Canadian Boyfriend Review

By Jenny Holiday

Star rating: ★★★★★

Blurb

A charming and heartfelt romance about a woman who comes face to face with the fake Canadian boyfriend she made up as a teenager.

The fake Canadian boyfriend. It's a thing. The get out of jail free card for all kinds of sticky social situations. “I can't go to prom; I'm going to be out of town visiting my boyfriend in Canada.” It's all over pop culture. But Aurora Evans did it first. Once upon a time she met a teenage hockey player at the Mall of America. He was from Canada. He was a boy. She may have fudged the “friend” part a little, but it wasn't like she was ever going to see him again. It wasn't like she hurt anyone. Until she did—years later—on both counts.

 When pro hockey player and recent widower Mike Martin walks into the dance studio where Aurora Evans teaches, he's feeling overwhelmed with the fact that his wife may not have been exactly who he thought she was and the logistics of going back to work. As one of the few people his angry, heartbroken daughter connects with, Aurora agrees to be a pseudo nanny to help him navigate the upcoming school year and hockey season. To his surprise, she turns out to be the perfect balm for him as well. Aurora gets him. The real him underneath his pro jersey. And yet, he still finds himself holding back, unable to fully trust again—especially when he finds out the secret Aurora’s been hiding from him.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Read if you Like:

🩰 Ballerina heroine

🩰 Forced proximity

🩰 Anxiety rep

🩰 Hockey romance

🩰 Nanny and single dad

My Thoughts:

I have been really looking forward to Canadian Boyfriend because I love a single-parent book and I have enjoyed other Jenny Holiday books I have read. I'm happy to say it didn't disappoint!

I really liked Aurora and watching her deal with her anxiety and grow as a person. I really related to Aurora because being a people pleaser is something I spent a ton of time dealing with in therapy as well. There was a quote I really related to:

"Instead of being honest with people, I've spent my life twisting myself into what I thought they wanted me to be. And where did that get me? Sick. It got me sick."

I don't usually put quotes in my reviews but this one really struck a chord with me and I think lots of women will relate to it.

Mike and Olivia were really likeable characters a well. I liked that they both were in therapy and I loved that Mike learned how many things his wife had been taking care of that he never realized.

I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys reading romances about being a parent and dealing with anxiety and grief. I thought Jenny Holiday dealt with all these issues with care and I the result it a moving and emotional read.

🌶️🌶️🌶️ - This book had several steamy scenes but none that were super drawn out.

🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 - Canadian Boyfriend is read by Joshua Jackson and Emily Ellet and has duet narration. Joshua Jackson is a newer audiobook narrator but readers may recognize him from his acting career most notably, his roles in Dawson's Creek and Fringe. I have enjoyed other audiobooks narrated by Emily Ellet, most recently, Blonde Identity. I know a lot of readers appreciate duet narration so I think many readers will love this audiobook. I will say every time there is a text message sent the text tone sounds and I kept checking my phone (you have been warned).

Thanks to Netgalley, Hatchette Audio, and Forever for providing me with early access to Canadian Boyfriend. All opinions are my own.