6 Reasons why Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead would make an EXCELLENT book boyfriend

Let’s face it. If The Walking Dead was a romance novel, Daryl Dixon would be the hero. I mean, sure, Rick is handsome and smart and sexily ruthless at times, but his track record with women is pretty awful. (I say a little prayer in every episode that Michonne won’t suffer the same fate as Lori or Jessie. My heart couldn’t take it.) And Aaron is an awesome guy, but he’s clearly taken. Jesus is an option, but he’s still a little too mysterious at this point for me to make a final decision about his book boyfriend status. I really enjoy Ezekiel and LOVE that he has a pet tiger, but I’m not a huge fan of the whole “king” act he has to put on to keep his people happy, so he’s not my first choice. Don’t even get me started on Morgan and his pacifist tendencies. (The zombie apocalypse is no place for pacifists!!) That pretty much leaves Daryl, which, as it turns out, isn’t a bad thing at all. So, without further ado, here’s why Daryl Dixon would make an exceptional book boyfriend:

Loyalty
Daryl is about as loyal as a hero gets. Even while being tortured (Easy Street will be stuck in my head for all eternity, and I only had to hear it once), Daryl remained loyal to himself and to his group of fellow survivors (his family, really). It's them against everyone else and with Daryl on their side, I'm not putting my money on "everyone else". There’s no trait more important in a book boyfriend than loyalty.

(Note: For great reads about a group of friends who stay loyal to each other no matter what, check out LJ Shen’s Sinners of Saint series. You won’t regret it.)

Overcoming adversity
Daryl didn’t exactly come from a happy, stable home. He could’ve turned out like his horrible brother, Merle. But, no, Daryl overcame the sad, tragic circumstances of his childhood to become a good man who’d do anything, risk anything, to protect those he cares about. If that’s not an essential book boyfriend quality, then I don’t really know what is.

(Note: for a great story of a survivor with a crappy past who turned into the BEST of book boyfriends, try reading Archer’s Voice. Here’s our 4.5-star review.)

Bikers are SEXY
If there’s anything we learned from romance novels (and Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy), it’s that bikers are sexy as hell. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one whose hormones were doing a little happy dance when Daryl was reunited with a bike in season 7.

Protective 
Any romance fans who say they didn’t swoon a little when Daryl was protecting Beth in season 4 are lying. And the way he’s always protected Carole? (Even though she can CLEARLY protect herself) That. Is. Hot. It also makes Daryl prime book boyfriend material.

(Note: For reads about the most protective alphas you’ll find in Romance Land, check this out.) ​

Survival instincts
Anyone who hopes to survive the zombie apocalypse will need to know a thing or two about hunting and tracking. Daryl’s got that covered. And there’s not too many things more attractive in a book boyfriend than his ability to provide--on a base level--for his loved ones.

(Note: for a GREAT read about a dude who knows pretty much all there is to know about surviving off the grid, you GOTTA check out Katy Regnery’s Unloved.)

Arm porn
OK, this one is admittedly shallow.  But I can’t think of too many book boyfriends who don’t have really nice, toned, strong arms. Check out a bunch of covers if you don’t believe me. And as for Daryl...well, let’s just say that surviving the zombie apocalypse has done his body good. Very, very good. 

What about y’all? Anything you’d like to share about Daryl, book boyfriends, or the zombie apocalypse? We’d love to hear from you!

---