How To Write A Killer Book Boyfriend

Make him hot

Yes, this is incredibly shallow, but in fictional romances, fantasy is a huge element. And in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with making your fantasy man aka book boyfriend a mega hottie. Now, “hot” is subjective. There are many different types of attractive in romance, and that’s what I love most about the genre. So whether the book boyfriend you’re creating is Disney prince handsome or a bit rough around the edges with tattoos and scars, don’t hold back in the physical description of him. Tell readers how he dwarfs anyone standing next to him because of his hulky form and presence. Talk about his hair — is it thick and super fun to tangle while making out? Is it buzzed so short that it tickles the main character’s thighs when he goes down? Don’t forget about his eyes. Everything from their color to the way they make the main character feel whenever he gazes at her is key in helping readers fall for him. Is he thickly muscled or on the leaner side? Is his skin a beautiful blank canvas or does sport a few rugged scars? Do what you can to paint a vivid picture in readers’ minds.

Don’t make him easy

As tempting as it is to make a book boyfriend agreeable (because wouldn’t life be grand if every man were hot AND easy to get along with?), where’s the fun in that? Creating some form of conflict and tension is key to a compelling romance. One way to do that is by making sure that the book boyfriend you’re writing isn’t a perfect angel who never messes up. Give him flaws. Give him personality quirks. Give him a prickly shell that other characters can’t penetrate, but that the main character eventually chisels through when their connection forms. Give him a smart-ass sense of humor that gets on the main character’s nerves, which kicks off an initial conflict between the two of them. You get the idea.

Give him depth

This goes along with the whole “don’t make him easy” guideline, but it’s important enough that I wanted to make it its own point. Giving your book boyfriend depth makes him feel like a real person to readers. And by depth, I mean making him more than just a hot physical specimen. It’s writing him so that he has convincing emotional reactions to the events in the story. Let him have a moment of anger when he’s challenged or when something goes wrong. Show him when he’s scared. Maybe it’s the idea of losing someone close to him. Maybe it’s the thought of opening himself up to the main character. Doing any or all of this gives your book boyfriend vulnerability, which helps him feel even more human and real.