So this romance was entertaining and spicy. An author needs a best seller and can only write one by being devastatingly heart broken. Enter the OBX hottie and everything should go off without a hitch, right? Of course there is conflict and out of this world sex that foils the plan. I wasn't crazy about the scheme behind the hook up but liked the characters enough to read the next book in the series.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is a story about a writer trying to write her next book but is stuck with writer’s block. Aspen’s first book was a huge hit that came from something personal, but nothing seems to bring that same success. Maybe a change is just what she needs for her next book. Brick wants to save his business. Aspen is trying to find her way and is determined to make it happen. Brick has a reputation as a playboy and maybe just what she needs. What happens when she makes him an offer that would benefit them both? This story was charming, fun and emotional.

3.5-stars.
Happy reading!

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst caught me by surprise in the very best of ways. Aspen Lourde is fighting to write her next big novel and she is stuck. She concocts an interesting and gloriously farfetched plan to help her muse get back on track. Enter Brick Babel. The town heartbreaker. The current subject of the hot gossip. They agree to help each other and embark on a love story that is worthy of a book of the month run. We recommend this one if you enjoy: books about writers, small town romances, quirky side characters, and a relationship that starts off fake but ends up feeling completely plausible and actually perfect.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst’s is book one in the Outer Banks series and I enjoyed this book so much!! If you like fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, struggling author, struggling inn owner, they fall at the same time, sea turtles, wild horses, contracts, and spice then you will love this book.

Aspen Lourde lives in New York and is an author who used her breakup to write a best selling book. Now that she needs to write a sequel she is struggling. She decides that she needs a break and goes to visit her sister Sierra in Outer Banks for the summer.

Brick Babel is very misunderstand and has the reputation of being a ladies man who goes around breaking women’s hearts. He is left heartbroken after his fiancée leaves him and trashes his name around town, there is even a support group for all who have been hurt by Brick. He is a tour guide at an inn, this his late grandfathers left him, this is struggling financially. Aspen thinks she needs a breakup to help her write her next book so she makes a deal with Brick that will help him with the money he needs for his inn.

I think Probst did an amazing job with this story. The plot was different and a very nice change. The storyline was great and I like that we got to understand the struggles of an author and what they go through to break their writers block. I loved the all of the characters, Brick and Aspen were so cute together. One has never been truly loved or experienced a relationship and one is still recovering from a heartbreak, they are afraid of falling but can’t help that they are. The side characters were just as amazing as the MC’s Sierra, Marco, Kane, and the locals. Marco is the owner of a cannabis shop. My favorite scene is when Marco tries to help Aspen with her nerves before a book signing, I was cracking up. This story was so much fun I wanted more. I can’t wait for book two…I wonder if it will be about Kane and Sierra, I have to know the story behind that awkward introduction. Please read this book you will love it. Thank you to Blue Box Press, NetGalley, and Jennifer Probst for letting me read this story in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

2.75 stars

A solid book, if a little boring at times. I was really into the start, but lost a fair amount of interest. I certainly liked Dug the most out of any of them. There is an abundance of specific publishing information that I imagine lovers will love or hate. I think if you’re looking for a “bookish” book, this will work for you; if a romance probably not.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.

A light, fluff read. I enjoyed it but didn’t love it. I feel like the “average, plain woman” (who ends up with the town hottie) is totally overused in romance books these days. The same thing with clumsy/awkward women. This book’s main character was awkward and average/plain which was definitely a turn off for me. The fake dating story line was ok. Hated the name “Brick” for the love interest. 2.5 stars

Book of the Month is the perfect read if you are looking for a small town spicy romance, fake dating, and a mysterious bad boy. At times, I enjoyed reading it, but then other times, I just wanted it to end. I just couldn't connect with the two main characters like I had hoped... Aspen was annoying at times, and some of the conversations between Aspen and Brick were a bit cringey. All in all, it was a good story that would make the perfect summer beach read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Aspen needs inspiration for her next book. Her first book was a best seller but it came from her real life heartbreak. So she just needs to find someone to break her heart. Enter Brick. He’s the town playboy and wants nothing to do with a relationship. These two strike up a deal to help each other.

I loved the chemistry between Aspen and Brick! The banter is hilarious and I couldn’t put this book down. There are definitely a few twists and turns and the spice was nice! I really enjoyed this book and think you will too!


📘: Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst
🗓️: October 22, 2024

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Probst, and Blue Box Press for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

We've all had a bad experience with love. We just don't tell the world about it in a best selling book like Aspen. A love affair with her writing professor, after leaving her the night before their wedding, catapults Aspen's writing career. Four years later, she writes her second flop because nothing has the emotional baggage the first book did.
To complete a sequel to her best seller, Aspen heads to the Outer Banks to spend the summer with her sister. She plans to get out of her comfort zone in New York and write another best seller. Problem is, she needs heartbreak to do it again.
Brick is known by locals as a heartbreaker. He's been back in OBX for a year, since his grandfather passed away and left him a tour guide business. Against all things romantic and focused on not losing the business, Brick takes the deal he needs to turn things around.
Aspen offers Brick money to do what the shop needs to make a comeback, and Brick to date her and break her heart so she can write. The one thing neither of them banks on is falling in love. Can Aspen write another Book of the Month and have a happy ending?

In "Book of the Month," writer Aspen Lourde is under pressure to write another bestselling novel after her last two flopped. The problem is that she drew from her real life breakup to pen her debut novel and thinks she needs to experience those same emotions in order to have another successful book. Enter Brick Babel, the resident heartbreaker of Outer Banks, NC. Aspen thinks Brick's "love 'em and leave 'em" approach to women is the key to writing another bestseller, but she quickly realizes there's much more to Brick than meets the eye and their simple arrangement may not be so simple anymore.

This was my first novel by Jennifer Probst, but, overall, I didn't really connect with the story in the way that I was hoping. It was too long and I skimmed over a lot of the inner monologue/reflection just to get to the conclusion. There were a lot of storylines woven through the book that felt unnecessary to the overall story and didn't add much, then felt rushed to be resolved towards the end.

Thank you to Blue Box Press for the advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

I had never read a book by Jennifer Probst before and after reading Book of the Month, I am mad at myself for just finding her books! This book is one of my new favorites. I loved getting to know the characters and following their story. Brick and Aspen are some of my new favorite characters and I hope everyone enjoys their story as much as I did! I cannot wait to go and read more of the authors books, including her sequel to this one!

I am a sucker for any NC based book! Aspen and Brick were a sweet and charming (and sometimes funny) Some of the romance writing was a little cringe but the ending was good!

Write what you know. Some of the most poignant songs are a product of the most depressing, heartbreaking event in a song writer’s life. In this case, our FMC, Aspen took her broken heart and wrote a bestselling book. In an attempt to make lightning strike twice, she seeks out notorious playboy/heartbreaker, Brick Babel, in the hopes of getting her heart trampled, inspiration for her next novel.

I am a sucker for a good fake-dating book and this one is just up my alley. The instant chemistry between the characters had me kicking my feet and grinning like a dummy. It’s a fun summer romance read. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 for this review.

Thank you Blue Box Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Ok fake dating. Ok author FMC. Ok town playboy. GIRL, I ATE THIS UP. The cover is gorgeous. The story is gorgeous. Need I say anymore.

Loved!!! I'm always curious about how authors write/their process so Aspen as the FMC, writing romance books was so fun! And of course her inspiration needs to come from her life - insert grumpy, good looking Brick. Loved the OBX setting with the wild horses and sea turtles - a perfect summer romance setting. The spice was unexpected and that made it even better! I cannot wait for Sierra and Kane's story!!!

This book was very surprising in how good it was. I have never read a book by this author before so I went into this with no expectations. I was very pleasantly surprised throughout the whole book.

This book follows Aspen, a writer who became famous after writing a best selling novel based on a relationship that ruined her. Now she’s being pressured to write a sequel and in her brain she can only do it if she experiences the same level or heartbreak. Enter Brick and a fake dating scheme. I absolutely adored these two together. The romance and banter had me laughing and wanting more. I cannot wait for the sequel that follows two side characters.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for providing me with a copy.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book at 35%.

I was super excited when I received this book. A story about an author trying to get her mojo back. Outer Banks, NC for the setting. Fake dating. Writer's life. This should have been great, but I couldn't get into this. At 292 pages, I started this book on a 5 hour flight, assuming I'd be able to enjoy and read the whole thing in that time. 2 hours into the flight I was 15% in because the writing style kept putting me to sleep. No joke. Every time I'd start reading this, within 5 pages my eyes would start lolling closed. If you suffer from insomnia, maybe reading this book will help?

Usually I can tough through, but I also found the FMC off-putting and unlikeable. I kind of liked Brick (the MMC), but how Aspen propositions him to fake date is toxic and kind of prostitution-y. I just couldn't find things to like to stick with this any longer, and I have so many other books that capture my interest that I would rather spend my time on. I'm glad there are some readers who really enjoyed this, I'm just not one of them.

I really tried with this book. I wanted to love it based on the description. But I cannot deal with the way that no one sees Brick as an actual person. (Kane probably does, but he hardly counts at this point.) I made it over halfway before I gave up, and Aspen is still treating him like a cardboard cutout. She has feelings for him that scare her, sees more in him than others see, and is going to manipulate him again. Even if she realizes her mistakes and apologizes, Brick needs to get away from this person. I can't see how this can be salvaged.

💙📚💙
📖Review
5🌟
📖Book 67/100
📚Book of the Month
💫Genre:
Fiction/Romance
✍️Author:
Jennifer Probst

📝Synopsis 📝
Aspen is in a rut since she has to deliver a sequel to book 1 which was a big hit. She leaves the big apple to see if she can find some inspiration for book 2 and temporarily moves to a small town with her sister. She meets the notorious bachelor, Brick, and she gives him a proposition he can’t refuse. Will he break her heart and inspire her to write her sequel or will she remain a one hit wonder????

My thoughts 💭
Oh my goodness, I loved this one and read it again because I loved it that much!!! Don’t let that sweet innocent cover fool you😆 This book’s plot was on point, and it had plenty of romance❤️‍🔥 Brick is the definition of the perfect fictional book boyfriend🫣 I also enjoyed all the side characters so much which is why this book sucked me in for a second read! It’s my first book I’ve read by this author, and it won’t be my last since I’m dying for a sequel with Sierra and Kane….Aghhhhh

Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this eARC given for an honest review!
🏷️🏷️🏷️🏷️
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Thank you, Blue Box Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of Book of the Month.

I loved this novel! It was a quick fun read and sure to help pull anyone out of a slump. The characters were likeable, and the dog stole the show. The setting was beautiful, and I felt Probst did a great job transporting the reader into the story. Who doesn't love a book about books, too?

Aspen needs to write a successful book. Like yesterday. Her debut was a bestseller about heartbreak which basically came straight from her own floundering love life. What could be better than a change of scenery to get her mind solely on writing the best book possible? While staying with her sister, she meets Brick. Brick is the local heartbreaker, and his reputation confirms the title. There's even a club that meets weekly to Brick bash. After meeting Brick, Aspen strikes up a deal. He needs money to save his grandfather's business, and she needs a broken heart to write the bestseller she knows is inside her. If Brick will break her heart, Aspen will give him the money needed to renovate the business. When real feelings start to emerge, will they be able to reign it in for the sake of the deal or will everything fall apart?