The Best Book Boyfriends Of The 2020s (Swoon Alert!)

If you've ever experienced a romantic attachment to a fictional love interest, then you've encountered what BookTok likes to refer to as a book boyfriend or girlfriend. From the love for Mr. Darcy to declarations of Team Edward or Team Jacob, these fictitious crushes have long been a part of the reading community, but they've become especially popular alongside the romance and fantasy boom of recent years. 

Though preferred characteristics vary on an individual level, these characters frequently demonstrate a deep devotion to their romantic partner, often being charming and witty or tortured and misunderstood. It's important to note that crushing on a fictional character doesn't necessarily mean that a person desires a real-life partner with similar traits, as these book boyfriends can range from magical fantasy elves to violent mafia bosses. While there's plenty of 2025 romance titles we can't wait to get our hands on, the 2020s have already produced hunky love interests worthy of the book boyfriend title.

The first entry on our list is Jamie Kelly from the fantasy-romance novel "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches," by Sangu Mandanna. This 2022 Goodreads Choice Award nominee follows Mika Moon, an orphaned witch living in a society that requires magical beings to isolate themselves from one another. When she's unexpectedly invited to teach magic to a trio of girls at the enigmatic Nowhere House, Mika quickly starts to feel at home among the house's eclectic found family and slowly grows closer to the grumpy and protective Jamie. Even so, the looming possibility of discovery and an unexpected secret threaten to topple everything in this cozy, heart-warming read.  

While the romance of "The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches" sometimes takes a back seat to the fantastical and found family elements of the novel, Jamie ranks as a personal favorite book boyfriend of mine for being a cranky librarian with a soft heart. He is fiercely protective over the ones that he loves, especially the three young witches partially in his charge, and his charm and kindness are revealed over time. In terms of fantasy book boyfriends, Jamie is definitely a keeper.

Leading protagonist Zafir Ansari, from "Take a Hint, Dani Brown," by Talia Hibbert, is a book boyfriend that ranks as a community favorite. This second installment of "The Brown Sisters" trilogy centers around hardworking Danika Brown, who's in search of a no-strings-attached fling while working towards her PhD. When a video of her being rescued by security guard Zafir during a workplace fire drill goes viral, Dani agrees to enter into a fake relationship with the ex-rugby player to help promote his children's charity. The opportunity seems ripe for a friends-with-benefits situation, but Dani soon realizes that there's much more to Zaf than meets the eye, with the hunk secretly being a hopeless romantic with issues of his own.

There's not much that can top being rescued from a building by a strapping ex-rugby player, but Zafir also gets plenty of book boyfriend points for being sensitive and caring under his rough exterior. "Zaf is one of the best romance heroes I've ever read about. He's so sweet, so caring, and so so soft," BookTuber Mina Reads wrote on Goodreads. "The small ways he takes care of Danika made me want to cry with happiness." As far as romcom love interests of the 2020s go, Zafir ranks as a major highlight.

If you're familiar with our ranking of Emily Henry's romance books, then you know the author has many love interests worthy of the book boyfriend title. But Miles Nowak, of "Funny Story," is a standout. This Goodreads Choice Award-winning title follows children's librarian Daphne Vincent, whose fiancé, Peter, jilted her for his childhood best friend, Petra. Having recently relocated to Waning Bay, Michigan, with her would-be husband, Daphne soon finds herself with no other choice than to bunk with Miles, a scruffy bartender who was similarly left heartbroken after Petra dumped him for Peter. 

When the new roommates form an unlikely friendship and begin posing as a couple to thwart their exes, Daphne and Miles soon find themselves drawn to one another despite their many differences. Though he's different from many of Henry's other romantic leads, Miles melted my heart as a golden retriever boyfriend, being kind-hearted, outgoing, and a little bit chaotic. He gets points for introducing our heroine to some of his favorite spots in town, while many of his actions reveal how selfless he can be. Definitely a personal favorite of mine, Miles is a love interest worth reading about if you haven't already checked out "Funny Story."

From Harper St. George's "The Heiress Gets a Duke," Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, is the perfect book boyfriend for historical romance lovers and fans of Netflix's "Bridgerton." The first book in "The Gilded Age Heiresses" series, this 2021 release follows headstrong and intelligent American heiress August Crenshaw, who catches the Duke of Rothschild's attention after he's introduced to her sister as a potential match. While the Evan's new title makes a financially-motivated union necessary, August is only interested in maintaining her role at her family's iron works company. So, while the heiress is prepared to thwart any attempts at a match, it's up to Evan to convince her that a marriage between them would be more than just convenient. 

Fans of historical romance novels know the appeal of a confident and powerful duke, while Evan also has the added allure of being a secret bare-knuckle boxer. The desire and devotion of this hero similarly make him a great romantic lead, with Evan determined to win August over from the very beginning. Still, he has a tender side that comes out as he demonstrates that he values what our heroine thinks and says. A great book boyfriend for fans of historical romances, the Duke of Rothschild ranks as another love interest I can personally vouch for. 

Judah Cross from Kennedy Ryan's "This Could Be Us," a nominee in the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards, is another leading love interest deserving of the book boyfriend title. In the second installment of the "Skyland" series, Soledad Barnes embarks on a journey of self-love and discovery when her world is upended by revelations about the man she built her life with. This leaves her to piece everything back together while caring for her three daughters. Judah, a forensic accountant and father of two, enters Sol's life as an unlikely love interest, with our heroine uncertain if there's room for love and trust in the new life she's creating for herself and her family.

While "This Could Be Us" is noted as leaning a little more general fiction than romance at times, Judah still stands out as a compelling romantic lead with a clear devotion for his significant other. "Judah is such an incredible father and man..." one Goodreads reviewer wrote. "The subtle chin touches, the glaring heated stares, the patience and understanding, the sizzling tension, his words, the sentiments, the support, the slow burn and this fine ass man — consider me absolutely enamored because where can I find myself a Judah?" This is definitely a mature romance suitable for older women, but Judah as a book boyfriend likely appeals to readers of all ages.

The entries on this swoon-worthy list were selected based on book boyfriend research from TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Goodreads, and my own personal reading experiences with a portion of the titles. While some love interests were specifically mentioned by readers as book boyfriend favorites, others hail from well-loved titles and are positively discussed in reviews on Goodreads or YouTube. Additionally, this list endeavored to feature love interests both popular in the reading community and varied in personality, background, and story. Popular leading men from books published pre-2020 and young adult titles were excluded from consideration.