Greetings readers!
In every book we come across those fictional characters that just completely capture our attention ADORATION. Sometimes feelings are so intense they capture our hearts ENTIRE BEINGS, until we are wishing that they were real people that we could touch, hear and talk too.
I have gone through this. A. Lot.
Like almost every book I have read.
It’s the Book Bae Syndrome.

The one or two, maybe three(?) characters from a book that just seize your whole essence that you wish, dream and do all sorts of witch craft to make them real people, that you can love and cherish!!
Yeah……………………………..we all go through that.
AND WE SHOULD NEVER BE ASHAMED!
It is totally okay to have a crush on a character from a fictional book that could never possibly exist in real life.
Totally okay!
In fact I’m celebrating it!
Today I’m going to be sharing with you how exactly my Book Baes get ranked. I have a hierarchy for this guys. It’s not just a list.
It is a system.
Now for me, this list is basically going to consist of males. BUT I know for a lot of people out there this system could be different! It can be full of males, females or a mixture of both! Totally up to you! Whomever you desire 😉
So….The Hierarchy!
Let’s get to it!
The Book Boy Toy
Book Boy Toys are the boys in books that I find rather attractive but due to some issues I cannot fully commit to them, like lack of character development or they are literally the side characters. They have a little something-something that makes me bat my eyelashes, but they are also missing a little something-something to make them really stick in my mind!
The Boy Toy is simply a pass time Book Bae. I think about them ever so often, but not every single day!

Sometimes Boy Toys level up…but usually they are side characters, so…. most of the time they end up dead. Not fun. I know.
Book Boy Toys are also usually the losing side of the love triangle. Even if I’m rooting for the other guy, in some cases I find myself feeling bad for the loser and categorize him as Boy Toy.
Some examples of my Boy Toys…
Rylan from the Defy Series by Sara B. Larson (Losing side of the triangle/Also the guy I rooted for so he’s a precious boy toy)
Jamie Watson from the Charlotte Holmes series by Brittany Cavallaro (TBH I think he is really hot and sweet and smart…but that’s it)
Jack from the Dust Lands trilogy by Moira Young (This series shook me to the core…and it helped that Jack was easy on the eyes!)
The Book Boyfriend
Now the Book Boyfriend is one level up from the Boy Toy. He is usually a character that really makes me swoon and catches my attention for most of the book. He doesn’t have to be the main character, although most of the times he is! When he pops up on the page, all my attention is on him. He is my precious cinnamon roll and I would do anything to protect him.
Book Boyfriends definitely have the swoon factor! Either in looks or actions. If he knows pretty words even better!
Book Boyfriends can level up or down (it is very rare, however). The Book Boyfriend list is rather long. Lot’s of guys end up on this list because they have a lot of memorable qualities!
They are however, missing that big WOW factor, that ultimate thing that just makes me faint.
But the swoon factor…

Some examples of my Book Boyfriends…
Kai/ Wolf/ Jacin from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (Three swoony and adorable boys who just make my heart squeeze with every little thing they say and do!)
Amar from The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (Total sweet-talker. Holy cannoli, I would faint if he ever said any of those sweet things to me)
Arin from The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski (Just…uhgh….perfection. Him and Kestrel. UGH. LOVE.)
Day (Daniel Wing) from the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu (*cries for days on end* Get me a guy like him please.)
Kaz Brekker from the Six of Crows duology (Put. Those. Dirty. Hands. On. Me……………..*side note* I ship him too much with Inej so levelling up is hard for him.)
The Book Husband
The ultimate level a male character can achieve in my books. It is the highest and most distinguished level. This list is shorter, but full of amazing characters that are literally my e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.
To make Book Husband status this character has to be the total package. He has got to tick off all my boxes. The swoon, the sweet words, the humour, the flaws, the proclamations of love (depending on the situation.) Everything.
My Book Husbands are constantly in my thoughts. And when I think about them I get a weird googly-eyed face that makes me look a little crazy. I know this because my sisters are always pointing it out.

If just the thought of them makes me giggle, swoon and squeezes my heart…YOU KNOW THEY HAVE MADE THE BOOK HUSBAND LIST.
Some examples of Book Husbands…
Chaol Westfall from the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas (My heart. MY HEART. It was his from the moment he walked onto the page. Total package. The build. The loyalty. I love him, flaws and all.)
Elias Veturius from the Ember Quartet by Sabaa Tahir (*faints* OMG. Just wow. Total heartthrob. Mask or No-Mask. Ticked every box so fast. He is so complex and swoony, I can’t!)
Carswell Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer (*high-pitched girly squeals.* Thorne is very special. I have never gotten so giddy and silly over a fictional character before. BUT HIM. GOSH. It’s just squealing and swooning from me. Just a constant squeal/swoon)
SO yeahhhhhhhhhhh………………………….
My three levels of Book Baes
Of course, new guys are being added everything single time I read a good book. I should keep a written list, but that would mean having to go through all my books again! (Which I have no problem with….maybe I’ll do it!)
So now the tables turn to you!
Do you have a system? Are there some characters that are totally everything and hit that Husband list or are they still Boy Toy-like?
Let me know one of your favourite Book Baes or if you’re not so into romance, I would love to know about your Book Besties! Now that is a long list in my books.
I would also love to know what attracts you to a character! Do you have a certain type? A certain quality you look for?
Happy reading! (And Book Bae Hunting!)
~ Rendz
This was such a great post!! Totally agree with your choices, though my book husbands would be Will Herondale and Rhysand❤️❤️❤️
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Yay! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I haven’t read about those guys just yet but they are immensely popular! Must be great book husband material 😜
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Oooh definitely! Hope you feel the same way after you read about them😉
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My book husband is James Carstairs from Infernal Devices ❤ (Liza Koshy gif, lol!)
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IT IS TOTALLY OKAY TO FALL IN LOVE WITH FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, your skills in orgnizing is pretty impressive yes there are boys who are fine but not perfect and others who you swoon over and other you want to marry!! but i’ve never orgnized the whole thing like you do!!
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YES THANK YOU FOR AGREEING WITH ME! I like to list a lot of things in my head and put them into categories like this, but I hardly ever do it on paper 😂 So I’m organized but still a mess hehehe!!
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it’s a start at least😂
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CARSWELL!!! YES!!!
Those few fictional men I get giddy just thinking about… Thorne’s at the top. Th others are Jake Rosenbloom (the 39 Clues) and Khalid (the Wrath and the Dawn).
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Yay!!! So much giddiness!!!!! OMG KHALID!!! *heart eyes forever*
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This is so accurate. All of my book husbands die and it’s really sad. That being said, my only living one right now is Aedion from ToG, but I’m afraid for him in the last book.
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They all die…OH NO!!!!! Wishing you all the best Aedion, Bella needs you (to live)!
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LOOOVE THIS! I do think you forgot one category… the ‘book baby boy’. The characters that you love, adore, and cherish, but not in a carnal way. You want to smother them with goodness and love, and kiss their booboos.
Or maybe that’s just one of my categories.
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OMG YESSSSSSSSSS THE BABY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m Gonna have dedicate a whole post just to them 😂
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I can’t wait to hear who made that list!
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I loved this post! I think it is unique and brilliant. There are a lot of bae’s on that list that I’ve not experienced. I do love me some Kaz though! Mine would be Will (Infernal Devices), Rowan (ToG), and Aeduen (Truthwitch)!! 🙂
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Thank you so much!!! Trust me this is just a tiny portion of the list. It is endlesssssssss! I have yet to meet some of your Book Baes as well!
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It’s a great start to the list in my opinion! If you get a chance to meet any of my Bae’s I’d love to hear what you think!
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Ahahaha, I love this post, Rendz! I KNEW Thorne was going to be on that Book Husbands list, haha! 😂 This is a great hierachy and I so agree with it. Um… I love Day and Magiano, TLC boys (except Jacin), PERCY JACKSON!!!, the whole Six of Crews crew, the whole Shades of Magic crew, and lots more! Great post!
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Thanks so much May! Thorne is always my #1. I don’t know who could possibly beat him out, though some may come close! I have yet to read Percy Jackson and the Shades of Magic series but I always hear wonderful things about them!
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YOU NEED TO READ PERCY JACKSON AND SHADES OF MAGIC ASAP!!! 😍
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I know! I know! 🙈🙈
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*Crying because this is wondrous and I’m dying because it’s so true* Omigosh, Rendz, this was brilliant. I love it so much. I didn’t think about the levels that I had as well, but I’m really trying to classify them now and you’re so right – there are quite a few levels. There may have been some squeals for darling Thorne. He’s so, so, so book husband material. MY HEART. THE FEELS. And um, I really, really need to get on Ember and Chaol’s books because I only knew 1/3 of the book husbands. D: Wonderful post, Rendz (of course, but still, this was extra wonderful). 😉
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Thanks Mandy!!! The levels just came up with themselves without me actually realizing they were there! Thorne gets all the squeals!! The best husband material! You must, must, must, must read Ember because ELIAS! OMG! As for Chaol..I love him…..but the series he is in is sooo going down hill! So just read the first two Throne of Glass books and you’re good XD But I’m so glad you liked this!
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Ahahahaha that’s amazing. So true, though. And YESSSSSSSSS. He is indeed. ❤ And ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh okay, Ember is even more up at the top of my list. But oh no. That doesn't sound good. D:
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LOVE this post! This is seriously so fun! Gotta love those book baes! ❤️❤️❤️
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Thank you!! I live for the Book Baes, Krysti 😉 ❤
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Girl, don’t we all?! LOL. ❤
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Very interesting post! I would have to really think on this. I am never sure exactly what attracts me to the male characters I love to read.
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I’m glad you liked it! Attraction is a very mind boggling thing isn’t it? So many good qualities to choose from 😂
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It really is. It think the main thing about true attraction is finding that you are attracted after getting to know someone’s personality. Which is why we get so hung up on book crushes because we don’t ever physically see the appearances. So, I think some of the personality traits that I am attracted to are a good heart, protectiveness, and intelligence! 🙂
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Perfectly put! Those are some wonderful qualities to look out for! I would have to go with good heart (who wants a bad one?!) humour and gentility (did I use this word right? Idk…) 🤗🤗
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This post makes me laugh. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who does this. I haven’t read any of these books but I have my own list of book baes. You just cant help it ❤️
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Awesome! I was hoping to make some people giggle! I’m sure the book bae list is very long and never ending so long as new books come out!
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That is true. Every time I read a new book I’m like, “uhhh he’s amazing” 😱
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Aah. Reminds of the time I used to think Sora from Digimon was kinda cute 😂
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We all had our moments XD
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important. where is our boy Torwin in this? i have a guess but will withhold until you make your proclamation.
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Tell me your guess…*wiggles eyebrows*
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you called him a cinnamon bun sooooooo boyfriend???
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Yes, boyfriend!!
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