Fantasy Romance Book Boyfriends Worth Dating

(I Finally Made a Leaderboard)

I didn’t mean to create a Book Boyfriend Leaderboard.

It just… happened.
After years of reading fantasy romance, getting emotionally attached to fictional men, and silently judging their life choices, I realized something important:

Some book boyfriends are hot.
Some are powerful.
But only a few are actually worth dating.

So yes — I made it official.

👉 I created a Fantasy Romance Book Boyfriend Leaderboard
A very serious ranking of the men who would not (completely) ruin your life.

👉 View the full Book Boyfriend Leaderboard here

Let’s talk criteria (because standards matter)

This ranking is not based on vibes alone.

Book boyfriends were judged on:

• Emotional intelligence (or at least growth)
• Loyalty under pressure
• Respect (non-negotiable)
• Willingness to burn the world responsibly
• Overall “would I recommend this man to a friend” energy

Power is cute.
Devotion is hotter.

A taste of the leaderboard 🫦

I’m not dropping the whole list here — you’ll have to click through for that — but let’s talk highlights.

Rhysand sits comfortably near the top because obviously.
Fanfiction Draco Malfoy made the cut because fanfic writers fixed him.
King Cyrus proves that quiet, controlled devotion will always win.
And yes — Aaron Warner is on the list. IYKYK.

Some men barely missed the top ten.
Some were never in the running.
Others are on thin ice…

Can I just say that I’m very proud of the diverse hair styles in the list? Not all of them have the usual dark hair and eyes a la Henry Cavill. Also: for specific art cred for the above photos, check out the leaderboard.

This leaderboard is alive 👀

This is not a one-and-done ranking.

New fantasy romance releases = new contenders.
Rankings can change.
Men can be dethroned.

Keep an eye on my book reviews. I have a book boyfriend meter in each book review that will clue you in if the MMC is likely to make the leaderboard.

📌One last thing…

This list is not about hating books.
It’s about loving them enough to have standards.

Because if I’m going to emotionally invest in a fictional man,
he needs to earn it.

Now excuse me while I wait for the next book boyfriend to try and overthrow the rankings. 😌📚🔥(I’m totally picturing a hot male brawl for winning a spot — and my heart — are you? 😈)

👉 The full, updated leaderboard lives here:
Fantasy Romance Book Boyfriends Worth Dating – The Official Leaderboard