A fun and gripping read!
I read this in a day because I simply had to know what was going to happen next! I loved how the backstory of the characters was given to us little by little and their dynamic was honestly top tier. It’s amazing that the book is body positive but that’s hardly a theme (sometimes I feel like the more that theme is discussed, however positive it’s meant to be, the more it draws attention to the fact that it is something that needs to be addressed when that shouldn’t be the case while here it felt really natural).
The twist is cleverly disguised so while the thought had crossed my mind I had dismissed it and was still shocked when it happened.
I recommend if you’re in the mood for a quick, feel good romance!

I was immediately drawn to The Proposal by KJ Micciche because of its charming cover and promising premise. While it had its entertaining moments—especially the engaging email exchanges between Gracie and Colin—I ultimately had mixed feelings about the book.

Gracie, a struggling romance writer dealing with heartbreak and writer’s block, drunkenly emails her high school crush, Colin, who is also reeling from a messy divorce. What follows is a rekindled connection through witty banter and emails that gradually lead to something more. I really enjoyed their back-and-forth communication, which felt like the strongest part of the book.

However, despite the frequent explicit discussions about sex—often presented in a crude and awkward manner—the book itself is virtually devoid of any actual spice. This contrast felt jarring and made the humor feel forced at times. Additionally, some of the jokes, particularly those centered around STDs and bodily functions, didn’t quite land for me and made the characters seem much younger than they are meant to be.

While the romance had its cute moments, I found the pacing uneven. Some parts moved too quickly, while the ending felt drawn out. I also struggled to fully connect with Gracie, especially in the early chapters when her chaotic personality leaned more toward frustrating than endearing.

Overall, The Proposal is a light, quick read that some romance readers might enjoy, especially those who appreciate epistolary elements in storytelling. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I can see its appeal for those looking for a fun, easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

For a book lover like me, a book about books is always a must. As I was reading, I kept seeing myself in our main character's shoes and I couldn't stop reading. And what to say... this was JUST adorable!!!

KJ Micciche’s *The Book Proposal* is a breezy romantic dramedy that explores the messy intersections of heartbreak, creativity, and second chances. With an intriguing premise and a relatable heroine, the novel has plenty of charm, but it doesn’t quite hit all the marks.

Gracie Landing is a struggling romance writer whose life is in shambles: she’s broke, reeling from a breakup, and suffering from crippling writer’s block. When a drunken email to her high-school crush, Colin Yarmouth, leads to a surprising and flirty response, Gracie finds unexpected inspiration for her writing—and potentially for her love life.

The book’s greatest strength is its humor and self-awareness. Gracie is a hot mess in the most endearing way, and her misadventures as a writer feel authentic and engaging. The rekindled connection with Colin is sweet, and their budding friendship-turned-romance has its moments of genuine chemistry.

However, the story falters in its pacing and emotional depth. Gracie’s reliance on Colin’s breakup story as fodder for her novel creates an intriguing conflict, but its resolution feels rushed and lacks the weight needed to make it truly impactful. Colin, while charming, doesn’t feel fully fleshed out as a character, leaving their romance a bit one-sided at times.

The supporting characters, including Gracie’s best friends, add humor and color but don’t get much development. The blend of Gracie’s professional struggles and personal drama keeps the plot moving, though the narrative occasionally leans too heavily on predictable tropes.

Despite these shortcomings, *The Book Proposal* offers an enjoyable read for fans of lighthearted romance with a dash of chaos. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it provides enough laughs, heart, and second-chance romance to keep readers entertained. Perfect for a cozy afternoon escape.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC. I apologize for the very late review.

At 5%, I didn’t want to continue. Then… the flatulence started and kept going and I was won over. I freaking had a blast reading Gracie and Colin’s story.

The Book Proposal by KJ Micciche. Pub Date: May 16, 2023. Rating: 1 star. I love the premise of a romance author who personally struggles with love to potentially find love in the end. Honestly, the entire scenario of how her ex impregnated their wedding planner and the main character ends up emailing her high school crush because of it following a night of drinking was so far fetched to me. I felt the author was reaching for a ridiculous scenario to hopefully create a romance out of it. I wanted to like this novel and maybe Gracie and Colin may have had more substance to their courtship if it was not all email driven, but overall I felt this novel lacked in multiple ways. Thanks to #netgalley and #sourcebookscasablanca for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars

The blurb of this book was so promising, but it wasn't what I was hoping for.

It was too long and over the top ridiculous with characters that were unlikeable at times. A number of the moments meant to be humorous felt forced and jarring to read instead. It was like when in a movie the protagonist is just too quirky and accident prone. I think this author just isn't for me.

Unfortunately, after multiple attempts I have been unable to get into this book. It felt very slow for me and the characters were not likable which made it hard to root for them and enjoy the story. Due to that I have decided to soft DNF the book and potentially pick it up at a later date.

DNF

I couldn’t get past the slovenly nature of the leading lady. I’m assuming it was supposed to be humorous and “real” but the constant gastrointestinal mentions were just gross, unromantic, and offputting. I absolutely understand why this woman is horrible in love. I’d look elsewhere too.

Oh boy, this book’s plot was absolutely sensational (initially at least). While Colin and Gracie do make some questionable decisions, I really enjoyed the drama lol. Mid ending though despite a strong start. Would recommend as a one-sitting-beach-read!✨

I enjoyed this rom-com of a book! FMC Gracie is a romance author who is struggling after her fiance dumps her for their wedding planner, and her book is due like, yesterday. She is a bit of a hot mess, honestly. After a few too many drinks she winds up looking through her high school yearbook and then emails her former crush, Colin. AND HE REPLIES. He's also just had a relationship end, so they do a bit of commiserating together. He comes up with a plan to help Gracie break through her writer's block.

The plan becomes a bit chaotic when they discover different ways in which their lives have overlapped. Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves and their past. It's obviously a bit outlandish at times, but it mostly adds to the humor.

I wish there were better supporting characters in this story. I honestly can't recall any of them, except Colin's ex. And the timeline/ pacing seemed a bit rush. That being said, it was a quick read, and it made me laugh. I would certainly read more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

I really wanted to like this book. The summary, tropes, cover of the book- felt right up my alley but so much of it was cringey. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, Maybe she’s got a medical condition for the gastric issues, but no, it felt like a cheap way to get laughs, but not funny laughs, just cringey. The main guy was a walking red flag. Just the whole thing, there’s so many books to read I wouldn’t necessarily suggest this one unless you want to read a train wreck with unlikeable characters.

What a tasty moving story! This is so well devised and written that I cannot recommend it highly enough. The title is catchy and promises a new look at a romance. It is just that! The characters are so well-developed that they could be your neighbor.

The blurb and cover are great but this book was eh. It was a funny and light read but something was just missing. The characters acted like teenagers and it was one big mess.

First of all, this is more of a 3.5 or maybe a 3.8, so I rounded to a 4. Secondly, The Book Proposal had a weak start. I honestly wanted to put the book down after the first few chapters, but something about the storyline and the dual points of view kept my interest. The main character was a bit immature, but this may be intensional so the reader can see her growth and story arc.

The audiobook was well done and the narrator was clear and emotional.

Thank you for the advance copy.

I absolutely loved this book! I don't think I have even laughed out loud as much as I did while reading this. The banter between Gracie and Colin was hysterical, and if I'm being honest, sounded a lot like the banter between my husband and myself. This book was so sweet and cute, with an emotional aspect I wasn't expecting. Loved it!

This book seriously just left me with the warmest, fuzziest feelings ever Simply reached right into the heart and had me connected so deeply with each of the characters. Absolutely LOVE the writing!!

I love the cover! Instantly drew me in and made me request to read. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from Micciche in the future!

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgally and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for granting my wish for this book. There were parts that made me giggle out loud. Yes giggle like a young girl. I loved that they emailed back and forth. I also loved the concept of actually reading the story that was being written even though I aint gonna lie it was wild. Even though Im usually a girl that needs like a after of what happened the ending was cute and I felt fulfilled.

Sadly, I DNF'd this book rather quickly. I felt that the protagonist was rather immature and I didn't want to even try and push myself to continue reading.