IF THIS DOESN'T BECOME BOOK OF THE MONTH OR EVEN YEAR, I'M DONE!

I loved every single thing about this story, from beginning to end. Every single character was well written and held a place in my heart, even the evil Mal.

I will tell you this, you may think you know what's happening...but you don't.
You'll think that you have this whole story figured out ... but you will be pleasantly surprised and humbled, because the authors version was so much better.

Thank you Netgalley and Blue Box Press for giving me the opportunity to read such a beautiful story! Aspen and Brick will forever be one of my favorite couples.

Aspen is a best seller writer hoping for her next best seller. She based her first romance on her own love life disaster and is running out of ideas. She chases after Brick- hoping that she will have a good heartbreak and write the next novel.

Love Brick and Aspen. They are so much fun together. Steamy too. I love reading about writers so this is a terrific book for me. The other characters are terrific too! Looking forward to Sierra and Kane in the next book!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

3.5 ⭐️ fun summer read!

Book of the Month follows Aspen Lourde a one-time bestselling novelist who is suffering from some serious writer’s block. She is hoping for another instant best seller but realizes her inspiration for her last book came from her own heartbreak which she will need to recreate if she wants to succeed. Enter Brick Babel, the vacation-town bachelor who every woman falls instantly in love with and ends up heartbroken. Aspen devises a plan to have her heartbroken by Brick in the hopes of producing another “book of the month” club selection!

This book was laugh out loud funny, especially in the initial bar scenes and the brownie scene 🙈 I also enjoyed learning more about what happens behind the curtain in the publishing/writing world (much like Book Lovers in that sense). The premise was a little far fetched but because the character development was so well done, I could accept Aspen’s motivation for why she made the deal with Brick.

This was my first time reading a novel by Jennifer Probst so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of the romance. I found some of the spicy scenes a bit icky but if you like open-door romances then maybe the language/descriptions won’t bother you. I loved some of the secondary characters, including Marco and of course Dug the dog. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will definitely pick up the next one in the series when it is released!

✅ grumpy/sunshine
✅ fake dating
✅ 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
✅ open-door romance
✅ beach-town setting

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying an e-copy!

This book was so good. I loved the premise of the story. This is one of my favorite authors so I was super excited to get to read this early.

If you like books about books, this one will probably catch your eye. To me it felt like one of those books you would read on a holiday or in the pause of some heavy non-fiction. It gives cozy vibes, small city and summer. It is easy to read and overall light.

However, there are several aspects that didn't sit well with me. Some of the language used in the book, particularly in the way women are described, is troubling. For instance, a female character describes another woman with the phrase, "She had wicked curves with a booty that made men drool..." – why use language that objectifies women in this way? This is said by female character in the book. Why would a female writer participate in reduction of women to their physical traits.

Moreover, other elements of the book didn’t resonate with me, though they may appeal to other readers. The story places a strong emphasis on casual sex, which might not align with everyone's values. I fully support female empowerment and the celebration of one's own pleasure, but not at the cost of loosing self-respect. The book seems to suggest that love cannot exist without great sex, a notion I strongly disagree with. The relationship between the characters lacked depth and was driven purely by lust. I am sorry, but I cannot understand this approach of so much sex before they are even in love with each other. If that’s your kind of story, you might enjoy this book. However, in my case, it felt too shallow. I struggled with Aspen as a character. She came across as immature and irritating, making it difficult for me to connect with her. The premise that she couldn't write a good book without experiencing heartbreak felt overly simplistic and unconvincing. I only managed to finish the book out of curiosity about the fate of her next novel, not because I was invested in the characters or their interactions. Unfortunately, Aspen only showed some depth and maturity towards the very end, but by then, it was too late for me. Those last two few pages couldn’t redeem everything I disliked about the book.

This was such a sweet romance with a really interesting and unique premise. Not quite fake dating, but dating with a contract for guaranteed heartbreak at the end. Two people who had been hurt in different ways and somehow learned to trust and truly care for one another. I found myself so sucked into their story that I read the first half of the book in one sitting.

I loved how straightforward and honest Brick was. He didn’t play games and he was vulnerable while also protecting himself. Aspen was selfish with her needs which is refreshing to see in an FMC.

The inevitable breakup was heart wrenching and everything after full of joy. A really unexpectedly wonderful read all around - I can’t wait to know more about Sierra and Kane (and am so glad to know that book is already in the works!

"Book of the Month" offers a charming and lighthearted escape into the world of romantic fiction. Aspen Lourde, a struggling author seeking inspiration, finds herself entangled in a playful dynamic with the enigmatic Brick Babel. The novel's setting in the Outer Banks provides a picturesque backdrop for the blossoming romance.

While the initial premise is engaging, the narrative takes some time to fully captivate. However, once the plot gains momentum, readers are drawn into the world of Aspen and Brick. Their witty banter and evolving relationship contribute significantly to the novel's appeal.

The author skillfully weaves humor and romance into the story, creating a pleasant reading experience. However, the novel's reliance on pop culture references occasionally disrupts the narrative flow. Additionally, the character development of Aspen could be explored in greater depth to enhance the emotional connection with the protagonist.

Overall, "Book of the Month" is a delightful and entertaining read that offers a temporary respite from everyday life. While it may not be a groundbreaking work of literature, it is a suitable choice for those seeking a light-hearted and enjoyable romance novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.

I thought I would enjoy this story more. I really liked the premise and I found the plot interesting. My issue was that I couldn't connect with the insta-lust going on because it made absolutely no sense. I liked the insight into the life of a writer, but I felt that certain parts became repetitive. I enjoyed Brick's POV more than Aspen's, she kind of started getting on my nerves after a while. The steam was good, though some gradual development and build-up would have worked to the story's benefit.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fast paced and cosy and I'd definitely recommend to rom com lovers. I loved the author and literature focus and the romance was well developed in this book. I laughed alot throughout reading this and I'm intrigued in the next book in this series. I📖

3.75/5

BOTM is a swoon-worthy read, which made my heart go la-la-la. I liked the small-town romance and the challenges of their vocation. It brought up memories of Emily Henry's Book Lovers, which I adore. Aspen and Brick had a nice, easygoing connection. I liked how their feelings for one another were not hurried because there are enough instances in their relationship for the readers to understand why and how they fell in love.

Additionally, The exploration of a writer's world drew me in because as a reader the fascination to know more behind-the-scenes of a writer's journey is always there.

Unfortunately, the only thing that kept me back from giving it 5 stars, was Aspen playing the savior, like <spoiler>helping Brick and then Marco and the team, mending Maleficient's relationship with Brick and then defending Brick's reputation felt a little bit over the tip</spoiler>. Secondly, the ending felt rushed and pretty guessable from miles, the cliche 'she leaves the town and then realizes she is better off with him and comes back, leaving everything in its wake behind her'.

Overall, the story was fun to read and pretty enjoyable, and I felt connected with the characters entirely, I fell deeply for, how Aspen and Brick didn't shy away from expressing what they felt, Jennifer has brought something new to the table, which was refreshing to read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blue Box Press or the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions expressed in this review are my personal opinions.

thank you to netgalley and blue box press for providing this eARC!

i usually rate books based on vibes, write some nonsense, and then call it a day, but seeing as this is an ARC, i will actually try to gather my two brain cells and review this properly.

there are a number of things that didn’t quite work for me reading this book, but before i get into that, i want to be abundantly clear that i thoroughly enjoyed this. i think it embodied most of what i want from a summer romance: fun, addicting, great banter, and stuffed full of chemistry and sexual tension. it’s one of those books that’s like, wow, this is so fun to read when you don’t have a rat in your ear criticizing every little thing and judging your taste.

as a writer and artist, it was really easy to relate to aspen and her compulsion to create for the masses instead of creating something that inspired her and made her happy. i wish the book leaned a little bit more into that. in the time she and brick spent apart toward the end, i wanted to see more about how her relationship with ryan really impacted her. we got a touch of it and i craved more of those complex feelings but it was over before it started, and they were back together before it was really fully fleshed out.

regardless, i appreciated aspen and understood the decisions she made and as someone who mostly despises third act breakups, i can forgive one that’s believable and tracks with what i think the mcs would do—which this book did.

my only qualm with aspen’s personality was that she was constantly comparing herself to sierra… but also incredibly confident she could bag brick. she was (as brick put it) “innocent” and “inexperienced”… but she also gave perfect, life changing blow jobs. it took me out of the story a little at times.

as for brick, i hate the man’s name but i’ll let it slide bc he’s lovable. i just got the ick over how many times “masculine” was used to describe him. some of the biggest offenders:

“masculine energy swarmed around him” (like what? flies?)
“sexual masculine energy crackled from his very aura”
“it made him want to howl with masculine satisfaction” (🤢)

there’s a lot more than that too but you get the point.

while i’m on the topic of things that gave me random icks, i didn’t like aspen randomly saying that she froze and it felt like she was in the middle of a book scene. wasn’t into her feeling so dizzy, she felt like she was on the guardians of the galaxy ride at disneyland. could’ve done without the comparison of brick to chris hemsworth and jason momoa. these all just felt misplaced and really took me out of the story to go ????

i know this review makes it sound like i didn’t like this but again, i really did. i just want to list things that other people might not enjoy, but in the grand scheme of the book, it really wasn’t a big deal and it was still a story i loved reading. i kicked, i giggled, i was rooting for them, and i’ll absolutely be tuning into the next book to see what sierra gets up to.

overall, would absolutely recommend (and i will be!)

It sounded so good! I loved the premise but I just couldn’t do it. I dnf’d at around 35%. It was light and easy to read and funny (especially Dug haha) but as soon as she made the business proposal it felt like it was just all about his pants getting tight and her wanting him to touch her….not really my book preference so I lost interest. But if that’s your thing, you’ll enjoy this book. :)

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me, but it picked up momentum as I went along. Once I got past the beginning, it became a fast-paced, quick read that’s perfect if you’re in the mood for a rom-com.

The story centers around books, featuring a charming blend of fake dating and a wonderful found family dynamic. While I found the writing engaging, I didn’t feel as connected to the main characters as I would have liked. However, the side characters were well-developed, and I’m particularly excited to see what’s in store for Sierra and Kane in the future.

Overall, the happily ever after left me with a warm, happy heart. I’d rate this one 3.5 stars— above average, but worth the read.

————————————————
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

4.75 Stars

Aspen + Brick

Aspen is an author with a bit of writer's block. Not really a block. It's more like her fans and publisher want something different than her last two romances. They want a sequel to her first book - her huge bestseller.
Off she goes to her sister's beach house to get inspired.
Enter Brick. He could SO inspire her. But he's also kinda the town's ladies man. Everyone falls for him and then they hate him?
Maybe she can use that for her book.
Let the fun times begin....

══════════════════

That was adorable.
First of all the location. The Outer Banks. With the wild horses and the turtle babies. I loved that. And Brick is so amazing. Book Boyfriend Material at its best. But why does everyone keep warning Aspen away from him? They all thought they were the one to change him. But there's nothing to change - he's amazing! He's been hurt and he just hasn't met the right person yet. Until now. But that's not really what Aspen needs. She needs to fall for him and have him break her heart - like he did with all the other girls in town. So that she can write another amazing book brokenhearted. But how can she do that when this guy is so amazing and seems to be falling for her too? Ugh.
LOL! I loved watching them fall for each other.
It was sweet and funny and just adorable.
I would so want to watch the movie!
Can't wait to read Kane and Sierra's book next!

► BOOK OF THE MONTH was such an adorable love story. Funny, sweet, sparky, sexy, small-towny, beachy - just beautiful. Read it!

This usually isn’t the typical book I would go for but I wanted to try something new! I liked the behind the scenes insight of being an author. The main character was hit or miss for me. I wanted to enjoy them more than I did, and the romance aspects were just okay for me. Overall it was a unique read. I thought the cover art was eye catching, and it was fun to read something unfamiliar! I could see myself picking up another book from this author, and think it’s great that they have a large selection of novels to choose from! Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this ARC!

3.5 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! I love Brick, he was so funny and grumpy lol the banter he had with Aspen was entertaining. Overall, a super cute read with funny banter.

I really liked Book of the Month. It was pretty cool seeing the behind-the-scenes work of an author. I didn’t like that Aspen was so motivated by fame and recognition, though. It almost would’ve been an easier pill to swallow if she was chasing money. I do like how her quest for fame added a different dynamic to her breakup with Brick; if she was merely chasing money, she could’ve just renounced it for love and that would be that. The fact that it went deeper than money added a more nuanced layer to her grand gesture to win Brick back. I was team Brick for the entire book. I hated how awful everyone was to him and about him. It’s awful how catty the women all were. I did love the more immediate secondary characters, especially Marco. The setting was great, and I like that the author used a real place instead of a made-up small town. And I am DYING for Sierra and Kane’s story!

I received an ARC of Book of the Month from NetGalley. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Reading books about books seems to be on trend right now. Some stories I enjoy and others not so much. Book of the Month falls right in the middle. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Book of the month, written by Jennifer Probst, is an inter-connected standalone, fake dating novel. This is my first time reading this author and I was very happy with the story and writing!

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Publication date: October 22, 2024

Aspen (FMC)
Author

Brick (MMC)
Tour company owner

Aspen and Brock meet when the FMC visits her sister for some much needed relaxing downtime so that she can write her next novel. Her first novel hit the best-seller list due to it being based on her own heartbreak after her fiancé left her at the alter. Since then she has been struggling to produce the same quality of storylines.

Brick has taken ownership of his grandfathers beach tour business and is struggling to make ends meet and keep it open and relevant. Brick also has a bad reputation with the local ladies, leading him to be very grumpy when he first meets the FMC.

Together, they create an arrangement that suits them both.

Their banter was very cute when they first started spending time together. I loved how they both went willingly into their agreement of fake dating in order for her to get the story she needs to write and him to get the money he needs to keep his grandfathers business from failing.

No cheating or OW/OM drama minus a little bit of pettiness at the beginning. There is a third act breakup, with a little bit of a separation that is resolved quickly.

The side characters were excellent! Can’t wait to read the FMC’s sister and the MMC’s best friends story!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!

<b><i>”Wait. Had that encounter just happened, or was she caught in the middle of a book scene and had made the whole thing up?”</i></b>


⭑⭑’s
DNF at 23%
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I really appreciate it. Everything below is my own, unbiased opinions.


⤷ I’m sorry, but this book just didn’t do it for me. I really hate DNFing an ARC, but I am a strong believer that if I don’t like a book, I shouldn’t have to finish it, <i> especially </i> if it’s a super lusty romance book, because those really aren’t my thing. This book follows Aspen, a woman whose book career takes a turn for the worse when, after her first book is a major hit, can’t write anything else that pleases her audience. Desperate for some fresh inspiration, she visits her sister in the Outer Banks, where she makes it her goal to get with the town’s infamous heartbreaker, hoping that he’ll break HER heart so she can write her next raw, emotional, romance novel. Unfortunately, she hits on the guy and he shows no interest in her. Anddd that’s about as far as I got before I decided this wasn’t for me.


⤷<u> The writing style: </u>
The writing itself was pretty meh. There were certain parts that were okay, but it mostly was filled with cringy pop culture references and telling, not showing. Especially with the main characters, I didn’t find myself feeling anything for them, because everything was just stated.

⤷<u> The atmosphere/worldbuilding: </u>
Unfortunately, this was probably the best part of the book. The Outer Banks is such a great setting for a summer romance, but the actual romance itself fell so short.

⤷<u> The Characters: </u>
❥<i> Aspen: </i> This girl ticked me off so much. What person thinks ill of themselves (she was always like “oh, I’m so average, my sister is so much prettier than me) but simultaneously thinks she can pull the “hottest man in town” who’s broken everyone’s hearts and hasn’t dated or hooked up with anyone in months. What??? How delusional and hypocritical are you??? And even better, she’s doing all this just so she can come up with a good story for her next book. Major facepalm.
❥<i> Brick: </i> Yes. Let’s take a moment to soak this in. The MMC’s name is BRICK. LIKE A BRICK USED TO BUILD A HOUSE. The “hottest man in town”, yet I can’t remember a single thing about him (I think his hair was black? Maybe?). Adding onto his physical averageness, his personality is far from charming in any way. You would think it’s just because he’s trying to reject the main girl, but even HIS POV chapters are difficult to read because of how cold and irritating he is.
❥<i> Dug: </i> Dug is the most well-developed, likeable, interesting character in the book, and by far my favorite (Dug is the dog).

⤷<u> The Romance: </u>
Omg it’s another my skin barely brushed his and now my lady area is all hot and tingly book! My favorite! That’s really all I have to say about the “romance”, if you want to call it that. I call it horribly unrealistic and gross insta-lust, but that’s just me.


⤷<u> Overall: </u>
I was hoping this would be like Book Lovers by Emily Henry, but unfortunately, everything— the romance, the characters, the humor— fell short.



⤷<u> This book contains: </u>
✔️Outer Banks setting
✔️Insta-lust
✔️”Taming the bad boy”
✔️Bookish FMC
✔️Horses?