REVIEW: The Boyfriend Collector by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

In The Boyfriend Collector by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff, Turning twenty-one is a momentous occasion–a turning point in most people’s lives. That couldn’t be more true for Rose Marie Hale. But not for the normal reasons, like going out to a bar to party with friends for the first time (legally). In her case, turning twenty-one means that Rose leaves behind her days of solitude and backbreaking work at her deceased mother’s estate and finally inherits the money she has been promised for years. Freedom is within her grasp. Or so she thinks until Rose finds out that she’s been lied to her whole life. And that’s when she vows to take back what is rightfully hers.

‘I can’t even begin to digest the heartbreak and betrayal I feel, but I can’t afford to fall apart right now. I have to hold it together and see this through.’

The main hurdle Rose must overcome is to find a husband who meets her grandparents’ high society standards. And it must be in the few short weeks before her birthday. For a young woman who has never been allowed to date or interact socially, it’s quite a tall order. Without anyone to really turn to, she has to use her wits while trying to determine who she can trust and who is only out for her inheritance. And it’s every bit as difficult as Rose expected. But…when all is said and done, she hopes that she’ll have proven her strength to not only herself, but to her family who’s done her wrong from the beginning. And who knows? Rose may even find her Prince Charming along the way.

‘I think fear is what’s holding me back. I’m afraid to have my heart broken. I’m afraid these men will betray me. After all, it’s what I’ve come to expect from the world.’

Basically a modern retelling of Cinderella–complete with gorgeous gown and a grand party–The Boyfriend Collector was classic Mimi Jean Pamfiloff: characters who were not at all as they seemed, interesting chemistry, and of course plot twists and secrets to keep us readers on edge. Sounds fun, right?

‘I’ll never allow anyone to rule me, especially a man. Because for the the first time in my life, I am alive, in full color.
I am the boyfriend collector.’

You’ve gotta love a book that is all about self-empowerment and girl power without being too in your face about it. And that’s what The Boyfriend Collector was to me. Our heroine Rose had been neglected and mistreated from day one in her life, so it was quite heartening to watch her stand on her own two feet and take control of things like the true survivor she was. Rose had a helping hand (finally) from the Hughes family, namely therapist Bexley, aka Bex. And it was his and Rose’s dynamic that made this a page-turner for me–in addition to learning of Rose’s life and her deceased mother’s wishes for her, of course.

This book, which is part of a duet, was told from a couple of POVs: Rose, Bex and one other man’s perspectives. (I won’t mention who it is as I have a feeling he’s going to have a big influence somehow on Rose in book two…) I loved seeing how she viewed herself and her situation as opposed to how Bex saw her. It was a classic case of Rose not really understanding her true strength until she pushed herself and was forced to take action. The steps she took toward the end of the book should be interesting to see play out and I can only imagine what MJP will put Rose through before earning her HEA. (lol)

Fresh and inspiring, full of Southern charm, deceit, and a complex predicament, The Boyfriend Collector is a new novel not to be missed. Highly recommended.

Book Info:

Publication: Published December 18th 2018 | Paper & Silver, Inc. |

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes The Boyfriend Collector.

FIND MR. RIGHT IN 30 DAYS? CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
Treated like a servant in her own home, twenty-year-old Rose Marie Hale can’t stop dreaming of her next birthday. It’s the day she’ll inherit a fortune, break free from her cruel family, and finally start living her life—finish school, travel, find love. After a lifetime of hardship, it’s all she’s ever wanted.

But when Rose discovers she must marry before her twenty-first birthday to claim the money, she has no choice but to push herself out into the world in search of a man she can love and trust. Unfortunately, those are the very things that have been used as weapons against her.

With only a month to go, can she find true love? Or will her past hold her back, leaving her penniless and alone?

(Part One of Two)