Top Ten Tuesday: Best Book Boyfriends

Posted September 15, 2015 by meezcarrie in Becky Wade, Carla Laureano, Janette Oke, Karen Witemeyer, L.M. Montgomery, Melanie Dickerson, romance, Sarah Monzon, Top Ten Tuesday, Victoria Bylin / 212 Comments


toptentuesday

*Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog linkup hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I have a confession to make.  In case you didn’t already know, I tend to develop book crushes.  (Shocking, I’m sure.) The good news for my husband is that they disappear fairly quickly when I move on to the next book…. with a couple of noticeable exceptions that he has graciously decided to tolerate lol.   And besides, as I told author Becky Wade when she was writing her article on “Why Fictional Heroes Wouldn’t Make Good Real-Life Husbands”, if life did play out like a romance novel I wouldn’t get any “real-life” done for sitting around drooling over my husband all day long! Boys may be better in books, as the saying goes, but husbands are better in real life. Especially mine. 🙂

And that concludes the disclaimer portion of today’s discussion lol.  (Unless you count the FTC Disclosure about affiliates and such that the government insists I make.)

“Little girls never stop dreaming about Prince Charming. He just gets a new name with each book.”

True to form, guess who starts out my top ten list?

1. Prince Charming

prince charming

My very first book/movie crush was on Cinderella’s Prince Charming.  Granted, I was like 3 years old but hey – the feelings were real, y’all.  My parents will tell you that I made them read that book over and over and over to me and boy did I know if they ‘kipped a page! He set the bar high for all my other book boyfriends, and I have to say I’ve never really gotten over him 😉

2. Frank Hardy

hardy boys

I read more Nancy Drew books per capita but, given the choice between the two, Frank Hardy still wins over Ned Nickerson – no contest.  And by the time I got to middle school, Frank and Nancy even appeared in an occasional book together and I’m pretty sure they kissed a couple times.  I totally rooted for them, but alas…

3. Gilbert Blythe

gilbertpos1_400x600_RD_big

I mean, who isn’t a little in love with Gilbert Blythe? As soon as I read that Gilbert has “roguish hazel eyes and a mouth twisted into a teasing smile,” I was hooked. To top it off, he teases, he flirts, he befriends, he pursues, he LOVES. Oh, how he loves Anne! Long before the idea has ever occurred to her, and long after a happy ending seems hopeless – he loves her.  “There was nobody else – there could never be anybody else for me but you.”  *dreamy sigh*

P.S. – Elyssa Nalani wrote an excellent blog post in April on this Gilbert Blythe phenomenon – Why Women Love Gilbert Blythe and Why Guys Should Pay Attention.

4. Thane Andrews

roses for mama

Thane was a book boyfriend during high school. (I’m pretty sure I was “seeing” Frank, Gilbert, and Thane all at the same time… but you can get away with that when you’re crushing on fictional characters lol) Like Gilbert, Thane loved so purely and so patiently.  This line from the book gets me every time:

“I—I didn’t know that you—cared—like that,” she managed at last.

“I have always cared—like that,” he assured her…

5. Travis Archer

short straw bride

Travis Archer is the best kind of hero – tall and handsome, heroic, protective, true.  And he’s wooing his wife.  I mean… agh! The delicious breath-taking romance of it all!!

6. Lord Ranulf

Merchant daughter

I’m a sucker for a good Beauty and the Beast story, but Ranulf is the first “Beast” hero that I’ve developed a book crush on. Typically scarred and grouchy about it, Ranulf has a kind heart and can be quite manly-tender when he wants to be. And he SMOLDERS!!! I cannot resist the smolder!!

7. Nick Sheridan

until i found you

I fell headlong into my next crush on a fictional character as soon as I read this description of Nick:

“Nick Sheridan had the posture of a soldier, the ease of a cowboy, and the daring of a pirate.”

I mean… DROOL! 🙂

8. Ty Porter

Meant to be mine

Ty flirted his way right into my heart, and I’m not sure he’s left yet.  Cocky, flirty, charming, dimpled, cowboy Ty. There were several times while reading Meant To Be Mine that I wanted to jerk a knot in him, but who am I kidding? If I were ever to get close enough for knot-jerking, I would probably just end up grinning at him like a dope instead. He has that way about him. My absolute favorite scene in the book is Ty telling Addie a bedtime story for the first time. Oh my heart, it’s full of adorableness!

9. Luke Masterson

isaac project

Y’all.  This is another one of those guys who woos his wife.  I am mush. You can read my recent review of The Isaac Project to find out more about exactly why I have such a crush on Luke but suffice it to say – he’s a firefighter, he’s tender, he’s determined.  And he WOOS.  Ahhhh I love the wooing!

10. James MacDonald

Five Days in Skye

Anyone who’s been around the blog for … oh, a day … knows how much I adore my James. *dreamy sigh* He’s incorrigibly flirtatious and playful, he SMOLDERS (be still my heart), he winks, he cooks, he’s a celebrity.  He’s too handsome for his own good – for my own good – but he also has quite the solid side to him.  (And no, I’m not talking about his muscles!!)  My James has depth of character and integrity that were hard fought but aren’t going anywhere now that’s he found them.

I’m sure if I thought a bit, I could come up with more names for this list.  In fact, I know I could.  This image I found on Pinterest pretty much sums me up:

usually a couple chapters

What about you? Do you fall in love with fictional boyfriends easily too? Who are your favorite book boyfriends?

Tags: ,

212 responses to “Top Ten Tuesday: Best Book Boyfriends

  1. Kav

    This is so much fun. Let’s see…definitely Gilbert Blythe. And Jim Frayne from the Trixie Belden series — but Brian Belden was a close second. 🙂 I wouldn’t dare mention any current crushes since I don’t want to hurt any feelings if I leave anyone out…but if I put everyone in this comment would be longer than your post!

  2. What an awesome blog!!! I’ve read all the above except for 4 and 6. I think I need to check them out. And I completely agree with you, Frank Hardy beats Ned Nickerson hands down. I think you should add Matt Jareau from Becky Wade’s My Stubborn Heart. I mean a guy who has tortured eyes and finally graces you with a smile. Definitely dreamy.

    • See? I haven’t read My Stubborn Heart yet but I think now I’m gonna have to bump that one up higher on my list lol! Thanks for stopping by, Toni!!

  3. Definitely Gilbert Blythe and Travis Archer! If I were to make a similar list, it would have to include Everett Cline from A Bride for Keeps by Melissa Jagears.
    I need to read more of the books on this list – especially Becky Wade’s Meant to Be Mine, since it and Undeniably Yours are already sitting on my shelf.

  4. Emilee Douglas

    I will have to check out a couple of these! But Ty Porter is probably best all-time book boyfriend! And Lord Ranulf? I have to say I was a little surprised there.

  5. What a fun post, Carrie! A lot of my readers’ favorite is Ranulf! Even one of my daughters says he’s her favorite. 🙂 Fun fact, I’m writing about him TODAY in the sequel, my Little Mermaid story. 🙂 Of course, he’s much older now and little more mellow.

  6. I love your topic!! So fun! I totally had a crush on Prince Charming as a child (still do, let’s be honest). And ahh, Gilbert! He is just so wonderful and so charming. Love it!

  7. I love your topic!!! I confess, I haven’t read these (except Cinderella), but several are on that neverending TBR list. Especially Five Days in Skye after reading your review. It convinced me! And I do wholeheartedly agree concerning Gil from the series adaptation 🙂

  8. Is it even possible to be a bookworm and not fall in love with characters? Lol the only one I know from your list is Prince Charming, but I’ve definitely got quite a few book crushes of my own!

  9. Hi! I almost chose this topic! I loooove book boyfriends 🙂 I totally forgot about Ned Nickerson. I’d have to add Alex from Perfect Chemistry and Dave the Laugh from the Georgia Nicholson series. Love this idea!
    Leslie

  10. Aww Prince Charming. I’m not sure that I would like him now though…yea, not sure. I rarely have book crushes. I mostly have crushes on characters in movies

  11. mcraeteisha

    Ooooh! I really wish I’d picked this topic! So fun. I love that Prince Charming was your first book boyfriend. I honestly can’t remember my first book boyfriend. However, I did have a thing for John Smith (from Disney’s Pocahontas). Haha! Great list 🙂

  12. kgriffin3227

    Great topic! I love having book boyfriends and my husband tolerates them pretty well too, lol. I’d say right now, my favorite is Kai, from the Sweet Evil series. I haven’t read any of the books you’ve profiled, except Cindrella, of course. I always liked Sleeping Beauty’s hero best of all the Disney guys. Prince Phillip was awesome. I love how he fought Maleficient and her minions to free Princess Aurora. I used to think if I had a boy I would name him Phillip, after Prince Phillip. He was definitely my first book boyfriend. Really fun topic! Thanks for visiting Bookworm Book Reviews! Happy reading!

  13. Hee, Prince Charming 🙂 Now you have me wondering who my first book boyfriend was (oh my, that sounds like I’ve had a bajillion book boyfriends since! lmao)…

    (Slightly OT but I hope this comment doesn’t go through several times or something; I seem to be having trouble posting it…)

  14. Literary Feline

    I had such a crush on the Hardy Boys too. 🙂 I don’t know if I ever read the books, but I did enjoy the television show growing up. Have you seen the movie or musical Into the Woods? The take on Prince Charming makes him not so charming, admittedly, but I love him in the new live version of Cinderella. The character, I mean.

    I can’t think of any book crushes I had growing up, although I am sure I must have had some. I have had a crush on Harry Dresden from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files and Clay from Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series (although not the TV version of Clay–must not confuse the two!) for years now. Innocent crushes, of course. 🙂 I don’t think I could tolerate either one of them in real life for long. Haha

    What a fun list!

  15. ‘The Isaac Project’ sounds adorable, it’s definitely going on my TBR. I don’t know who my first book boyfriend was, but I know there’ve been too many! Great list 🙂

  16. Oh my…Gilbert Blythe…that is really something from my past~~~~ Oh man, it makes me wanna reread the Anne of Green Gables series. Hahaha, another one for my reread list. Good list 😀

  17. Gilbert! He was definitely my first book boyfriend. I’ve seen the Anne and Gilbert musical every summer for like five years and still internally squeal when he’s on stage:)

  18. JEzzz! This is a great topic. Really.
    And those are swoon-worthy book boyfriends (based on your description because I only knew Prince Charming, from the movie).
    My book boyfriend (forever) is Kenji Kishimoto from Shatter Me trilogy (just sharing)

    Jane @ the bookdragon

  19. This is a really fun idea for a list! It would be really hard to pick just ten boyfriends :p Top of my list would be Clayton from Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series and Nawat from Tamora Pierce’s Tortall world 🙂

  20. Okay so I admit to only knowing the first two boyfriends. I liked Prince Charming but I admit the Beast was always my favorite, though it might be because he gave Belle a LIBRARY! Thanks for stopping by!

  21. Oh, I whole heartedly agree on most of your list! The only ones I don’t afree with are because I have yet to read some of your books.;)
    Ty was amazing. There story is one that could of been corny, but Becky pulled it off.;)
    James is another favorite!
    The only one I would add is Mr. Knightley.;)

  22. I think Prince Charming would have been high on my list when I was a kid, although I tended to like Prince Phillip from Disney’s version of Sleeping Beauty more XD My ultimate book boyfriend has been Bruce Wayne for a long time now, though (comic books do count, right?).

  23. Oh my goodness yes to the first three! Though I was one of those Ned Nickerson gals – I used to go back and re-read the romantic scenes between him and Nancy, because I was just about obsessed with them back when I was about seven. 🙂

  24. Cait @ Paper Fury

    Omg that last ecard. XD THAT’S PERFECTION. I usually don’t fall in love with book characters, but I’m an avid shipper of bookish couples! 😀
    Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!

  25. This topic is insanely fun, Carrie. Well done. Ty = *dreamy sigh* Gilbert = *dreamy sign* I should put something like this together too (just as a fun blog post), because I’d likely have a few book boyfriends too. 😉 Great picks.

  26. This is a very fun topic. I wasn’t a big reader back in my younger years but I remember watching The Hardy Boys TV show when I was a kid and being in LOVE with Shawn Cassidy and Parker Stevenson. Yep, I’m sorta old. lol I do so love book boyfriends though. They make me happy and smile (even though like you, my husband is better than any of them!) Thanks for stopping by my TTT this week!

  27. Silke

    You know I had a really hard time picking between my favorit books of all time and this one about book boyfriends. Now that I see your post about it, I think I made the wrong choice.
    Such a fun post!

  28. Great list! I usually like heroes who remind me of my husband. In my mind, I often cast me and my husband as the lead roles. I love Gilbert, cause like Anne and Gilbert, the hubby and I both went to school together. I went through a phase of being annoyed by him. And both of them ended up in med school. Thanks for sharing! -Vonze’s Reader Blog/ Adventure Kettle

  29. amyh90

    Great list! I love the quotes! I don’t think I’ve read any of the books on your list, but they look good! I like the first quote about Prince Charming, the bottom one about “usually a few chapters” is fantastic too! 😀 he he. x

  30. I do fall in love and have book boyfriends – my favourite is Jean Tannen from Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastard series. He’s an unusual choice though!
    Lynn 😀

  31. I LOOOOOVE your idea and list! oh Gilbert! Seriously! Now I’m going to have to do a movie marathon! I’ve been meaning to pick up The Merchant’s Daughter, glad to know it’s that good I will bump it up on my TBR!

  32. Great idea for a post! I don’t usually fall in love with the lead guy in a book. I did really like Dean Holder from Hopeless by Colleen Hoover when I read that book. There might be another one, but I can’t remember right now. I think I fall in love more with the love and the relationship between the couple.

  33. I do not think I know these book boyfriends! But I don’t think I fall in bookish love super easily, my book boyfriend has been the same for YEARS (Peeta) and I really kind of hope it never changes 😉 Fabulous list!

  34. Aww, this was such a cute list! My list of book boyfriends would be a lot shorter, usually I’m like ‘that’s fine for you love, but he’s not my cup of tea’!

  35. I love your idea for this list – I would find it soooo difficult to narrow it down to just 10 tho! I’ve never read Ann of Green Gables, but I’ve meaning to forever and your TTT has helped with reminding me to bump it up the TBR. Thanks for stopping by our TTT! – Rachel

Leave a Reply