Female Fantasy - by Iman Hariri-Kia (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

All's fair in love and lore.

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 favorite 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 romp. Most of all, though, it's a heartfelt love letter to romance readers everywhere.

Review Quotes

"Female Fantasy is a rompy good time, but even more than that it's a beautifully defiant love letter to the romance genre, with a main character who wholeheartedly and unapologetically believes in love in all its forms.. I loved every second!" -- Jessica Joyce, USA Today bestselling author of The Ex Vows

"Female Fantasy is fresh, fun, and utterly binge-able. Iman Hariri-Kia writes with a natural rhythm that makes me feel like I'm floating on champagne bubbles. Decadent and dreamy, this one is for the romantics." -- B.K. Borrison, New York Times bestselling author of First-Time Caller

"An unapologetic ode to all of what we love in the genre. Iman's love for romance and romance readers shimmers on every page of this fresh-feeling romcom!" -- Tarah DeWitt, USA Today bestselling author Left of Forever

"Clever, delightfully chaotic, and a total joy to read! Female Fantasy is truly a one-of-a-kind novel. Hariri-Kia has crafted a magnetic story that is both fantastically mystical and deeply relatable. As a lifelong romance reader, this is the type of book I'm looking for--a book that makes me feel seen, adored, and brave enough to hope for something bigger. Absolutely stellar." -- Lyla Sage, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Wild and Wrangled

"I had the time of my life reading Female Fantasy. Iman Hariri-Kia's writing is equally whip-smart, introspective, and hilarious." -- Hannah Bonam-Young, bestselling author of Out of the Woods

"There is nothing more delicious than being seen as a romance reader, and Iman Hariri-Kia's Female Fantasy does exactly that and more, playfully yanking us into a page-turning caper filled with hilarity, hope, and crackling banter. With an older brother's grumpy best friend, a quirky clan of fanfic besties, clumsy kidnappers, and psychics--and the power of romance novels--Hariri-Kia shows us that being your own main character takes more than determination and verve. It takes knowing you deserve your own happily ever after, full stop." -- Sierra Simone, USA Today bestselling author of A Merry Little Meet Cute and Salt Kiss