All’s fair in love and lore in Iman Hariri-Kia’s brand new contemporary romance novel, full of sharp wit, self-aware humour and a blurring of the line between fantasy and reality.

Joonie is living in a fantasy – at least that’s what people keep telling her.

A copywriter by day and fanfic auteur by night, Joonie continues to date and dump disappointing men in search of a happily ever after. But every potential suitor seems to have one flaw in common: They can’t hold a candle to her book boyfriend, Ryke. The protagonist of her favourite fantasy romance series (and, notably, a sexy merman), Ryke is a symbol for the life Joonie craves and the kind of relationship she deserves. So with a book always in her back pocket, why would she ever settle for less?

But when Joonie learns that Ryke’s character is based on someone the author knows in real life, she embarks on an epic quest to track him down, meet him in person, and determine once and for all if soulmates really do exist. Unfortunately, her brother’s annoying best friend who doesn’t believe in love or happy endings insists on hitching a ride. And like any great hero’s journey, it doesn’t take long for the trials and tribulations to begin.

As Joonie fights her way toward her love interest, using the skills she acquired through reading, she’ll learn an important lesson: You can pursue a fantasy, but you can’t always write your own plot.

As unhinged as it is brilliant, Female Fantasy is both a self-aware dive into the concept of genre and a wild, steamy romance romp. Most of all, though, it’s a heartfelt love letter to romance book readers everywhere.

Tropes
Book Boyfriend
Fantasy
Contemporary Romance
Spicy Romance
Bookish Romance
Female Gaze