Cute, strong female character, LA setting, diverse characters all lead up to an enjoyable read. However, a week out I already forgot that I had finished it so the staying power isn't strong. But a fun summer beach-read nonetheless.

This was a light-hearted story that I just kept finding myself day-dreaming while reading it. I would put in down for a few days and forget everything about the story and characters. I took that as I sign I shouldn't continue it, so I didn't finish. Thank you for the opportunity though.

I fell in love with Jasmine Guillory’s fresh and charming debut novel, The Wedding Date, so when I saw she had a new book coming out, I knew I had to read it. This author is not a one-hit wonder. I loved The Proposal just as much as at The Wedding Date. Carlos is an amazing man and I want to be besties with Nik and her girls!



Nik is at a Dodger’s game with her casual boyfriend, Fisher. The very last thing she is expecting at this game is a proposal. I mean, who proposes to someone they’ve been dating for 5 months? And someone they’re not even serious about? Nik is befuddled and of course says no. Fisher storms out and it puts Nik in a position. Thankfully, Carlos and his sister, Angela help Nik out and get her out of there.

Carlos likes Nik right away. There is something about her that draws him to her. Neither one of them are looking for a relationship, but they form this friendship, and that friendship turns into sex. As long as it’s just friends with benefits things will be fine. Nik can’t do a relationship now, and Carlos has too many family things on his plate. But when someone catches the feelings- things get a little tricky.

If you’ve read The Wedding Date, you know Carlos is best friends with Drew. It was nice to get their little cameo in this book. I hope this series of stand-alones continues. I would love to get a book for either one of Jasmine’s friends. I loved both Dana and Courtney! 



Carlos was by far my favorite character in this book. He was such a stand-up guy. He wasn’t independent by a strong and independent woman. I love how devoted he was to his family, how he truly cares for people, and he cooks. Don’t we all want a man to cook for us? I just adored him! Nik was great, too. She has a big heart and is a great friend/woman.

If you are a fan of friends to lovers books, The Proposal is one you need to check out. It’s sweet, heartwarming, steamy, and made me laugh out loud several times. I enjoyed this one lots!

3 stars — I was really looking forward to this book, and the main reason is the obvious awesome diversity! Not only is our author a person of colour, but so are BOTH of our main characters! And I’d seen some good reviews for Ms. Guillory’s debut, The Wedding Date, so I figured it was a no brainer! Unfortunately, while there were some great moments, on the whole this book fell flat for me. Which is a mega bummer. Also, while this can totally stand on its own, it does have crossover characters with The Wedding Date. That doesn’t bother me, but I know some find it frustrating when that’s not obvious.

So hmmm…what to say. Like, what do I mean by flat? Well, the characters felt flat and two-dimensional. The conversations, the dialogue. The inner thoughts. It’s like it was missing some polish you know? Like everything felt very matter of fact and perfunctory, but I didn’t FEEL anything. Now, there were moments…a scene here or there, some glimmers of a spark, but it just wasn’t enough to sustain me. On the whole I was just left feeling bored and meh.

Nik and Carlos both appeared great on paper, and I didn’t dislike them or anything, but I never really connected with them either. I never quite understood (in my bones) why they were both anti-relationship, I was just eventually told you know? Like for some reason I didn’t get the extent that Nik was scarred from her relationship with Justin until nearer to the end when it was already too late for me to be empathizing with her. Similarly with Carlos, I was told he was concentrating on his family, and I guessed there was some fear, but I didn’t *feel* it.

Gosh, I didn’t even really feel their funny moments. There were scenes where I’m sure I was supposed to be giggling, but I was just like “oh, yeah, I guess that’s funny.” It was like their reactions were over the top. Or their dialogue would go without breaks in between. Honestly, I’m not a writer, I just know when something doesn’t work for me.

Samesies for their romantic chemistry. I appreciated their friendship, but when we got to the romance, I never felt any tummy tingles or butterflies. Heck, even the steamy scenes were very perfunctory and essentially fade to black. I don’t mind fade to black, but I want to *feel* something in the kisses then.

Honestly, there were two things that kept this being an OK book (and not a bad book). First, the diversity was fantastically done. I mean, there were times where I kind of felt like white people were being made fun of, and while part of me gets that, it felt more mean somehow…which, find, I guess, I don’t know. But so many fantastic characters of colour, and some great LGBT representation too. Second, the scenes at Natalie’s Gym, and Natalie’s entire story were really affecting to me. I truly felt so much. If the rest of the story had had that same level of emotional involvement, I would have felt differently.

So yeah. I don’t know. It was missing book magic for me. Maybe the delayed release means they’re going to inject some magic into it? I hope so, because it would be a shame to waste all the potential.

I love this sweet romantic story about two people who meet and fall for each other when a large-scale proposal goes horribly wrong. I thought Nic and Carlos were both fully-developed characters with their own faults, yet were relatable and easy to root for. Guillory writes fun, frothy soap and this was an easy, breezy fall read. Readers who enjoy romance, comedy, wish fulfillment and light-hearted reads will really enjoy this one!

This was a fun story for so many reasons. First of all, Nikole and Carlos are great characters that are not anywhere near perfect but are relatable. Their chemistry is just as much on the friend level as it is on the sexual level which makes them even more interesting. What makes them unique in the romance world is that they are both minorities. I love how Jasmine Guillory doesn't make the story about this but still makes it a part of the story organically just like it would happen in a real life relationship. I would definitely read more books by this author and would recommend this to anyone looking for a romance that is a little different and character driven.

A very cute, easy and lighthearted read. It’s great for a pick me up. I did wish i had More time with the romance, I just wanted a little more.

This was my first book of Guillory’s and I found it to be a delightful rom-com which was just what I needed in the midst of thriller and serial killer books! When Nik is proposed to on the Jumbotron at a baseball game, it’s an understatement to say she is shocked - she definitely did not see more than friends with benefits with wannabe actor Fisher - and when she turns him down, he doesn’t take it well. Cue onlooker Carlos who steps in and saves Nik from the swarm of parasites.... now given that I mentioned this is a romantic comedy, of course Nik & Carlos begin to fall for each other - but not without obstacles. The Proposal was definitely a tad predictable but sometimes that’s what you want from this genre of book and that was okay with me! I enjoyed some of the side plots like Courtney the cup cake baker badass and the girls signing up for self defense classes as well. I’d definitely be interested in checking out more from Guillory in the future!

I chose not to finish this book. I found the humor to be flat and could not connect with the characters.

The Proposal is exactly the laugh out loud read I needed this week! I enjoyed Jasmine Guillory’s use of friendship and humor in developing characters we would want to get to know and care about. After a disastrous opening chapter where Nikole is proposed to at a baseball game on the big screen (and says no!) we find we are rooting her on to give love another chance. Will she and the handsome doctor who rescued her ever see a future with each other? I highly enjoyed this book! I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

My review is posted on Goodreads. It will post on Amazon and my book review blog (www.bugbugbooks.com) on the publication date (10/30/18). Thanks!

Nikole Paterson doesn't expect her boyfriend to propose to her at a Dodgers game after only six months of great-sex-but-nothing-more dating. But propose he does---and in front of millions of people who are all horrified when Nik turns him down. After her (now ex) boyfriend storms off in a rage, Nik is left alone at her seat, overwhelmed, embarrassed, and completely unprepared to handle the camera crew that shoves a camera in her face and starts asking questions.

Luckily, a few rows back, Carlos Ibarra and his sister, Angela, decide to come to Nik's rescue, creating a diversion that allows them all to get out of the stadium. Nik is grateful for the help...and surprised to find herself drawn to Carlos. She's obviously not ready for a new relationship right after such an awkward and very public break up, but the two make plans to meet up anyway. Day drinks turns into...something more, and eventually Nik finds herself joyfully pouring herself into a rebound relationship with Carlos. But as things get more serious between them, Nik can't help but wonder if their fling could be something more.

 *   *   *   *   *

Despite the unique and clever opening scene at the Dodgers game, The Proposal gets off to a slow start. The first 100 pages should have been edited way down. As it is, there is a lot of banter between Nik and her friends that I think I was supposed to find HILARIOUS! but just didn't. The story picks up, though, when Nik and Carlos's backstories are revealed and they become more well-developed, whole characters. Their first hook up feels a little forced, but, after that, the book becomes a lot more interesting.

One thing The Proposal really has going for it is its diversity of characters. I read a lot of books, and it's common to see basically one ethnicity featured. But this book has a little bit of everything, and, as a California native, I can say it perfectly captures the feeling of living in that area.

I still wish the book were about 100 pages shorter, but if you're looking for a light and youthful read, this one's worth checking out.

This is a super fun read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I laughed a lot and I will most definitely read The Wedding Date.

Nikole Paterson is a super fun woman with great friends, an interesting job and a very interesting dilemma. I could so be friends with her! I loved her confidence and how she handles herself in an extremely awkward moment that just won’t go away.

Nik and her boyfriend have been dating for about 5 months and it’s fun, flirty and sexy but it isn’t serious and well after a while their pseudo relationship has become stale. Nik isn’t the type to break up with somebody on their birthday but she didn’t realize that their date would be entail watching the Dodgers game at the baseball field with all his buddies.

She was shocked when her boyfriend proposed with a Princess Diana style ring and the moment was televised live on the jumbotron as was her uncomfortable answer of no.

I felt the horror and pit in my stomach. Holy crap! What was he thinking! And yes, that is just the beginning of the story. Nik makes some new friends during the fiasco and clings to her best friends too. She learns a lot about herself, what she really wants and what it takes to be happy.

After experiencing this massive joy at reading The Wedding Date, I knew that given the opportunity, I would one hundred per cent read The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. You see, The Proposal takes on one of the minor characters from The Wedding Date. So, I like when books revisit certain characters and give them their own stories. Guillory’s follow up does this in quite spectacular fashion.

The Proposal follows a woman named Nikole who is a freelance writer and Carlos who is Drew’s friend, but also a pediatrician and director of a teen clinic. Anyways, Nikole goes to a Dodger’s game with her boyfriend whom she’s thinking about ending things with. She knows it has been a couple of months but isn’t anything too serious. Only, that boyfriend, he proposes up on the jumbotron. Nikole says no. It goes viral.

Carlos, sitting pretty close by, comes to Nikole’s rescue along with his sister, Angie. They pretend to be long lost friends and whisk Nikole away from the cameras. So, Nikole’s relationship ends in spectacular fashion. She then ends up becoming friends with Carlos and then hook up buddies. Will it develop into something more?

I really think that Guillory has a true knack for chemistry. The chemistry between Nik and Carlos is off the charts. At first, the two kind of resist it. Nik is just getting out of a relationship and there’s the whole proposal drama. Carlos is not one to settle down (kind of like Drew). Over time though, their hookups become something more. The two have to get over this whole relationship fear and reluctance otherwise, they may lose a really good thing. I LOVED it.

Overall, if you’re looking for a book that is sweet with characters who are true to life and diverse, get your hands on The Proposal. I think Guillory is fast becoming a MUST read author for me. Now I know that when I want a guaranteed good romance book, I just have the next Guillory book to look forward to. And also you 100% do not need to read The Wedding Date to be able to enjoy this book — the previous characters show up in like one or two scenes. However, it will enhance your reading.

I fell in love with Jasmine Guillory's writing in The Wedding Date, so I went into this book knowing that I was going to be entertained and captivated. And Jasmine Guillory does not disappoint.

Nik and Carlos meet so cute that you'll need to get your sugars checked: they're at a Dodgers game, she gets proposed to (by a guy who doesn't know how to spell her name), rejects him, and Carlos steps in to protect her from a crowd that expected a yes. The two strike up a friendship at first, but undercurrents of attraction shine brightly. Jasmine Guillory slowly unfolds a relationship between these two reluctant lovers, and it is a delight to read.

As with Drew and Alexa in The Wedding Date, the racial differences between Carlos and Nik are not a factor. I LOVE THAT. People are people, non? Love is love. The color of your skin doesn't matter when your heart is at play.

Carlos has his reasons for wanting to avoid commitment, as does Nik. Yet they protest too much because you know and their friends know and their families know that these two belong together. It's just a matter of them realizing it for themselves.

I love Nik and Carlos. When I turned the last page, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends. Read this one and hit up the comments to let me know your thoughts.


Scheduled for publication on the blog on Oct. 30.

Nikole gets proposed to at a baseball game and Carlos and his sister step in to help her get out of the stadium before the crowd and reporters crowd her after she refuses to accept her ex’s proposal. You get introduced to two of her close best friends who both work in LA. And more of Carlos’ family members. Overtime you see how the two are really supportive of each other and their family and friends. They begin to spend time with one another and it blossoms into more but not enough to call it a full blown relationship even though we know where it is going. I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory. She is an author I’m excited about reading more from. Unfortunately, I did get good read on the personalities of the two main characters. I would have liked to see more of their characteristics flushed out. I really enjoy love stories and it is okay if the plot isn’t fast paced or attention grabbing; yet if it isn’t, then the characters personalities, quirks, eccentricities and overall being, need to shine through even more. The representation was great and refreshing to read about.

More of a 3.5 stars. While I enjoyed the overall narrative, some of the specifics bothered me. It seemed like some of the dialogue was forced, but I did like that there was a lot of it. Dialogue moves a story quickly and I enjoy that. I like that the main character was an African American—I don’t think there are enough main characters of color in fun stories. I’m also glad that Drew and Alexa from The Wedding Date made short appearances. I really liked them from TWD so I was happy to hear more about their lives “now”.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

THE PROPOSAL by Jasmine Guillory was immensely enjoyable. It starts with a proposal on the Jumbotron at the Dodgers game that was completely unexpected and unwelcomed. What unfolds after that is a dual-narrated story told by Nik and Carlos, the man who rescues her from the camera crew after the debacle. I loved this book. I didn’t know what to expect from a “multi-cultural romance” book as indicated by NetGalley, but it turned out it was my kind of story. It has great girl friends in Dana and Courtney, tight family on Carlos’s side, fantastic food references between the cupcake shop and Carlos’s kitchen, some well written steamy parts, and a lot of humor. My favorite part? How realistic these relationships are between all the characters. There is a lot of swearing in the book but as long as that doesn’t bother you (or the sexy parts), this one is worth picking up. It also reads very quickly!

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a really fun, satisfying read! I love Nik as a protagonist and found her v relatable. Plus, love to see Drew & Alexa's cameo!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK. It's so bubbly and feel-goody and adorable. I was a fan of The Wedding Date, but I loved The Proposal even more! The meet-cute is the meet-cutest of all meet-cutes. There are so many relatable and lovable characters (I really want to be a part of Nik's friend group) and so many descriptions of delicious food. This book made a perfect weekend read.

Nikole is an African American woman, a journalist, living in LA. She has two best friends, one is a cupcake baker and the other is an actress. All in all, very Hollywood, right?

Nik also has a boyfriend of a sort. They've been dating for five months, and while they have absolutely nothing in common, the sex is great. And then Fisher (the boyfriend) drops on one knee and along with the JumboTron at a Dodgers game - proposes to Nik!

Right after she refuses (epically, I might add) and Fisher has a meltdown, she is rescued by two strangers. The Ibarra siblings. Angie was the rescue mission brains, but Carlos was definitely the brawn.

Carlos and Nik's friendship evolved very quickly after that, and then progressed further into a friends with benefits stage. Both agreed they enjoy things the way they are, and things go wonderfully.

Until Carlos realizes he's in love with Nikole.

What I loved about the story is the little details that tied it all together, from Carlos's background story, to his profession, to his family and his friends. Then you have Nik and her besties, who are fantastic, by the way.

This reaffirmed my belief in the fact that a plot formula can stay the same, but the story can be completely different. And awesome.