Stop Letting Your Book Boyfriends Ruin Your Real Love Life | Korea Artiz Studio
I’ve had numerous “book boyfriends” throughout the years. More than regular boyfriends, that’s for sure.
A certain sparkling vampire from Forks, Washington (don’t judge). A shadow hunter in a shady night club. A dreamy Hufflepuff Tri-Wizard Champion from Hogwarts. I’ve fallen in love, time and time again.
However, my fictional flings led to an unhealthy expectation for love and romance. After all, how could I be happy when real boys don’t even come close to comparing with Edward, Jace, or Cedric? As fun as it is to fall in love with fictional characters (and let’s be honest, we hold them very dear), it can be downright toxic to hold real boyfriends to the same standards. Book boyfriends set the bar high, and you can miss out on real love if you hold out for the type of romance you’ll only find in books.
Before we continue, I want you to think of one of your favorite book boyfriends (or girlfriends). I bet they follow some, if not all, of these patterns. Let’s take a look at them and see how they can create a toxic mentality for real-life dating.
Your book boyfriend probably doesn’t have financial instability.
Book boyfriends are usually rich or don’t have any real financial stresses. In most cases, it’s not a focus of the story. They have the funds they need to get by day-to-day. Their bills? Covered.
Real relationships, however, are impacted by money (or the lack of it). If anything, money is a point of contention for many relationships. If you live with your partner, then you’ve had a chat about finances at some point during the relationship.
Your book boyfriend is probably above the law.
Being above the law is not only convenient, but it adds sex appeal. The authors know this. Sure, your book beau might get chased by the cops or arrested, but it usually works out in their favor. On the rare chances it doesn’t? You don’t feel it when they serve some prison time. Not the way you would feel it with a real man.
Real men and women are not above the law. In real life, jail time hurts. It takes a toll on families. A close friend of mine served a small jail sentence of six months, and it was difficult, so I can’t imagine my lover or boyfriend serving time. Yet, it happens to couples all over the world.
Your book boyfriend probably doesn’t get sexually rejected.
Real sexual rejection is not portrayed with most book boyfriends. If anything, the protagonist wants to be with them! If she/he does reject him, it’s only temporary — it builds the sexual tension and intrigue.
Real boyfriends get rejected. Even if you have the hottest man ever, you’re not going to want to have sex all the time. Or they’re not going to want to have sex all the time, and you’ve got the higher libido. Either way, many couples’ sex drives don’t match up. That’s a cruel fact of life.
Your book boyfriend is probably a sex god.
Your book boyfriend is likely really skilled in the sack. There’s no awkward fumbling or unfinished business: it’s just hot, heavy, and steamy. They know right where to kiss and touch and tease.
Real boys aren’t going to be sex gods. Real boys are going to fumble and need a little coaching sometimes. Real sex is steamy, yes, but also silly and awkward and not always flawless — but that’s part of the fun.
Your book boyfriend probably doesn’t fart.
Book boyfriends don’t fart or belch or do gross shit. But neither does the protagonist, so I mean…you know.
Real boys do all those things. But so do you, so don’t judge them too harshly.
As you can see, book boyfriends can be quite unrealistic. When we romanticize them to the extreme and create criteria for real-world dates based on them, we sabotage our happiness.
Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t fall in love with characters! Please, for the sake of all that is good, have many book boyfriend and girlfriends. Enjoy your book partners of all gender expressions and sexualities. Fall in love with them because they’re fantastic and funny and badass. Cherish them. But don’t hold real people to those standards. Don’t make dating harder than it already is.
If we’re going to hold men to “book boyfriend standards,” then we should expect the same — that they hold women to “porn star standards.” If that happens, we have a whole population where no one’s good enough for each other, while missing all the beautiful, lovely people out there.
No one can live up to book boyfriend standards, and that’s okay. Real boys will fart, or may need little guidance in the bedroom (hopefully not at the same time but it happens) … but real boys will also make you breakfast and cuddle you when you cry over a bad book boyfriend.
About Artiz Studio:
Free from the influence of time & place, our portraits capture a moment that is timeless. This is our aim when capturing any photo. As a child, I was deeply moved when I saw a photo of my grandparents together, bathed in a soft red light. I can never forget the impression that photo left on me, it had a large impact on me and my photography. I wish for brides and grooms to have the same feelings that I experienced when they receive their portraits. The most beautiful moments of loving couples should be retained forever. — Founder Kim Yong Seon
Founded In Busan, Korea Since 2008, South Korea Network KBS Central Has Named Artiz As One Of The Leading Bridal Fashion Icon And Wedding Provider For Authentic Korean-Style Photography. Capturing Timeless Portraits For More Than 20 Million Couples Throughout The 45 Situated Studio Locations. Our Unique Background Setting Crafted By SBS Korea Landscape Designers Has Propelled Artiz Within The Ranks Of Luxury Wedding Photography Elites Throughout The World, Delivering World-Leading Standards And Services.
Ushering In Artiz Global Success Was The Expansion To Singapore’s Wedding Scene In 2017 And Has Been Crowned Unanimously As Singapore’s Largest Indoor Wedding Studio And Sole Provider For Authentic Korean-Style Wedding Photography.
Our Extensive Portfolio Of Over 200 A-List Celebrities Endorsements And Mutual Collaborative Shoots With Local Top-Tier Influencers And Media Publications Has Propelled Artiz Into The Ranks Of Singapore’s Wedding Elites. This Includes Jian Hao Tan (Frobes 30 Under 30, 2016) With His Now Wife Debbie Soon (Influencer), Jade Rasif (Rank #2 South East Asia DJ, 2020), Naomi Neo (Singapore’s Most Followed Female Influencer, 2020) As Well As LGBTQ Activism Shoot For Andee Chua And Hugo Lim (Youtuber Influencer, Runway Model And LGBTQ Activist)
Artiz Has Seen To Also Paved The Way For Luxury Wedding And Bridal Providers, Having Earned Featured Publications In Over 200 Global Media Channels Worldwide Such As ELLE, COSMOPOLITAN BRIDE, VOGUE & HERWORLD Singapore
Your Wedding Day Is One Of The Most Important Days In Everyone’s Life, And We Hope That It Would Be Captured In Every Detail. Artiz Promises A Distinctive Style & Fresh POV To Photography By Shooting Natural Expressions And Moments Of Each Bride & Groom , Which Leave Not Only A Memory But Also Touches The Soul. Our Timeless Glamour And Luxurious Ambience Has Earned Us The Reputation As The Premier Studio Where Stars Have Chosen To Express Their Love Story.
For sample photos and bridal reviews:
Website at: https://www.artizstudio.sg/
Make an appointment: https://artizstudio.page.link/SGmore/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artizstudio.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtizStudio.SG
Twitter: https://twitter.com/artizstudiosg/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/artizstudioSG/
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artizstudio.sg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koreaartizstudio
