

💚 Green flags

Patient.

Protective.

Loyal beyond words.

Makes you feel completely safe.

🕯️ If Slade were a candle...

Dark pomegranate, black rose and smoky woods.

Rich, comforting and just a little addictive.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

You'll understand when you get there.

• Protective heroes

• Fantasy romance

• Slow-burn relationships

• Quiet confidence

• Golden green flags

...Luther is absolutely worth meeting.

🚩 Red flags

Can take the weight of the world onto his own shoulders.

Occasionally forgets he doesn't have to solve everything himself.

💚 Green flags

Patient.

Dependable.

Kind.

Would absolutely remember your coffee order.

🕯️ If Luther were a candle...

Warm amber, cedarwood and soft vanilla.

Comforting from the very first chapter.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

The definition of "safe hands."

• Grumpy heroes

• Slow burn

• Found family

• Fantasy romance

• Emotional growth

...Rowan deserves a place on your shelf.

🚩 Red flags

Communication isn't exactly his strongest skill.

Can appear completely terrifying.

💚 Green flags

Loyal beyond measure.

Protective.

Quietly thoughtful.

Would absolutely fight an army for you.

🕯️ If Rowan were a candle...

Pine forests, smoky woods and cool mountain air.

Strong, calming and quietly unforgettable.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Proof that patience pays off.

Every so often, a new character arrives and the entire fantasy reading community collectively loses its mind.

Kaan Vaegor is one of those characters.

From the moment he appears, there's something magnetic about him. He's powerful, mysterious and carries himself with a quiet confidence that never feels forced.

He doesn't need to dominate every conversation.

He doesn't need to tell everyone how dangerous he is.

You simply know.

As the story unfolds, Kaan becomes so much more than the intimidating figure you first meet. He's intelligent, fiercely loyal and incredibly emotionally aware, with moments of tenderness that completely catch you off guard.

It's that balance that makes him unforgettable.

Strength without arrogance.

Power without cruelty.

Confidence without ego.

He's exactly the sort of character who has readers staring at the wall after finishing the book, wondering what they're supposed to do with their lives now.

The answer, of course, is immediately search for fan art and recommend the book to everyone you know.

• Powerful fantasy heroes

• Protective love interests

• Epic fantasy romance

• Slow-burn chemistry

• Men who would move heaven and earth for one person

...Kaan is going to ruin your reading life in the very best way.

🚩 Red flags

Keeps his emotions carefully hidden.

Can be frustratingly mysterious.

💚 Green flags

Incredibly loyal.

Gentle beneath the strength.

Makes you feel completely protected.

🕯️ If Kaan were a candle...

Black amber, oud, smoked vanilla and midnight woods.

Dark, luxurious and utterly addictive.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating" 11.5/10.

May cause prolonged book hangovers.

Cardan is living proof that readers have an alarming habit of falling in love with people they'd avoid at all costs in real life.

When you first meet him, he's arrogant, cruel and completely infuriating.

He's exactly the sort of character you love to hate.

Until...

Slowly, almost without noticing, your opinion begins to change.

Beneath all the arrogance is someone carrying far more vulnerability than he ever allows anyone to see.

His sharp tongue becomes witty.

His confidence starts to feel like armour.

His complicated choices begin to make sense.

By the end of the series, many readers find themselves wondering how they ended up defending someone they couldn't stand a few hundred pages earlier.

That's Holly Black's magic.

• Enemies to lovers

• Morally grey heroes

• Political fantasy

• Sharp banter

• Slow character development

...Cardan will completely win you over.

🚩 Red flags

Where do we begin?

💚 Green flags

Remarkable character growth.

Deep loyalty.

Surprisingly vulnerable.

🕯️ If Cardan were a candle...

Blackcurrant, dark oak and crushed ivy.

Beautifully complicated.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

You'll spend half the series rolling your eyes...

...and the other half defending him.

Not every book boyfriend needs to be brooding.

Or mysterious.

Or emotionally damaged.

Enter Wendell Bambleby.

He's effortlessly charming, wonderfully dramatic and has mastered the art of appearing helpful while somehow avoiding anything that resembles actual hard work.

He's the sort of person who'd happily buy you beautiful gifts, make you laugh until your sides hurt and then mysteriously disappear the moment heavy lifting is required.

And somehow...

It works.

Underneath the theatrical personality is someone deeply loyal, incredibly caring and endlessly devoted to the people who matter most.

Readers adore Wendell because he feels genuinely fun to spend time with.

He's warm.

Funny.

Playful.

And refreshingly different from the classic brooding fantasy hero.

• Cosy fantasy

• Golden retriever energy

• Witty humour

• Gentle romance

• Characters who don't take themselves too seriously

...Wendell is guaranteed to steal your heart.

🚩 Red flags

May convince you that buying another book is an excellent financial decision.

💚 Green flags

Makes you laugh.

Kind-hearted.

Completely devoted.

Excellent taste in cosy comforts.

🕯️ If Wendell were a candle...

Honey, bergamot, vanilla and soft cashmere.

Like curling up with your favourite book on a rainy afternoon.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

The fictional man most likely to convince you that staying in with tea and a book is a perfectly acceptable life choice.

Some book boyfriends come and go.

Jamie Fraser has been stealing readers' hearts for over thirty years.

That alone tells you everything you need to know.

Diana Gabaldon created a character who feels incredibly real. Jamie isn't perfect, and he never pretends to be. He faces impossible situations, makes mistakes and carries more than his fair share of heartache, but through it all, one thing never changes.

His loyalty.

Jamie loves with his whole heart. He's brave without showing off, fiercely protective without becoming controlling, and endlessly respectful of Claire as an equal.

Their relationship works because they challenge one another, trust one another and somehow manage to find moments of humour even in the darkest situations.

He's also wonderfully grounded.

Unlike many fantasy heroes, Jamie doesn't possess magical powers or rule a kingdom. His greatest strength is simply the kind of man he chooses to be.

It's no wonder generations of readers have fallen completely in love with him.

• Historical romance

• Strong partnerships

• Loyal heroes

• Epic adventures

• Love stories that stand the test of time

...Jamie Fraser deserves a place on your bookshelf.

🚩 Red flags

Can be incredibly stubborn.

Has a habit of finding himself in impossible situations.

💚 Green flags

Respectful.

Protective.

Loyal beyond measure.

Would choose you every single time.

🕯️ If Jamie were a candle...

Heather, cedarwood, whisky and soft leather.

Warm, comforting and unmistakably Scottish.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Proof that true gentlemen never go out of style.

While many fictional men are loved for their danger and mystery, Peeta Mellark proves that kindness can be just as irresistible.

From the very beginning, there's something wonderfully genuine about him.

He's compassionate.

Thoughtful.

Quietly funny.

And even when the world around him becomes unimaginably cruel, he never loses the parts of himself that matter most.

Peeta's strength doesn't come from intimidation.

It comes from empathy.

He's emotionally intelligent long before that became something readers actively looked for in a romantic hero, and he constantly reminds us that kindness is never weakness.

Let's also take a moment to appreciate the fact that he bakes bread.

Somehow, that tiny detail has become one of the most iconic green flags in modern fiction.

Long before BookTok existed, readers were quietly falling for one particularly awkward gentleman.

Mr Darcy is, arguably, the original book boyfriend.

Jane Austen gave us a character who proves first impressions aren't always accurate. At first, Darcy appears proud, distant and impossible to warm to.

Then, slowly, you begin to understand him.

His awkwardness starts to feel endearing.

His loyalty becomes impossible to ignore.

And his quiet acts of kindness speak far louder than any grand declaration ever could.

Over two hundred years later, readers are still debating him, quoting him and falling in love with him.

That's remarkable.

Darcy isn't flashy.

He doesn't rely on dramatic gestures.

He simply grows.

And perhaps that's why he's stood the test of time.

• Classic romance

• Slow burn

• Character growth

• Gentle heroes

• Witty dialogue

...Mr Darcy remains essential reading.

🚩 Red flags

Communication could definitely be improved.

💚 Green flags

Learns from his mistakes.

Quietly devoted.

Exceptionally loyal.

🕯️ If Darcy were a candle...

English rose, sandalwood and Earl Grey tea.

Elegant, timeless and quietly romantic.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

He's been raising standards since 1813.

Some romances are loud.

Gilbert and Anne's is beautifully patient.

Gilbert spends years quietly proving that love isn't always about grand gestures or dramatic declarations.

Sometimes it's simply about showing up.

Again and again.

He respects Anne's ambitions, celebrates her successes and never asks her to become anything other than herself.

That might not sound revolutionary now.

But considering when these books were written, Gilbert feels remarkably ahead of his time.

He's warm, dependable and endlessly encouraging.

The sort of person who believes in you long before you believe in yourself.

No wonder readers still adore him.

Howl is wonderfully ridiculous.

He's dramatic.

Vain.

Completely chaotic.

And somehow one of the most lovable characters ever written.

At first glance, he appears more interested in avoiding responsibility than embracing it.

He's theatrical, easily flustered and has a tendency to overreact in spectacular fashion.

But beneath all the theatrics is someone deeply caring.

Someone willing to protect the people he loves, even when it costs him dearly.

That's the joy of Howl.

He's never trying to be the perfect hero.

He's messy.

Funny.

Occasionally exasperating.

And completely unforgettable.

Readers love him because he feels gloriously human despite living in a magical world.

He's proof that perfection has never been the goal.

Personality wins every time.

• Cosy fantasy

• Magical worlds

• Funny heroes

• Whimsical stories

• Characters with huge hearts

...Howl is waiting for you.

🚩 Red flags

May have a slight flair for melodrama.

Can be spectacularly disorganised.

💚 Green flags

Protective.

Funny.

Kind.

Makes life far more interesting.

🕯️ If Howl were a candle...

Orange blossom, cedarwood, amber and crackling firelight.

Magical, cosy and impossible not to love.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

The only man who could have a full-blown crisis over his hair colour and somehow become even more endearing.

Some book boyfriends make you feel safe.

Jacks isn't one of them.

And that's exactly why readers can't get enough of him.

From the moment he walks onto the page, there's an air of mystery that surrounds him. He's effortlessly charming, devastatingly handsome and always seems to know far more than everyone else in the room.

Can you trust him?

Probably not.

Will you spend the entire book hoping you can?

Absolutely.

Jacks is the perfect example of a morally grey character done well. He isn't simply difficult for the sake of it. Every decision, every witty comment and every unexpected act of kindness reveals another layer of a character who's far more complicated than he first appears.

What makes him such a memorable book boyfriend is that he constantly keeps both the characters and the readers guessing. One moment he's teasing, the next he's heartbreaking, and before you know it you've become completely invested in someone you promised yourself you wouldn't fall for.

If you've ever said, "I can fix him," Jacks would probably smile... and then carry on causing chaos anyway.

• Morally grey heroes

• Fairy tales with a twist

• Slow-burn romance

• Witty banter

• Characters you can't quite figure out

...Jacks will completely take over your thoughts.

🚩 Red flags

Makes questionable decisions.

Keeps important information to himself.

Could definitely communicate better.

💚 Green flags

Unexpectedly protective.

Loyal in his own complicated way.

Always keeps life interesting.

🕯️ If Jacks were a candle...

Black cherry, dark musk and forbidden magic.

Beautifully dangerous.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

You know he's trouble.

You carry on reading anyway.

After several morally grey heroes, Maxon feels like a breath of fresh air.

He's thoughtful.

Kind.

Respectful.

And refreshingly emotionally mature.

Imagine that.

As the prince at the centre of The Selection, Maxon could easily have become arrogant or entitled. Instead, he's curious about people, genuinely wants to do the right thing and treats those around him with kindness.

One of the reasons readers love him so much is because he listens.

He asks questions.

He values opinions that differ from his own.

And perhaps most importantly, he encourages the people he loves to be themselves rather than trying to change them.

He's proof that green flags can be every bit as attractive as mysterious anti-heroes.

Sometimes you don't need emotional damage.

Sometimes you just need a genuinely lovely man.

• Royal romance

• Love triangles

• Kind heroes

• Gentle romance

• Characters who communicate

...Maxon is impossible not to adore.

🚩 Red flags

Occasionally overthinks things.

That's about it.

💚 Green flags

Kind.

Respectful.

Supportive.

Would absolutely remember your birthday.

🕯️ If Maxon were a candle...

White jasmine, pear blossom and soft cashmere.

Elegant without trying too hard.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Proof that nice guys don't finish last.

If redemption arcs were an Olympic sport, Aaron Warner would be taking home the gold medal.

When readers first meet him, opinions tend to be... mixed.

Very mixed.

He's intense, complicated and undeniably intimidating.

But Tahereh Mafi slowly reveals a completely different side to him, peeling back layer after layer until you realise there's far more beneath the surface than you ever expected.

Warner is fiercely intelligent and deeply emotional, even if he doesn't always know how to show it. Once he allows himself to love someone, he does so completely.

He's another brilliant example of why readers adore morally grey heroes.

It's not about perfection.

It's about growth.

Watching someone become the person they're capable of being is one of the most satisfying journeys in fiction.

• Redemption arcs

• Intense romance

• Dystopian fantasy

• Emotionally complex heroes

• Protective love interests

...Warner will probably become one of your favourites.

🚩 Red flags

Starts off... let's just say challenging.

Keeps his emotions well hidden.

💚 Green flags

Loyal.

Protective.

Prepared to change.

Loves wholeheartedly.

🕯️ If Warner were a candle...

Black amber, patchouli and smoked vanilla.

Dark, sophisticated and surprisingly comforting.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Trust the process.

Thomas Cresswell proves that intelligence is incredibly attractive.

He's witty, charming and wonderfully sarcastic, with a confidence that somehow never tips into arrogance.

From the moment he meets Audrey Rose, the banter begins.

And honestly?

It's some of the best you'll find in historical fiction.

Thomas has a habit of making even the darkest situations feel lighter with a perfectly timed joke, but beneath all the humour is someone deeply respectful and endlessly supportive.

He never feels threatened by Audrey Rose's intelligence.

Instead, he celebrates it.

It's one of the reasons readers fall so hard for him.

He's confident enough to stand beside a brilliant woman rather than trying to stand in front of her.

• Historical mysteries

• Witty banter

• Smart characters

• Slow-burn romance

• Victorian settings

...Thomas deserves a place on your TBR.

🚩 Red flags

Can occasionally let curiosity get the better of him.

💚 Green flags

Funny.

Supportive.

Respectful.

Exceptionally well dressed.

🕯️ If Thomas were a candle...

Bergamot, old books and polished cedar.

Like stepping into a Victorian library.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Bonus points for making intelligence ridiculously attractive.

Let's be honest.

If there's a dark prince involved, readers are probably going to fall in love with him.

Wrath is no exception.

He's powerful, mysterious and carries himself with the sort of confidence that immediately makes you want to know more.

At first, he seems cold and impossible to read.

But as the story unfolds, you begin to realise there's much more beneath that carefully controlled exterior.

He's protective without becoming possessive.

Patient when it matters.

And quietly devoted in ways that often speak louder than words.

Wrath perfectly captures why readers love fantasy romance.

There's magic.

Danger.

Political intrigue.

And underneath it all, a romance that slowly unfolds in the most satisfying way.

• Demons

• Fantasy romance

• Enemies to lovers

• Slow burn

• Protective heroes

...Wrath absolutely belongs on your reading list.

🚩 Red flags

He's literally one of the Princes of Hell.

Make of that what you will.

💚 Green flags

Protective.

Patient.

Quietly devoted.

Would almost certainly destroy your enemies.

🕯️ If Wrath were a candle...

Black pepper, dark woods, amber and smoky incense.

Moody, luxurious and slightly dangerous.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

Would follow him into the Underworld.

Every list of book boyfriends needs at least one man who restores your faith in humanity.

Nathan Hawkins is that man.

Unlike many fictional heroes who spend half the book hiding their feelings or creating unnecessary drama, Nate is refreshingly straightforward. He's funny, emotionally available and genuinely wants the people around him to be happy.

It's a surprisingly attractive combination.

He supports the people he loves without trying to fix them, celebrates their successes as though they're his own and somehow manages to be both confident and wonderfully down to earth.

Readers often describe Nate as the sort of boyfriend they'd actually want in real life.

And honestly?

That's probably the highest compliment any fictional character can receive.

• Sports romance

• Green flag heroes

• Friends to lovers

• Emotional maturity

• Plenty of banter

...Nathan Hawkins deserves a place on your TBR.

🚩 Red flags

Has a habit of making every other fictional man look bad.

💚 Green flags

Emotionally available.

Funny.

Supportive.

Would absolutely cheer you on from the sidelines.

🕯️ If Nathan were a candle...

Fresh cotton, cedarwood and vanilla.

Comforting without trying too hard.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Walking green flag.

Some books leave you smiling.

Others leave you staring at the wall wondering how fictional characters have managed to emotionally destroy you.

Noah Riley belongs firmly in the second category.

He's patient, dependable and endlessly kind, but what readers remember most is the way he quietly shows up when it matters. He doesn't need dramatic declarations or flashy gestures.

His actions do the talking.

Noah reminds us that love isn't always loud.

Sometimes it's simply choosing someone every single day.

He's the sort of character who quietly works his way into your heart until one day you realise you'd defend him with your entire life.

• Emotional romance

• College romance

• Friends to lovers

• Green flags

• Books that make you cry

...make sure you've got tissues nearby.

🚩 Red flags

You'll compare real people to him afterwards.

💚 Green flags

Every single one.

🕯️ If Noah were a candle...

Soft musk, cashmere and warm vanilla.

Like the best hug you've ever had.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

Emotionally devastating in the nicest possible way.

Alex Volkov is another character who proves readers have a soft spot for emotionally complicated men.

He's quiet, driven and incredibly guarded.

The sort of person who prefers actions over words and keeps almost everyone at arm's length.

Until someone manages to break through those walls.

That's where his story becomes so compelling.

Readers love watching Alex slowly learn to trust, love and let people in. His journey isn't perfect, but that's exactly why it works.

He's another reminder that character development can be just as romantic as chemistry.

• Billionaire romance

• Grumpy heroes

• Emotional growth

• Protective love interests

• Contemporary romance

...Alex Volkov won't disappoint.

🚩 Red flags

Communication could use some work.

Keeps far too much bottled up.

💚 Green flags

Completely devoted once he falls.

Protective.

Determined.

🕯️ If Alex were a candle...

Dark espresso, cedarwood and black amber.

Smooth, sophisticated and quietly intense.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 10.5/10.

You'll spend the first half wondering...

...and the second half understanding.

Vampires have been stealing readers' hearts for years.

Raihn Ashraj reminds us why.

He's clever, dangerous and endlessly charismatic, with enough confidence to command every scene he appears in.

But beneath all that confidence is someone carrying far more responsibility than readers first realise.

He's funny.

Protective.

Surprisingly thoughtful.

And his chemistry with Oraya is enough to keep readers turning pages long after they promised themselves they'd go to sleep.

Raihn is exactly the sort of fantasy hero who lingers in your mind long after you've closed the book.

• Vampire romance

• Fantasy tournaments

• Enemies to lovers

• Protective heroes

• Romantic tension

...Raihn belongs on your reading list.

🚩 Red flags

He's a vampire.

We'll leave that there.

💚 Green flags

Brave.

Loyal.

Makes every conversation entertaining.

🕯️ If Raihn were a candle...

Dark cherry, blackcurrant and smoky oud.

Rich, seductive and unforgettable.

⭐ Book Boyfriend Rating: 11/10.

You'll understand the hype.

Let's be honest...

Choosing just 25 book boyfriends was almost impossible.

Ask another reader and they'll probably insist we've forgotten someone important.

Maybe you're wondering where Lucien ended up.

Perhaps you're still thinking about Reid Diggory, Damon Torrance, Will Herondale, Leon from Ruthless Boys, or another fictional man who's permanently taken up residence in your imagination.

That's the wonderful thing about books.

Everyone's favourite is a little different.

So consider this your official invitation to continue the list.

Who's your ultimate book boyfriend?

Maybe it's because they remind us that love stories can still surprise us.

Maybe it's because they're written with enough depth that they feel like real people.

Or maybe it's because books allow us to experience relationships that unfold over hundreds of pages, letting us see every conversation, every mistake and every moment of growth.

Whatever the reason, book boyfriends have become part of reading culture.

They spark debates.

Fill group chats.

Take over BookTok.

And somehow convince perfectly sensible adults to stay awake until two o'clock in the morning because stopping at the end of a chapter simply wasn't an option.

We wouldn't have it any other way.

If you've reached the end of this list while mentally adding several books to your TBR...

Welcome to the club.

Our Book Boyfriend candle was created for readers exactly like you.

Whether you're spending the weekend with Xaden, Rhys, Slade or discovering your next fictional favourite, it's designed to make every reading session feel even cosier.

The fragrance opens with juicy plum and pomegranate before soft rose adds a romantic heart. Patchouli brings warmth and depth, creating a scent that's rich, comforting and just a little mysterious. 

It's beautifully balanced and feels every bit as immersive as settling into a great fantasy novel.

Light the candle.

Pick up your book.

Ignore your responsibilities for a little while.

We won't judge.

If you're looking for unforgettable fictional men, start with:

• Fourth Wing *

• A Court of Thorns and Roses *

• The Plated Prisoner *

• When the Moon Hatched *

• The Kindred's Curse Saga *

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night *

• Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries *

• Outlander *

Just don't blame us if your TBR gets a little longer.

Come and say hello on Instagram @sayitwithwax, for more bookish candles, dogs, and the odd cancelled plan.

* Affiliate link at no extra cost to you.