Aspen, a writer with a hit book debut and other two not so well received books, decides to go to Outer Banks to spend the summer with her sister. There, she meets Brick, whose business is failing. Aspen decides to make him a proposal that he cannot refuse; she'll give him the money she needs if he dates her and breaks her heart at the end of summer, so that she can recreate what she was feeling when she wrote her first and only successful book.

This was an incredible read, I have enjoyed reading both characters. They went through a lot in their lives and they found each other without even thinking they could fall for each other.
Aspen is fun and caring, even though she was a bit selfish at the end. And it was expected, we were told from the beginning how the story would end.

Brick made this book even more wonderful, his assertiveness and kindness are wonderful traits to find in a man, also in a fictional man.

I'd recommend to read this book because it is a real rollercoaster of emeotion.

Thank you @netgalley and publisher, I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#arc #arcreview #arcreviewer #arcreader #bookofthemonth #jenniferprobst #aspenlourde #brickbabel #hefallsfirst #fakedating #romcom #romancenovel #writer #netgalley #netgalley2024 #netgalleychallende #goodreadschallenge2024 #smalltown #closeproximity #oppositeattracts #newadult #slowburn #spicy

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst offers a compelling exploration of love and personal growth set against the backdrop of a book club. The story features relatable characters navigating their relationships and the challenges that come with them. Probst's writing is accessible and engaging, making it a light read for those who enjoy contemporary romance. While it touches on familiar themes, it provides an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre, though it may not offer many surprises.

3.5 rounded down to 3

Desperate to recapture the magic of her debut novel, Aspen wants local playboy Brick to break her heart. And she willing to pay for the experience. Brick is resistant to the plan at first, but agrees only if the payment will be a loan instead. The two begin spending time together, but what happens when things start to feel real?

Read if you like:
-Fake Dating
-Imposter Syndrome
-Opposites Attract

I was really into this book. I loved the set up and the meet ugly x 2. But the third act completely derailed the story for me. I wanted to throw my kindle across the room. It was so frustrating and pointless. It took the characters and their journeys back two steps instead of allowing them to grow.

This book was such a unique and fun meta-reading experience delving into the world of writing about romance while the main character wrote a romance while I read the romance and pondered my own imposter syndrome halted writing dreams. I went in expecting a light-hearted, fun read and was shocked that the emotional depth of both the relationship and the professional development was so achingly familiar and heart-wrenching. I can only hope my own story, both the written and the lived, turn out as well as Book of the Month.

This just wasn't for me and was a DNF after about 25%. A bit too silly and filled with drama for my tastes!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

After reading the premise of this book I had high hopes, it seemed like something easy and quick to read when you just want to relax.
But, about 40% in it started to drag and I began to lose interest in the story. The plot was repetitive and I felt no connection with the characters and their time spent together didn't make me root for them as a couple. I found some parts of the book a bit cringy and too unrealistic.
Although I'm sure some people will like it, this just wasn't for me and it falls into the easy-to-forget category of read books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Aspen is a writer and her first book was (and still is) a bestseller and has a huge fanbase. Since then she has written two other books that haven't done as well as the first. So now she is under pressure to write a book that will sell better or else her contract will not be renewed. The problem is that her first book was based on her personal experience after heartbreak and she hasn't had a relationship since. So when she visits her sister in Outer Banks for the summer hoping for inspiration and keeps meeting and hearing about Brick, the local heartbreaker and idea takes roots. What if she hired Brick to break her heart in order to be able to write another great book? Of course that idea doesn't go exactly as planned.
I liked reading this book, it had interesting and entertaining characters and the setting in Outer Banks makes me want to book a vacation there and see the wild horses for myself. The story was entertaining and mostly believable. I could not always relate to Aspen and her motivation and I thought Brick was portrayed too often as (over-the-top) masculin and that's why that book isn't 5-stars for me but it is a very entertaining summer romance.

I couldn't stop reading this. The story feels contemporary and captures a millennial romance filled with unexpected twists, yet maintains a steady flow. In many modern romance novels, you often anticipate a perfect moment, only for the author to drop a dramatic twist that disrupts the couple's journey. However, in this novel, the author chooses to keep the story enjoyable and avoids forcing the couple into excessive drama to reach their happy ending.

DNF @ 30%

Nearly a third of the way through a book I'd like to have developed a connection with the characters but Aspen didn't give me any reason to root for her and a lot of her behavior would be decried if she were a man.

I really struggled with writing this review because I couldn’t find the right words to express how deeply I enjoyed this book and connected to it.

As a writer myself, I felt incredibly seen by Aspen’s character, relating to her in ways that I didn’t think I would. This book has all the romantic comedy fan-favorite tropes, but for me this story felt like more than just a silly little romance destined for my escapist mind, instead I was seeing my own thoughts and habits as a writer reflected through Aspen — something I didn’t even know I had long been searching for in the media I consume and the authors I meet.

I was immediately consumed by the world of this story and its cast of charming characters. It’s that perfect balance of quirky and beautiful with all the rare delights of a small coastal town. I wish I could have traveled directly into the pages of this book and experience it all firsthand, meeting these wonderful people and sharing in the fun. It was like Stars Hollow for summer people and I couldn’t have asked for a better setting.

I really enjoyed that the author chose to do dual POV because it immensely added to the story and my thoughts on the characters as whole, well-rounded human beings. This book was just a pleasant experience all around, and I can’t wait for Jennifer Probst’s story about Aspen’s sister.

Thank you, netgalley and Blue Box Press for this arc. All opinions are my own.

Please, break my heart!?😟

3.5🌟 stars
The setting was great, with wild horses and sea turtle nesting in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. That and Brick, the tour agency owner male lead who's got a reputation as a cruel lady killer that he can't shake, were the best elements of this romance. Brick's romantic devastation really got to me. I also got a kick out of Marco and his laid-back, t-shirt selling partners and the rivalry for clients between Brick and nemesis Maleficent (great name).

But the plot gave me some problems. Novelist heroine Aspen was pretty mixed up and I could not sympathize with the way she operated. Or understand why she had to practically be hit over the head to realize where her real joy and future lay. The whole premise of her bargain with Brick to help her get her writing mojo in gear by getting close and then breaking her heart just seemed odd and grew more unrealistic the more she saw his good side and the stories about his heartbreaker persona were knocked down. And, for me, the intimate scenes, even the kissing, just were over long.

Thanks to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley For this Advanced copy.
DNF'd at 40%

This one just wasn't for me. The book's premise sounded so cute like a quick fun read Our FMC Aspen is an author who had 1 successful book and has not been able to find that spark again since her one success was based on true events and real feelings in her life. She decides to take a vacation to stay with her sister in a small beach town to try and live a best-selling book-worthy experience for the summer. She meets our MMC and decides right away that he is the one tol give her that experience and ends up making a deal with him where they both win in the end. Sounds fun However, I just felt like the main character was too overbearing in a stalkerish way rather than a fun flirty way when trying to pursue our MMC whos name is Brick which describes his personality to a T and most of the encounters between her and the MMC made me cringe I just couldn't see myself reading it further though I do think there will be plenty of people that this book is for just not me.

I pretty much knew how this book would end but I liked that there is no insta love and no automatic attraction. I like how they slowly open up to each other and the who fake dating actually made sense. She needed inspiration and he needed an opportunity. I also liked that the side characters were pretty well fleshed out with struggles of their own. It made them all endearing in their own way. Of course I knew what the most likely outcome, but it was nice to go on a fun ride getting there. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Aspen Lourde's debut book went viral. She put her heart and soul and every detail of her nasty breakup into it. Two novels later, and she cannot catch a break. All fans want is a sequel to her break out (breakup?) story. She just can't find the secret sauce on her own. Aspen decides that she is going to have to endure another epic and devastating breakup to fuel her next book. The problem is that she is practically a hermit, and is not keen to trust anyone like that again. While visiting her sister in Outer Banks, Aspen devises a plan to help the local heartbreaker rebuild his family tourism business in exchange for his promise to make her fall in love with him and end it badly. What could possibly go wrong?

Writer’s block is real for most authors. Aspen Lourde goes to the max for research for her next book. Her publisher is pushing for a sequel after her first book was a best seller. Writing what you know is always good advice for an author, but is heartbreak easy to replicate to keep the best seller vibe going? What happens when the next chapter in Aspen’s life doesn’t measure up to the heartbreak in her first book based on her hidden true story?
A change of scenery can stimulate additional works, but exchanging destinations for another heartbreak? The best laid plans, if you know what I mean. Does it all work out for Aspen? Or will Brick Babel (I love the name) let her down?
As a writer, I could feel the anguish of Aspen’s journey. This was a fun read. It had heart, kept me reading and most of all; after setting it down for a few weeks, I could remember the plot.

As someone who lives on the Outer Banks I have a love hate relationship reading books set here. Book of The Month nailed it. Every fact about the wild horses and the sea turtles was 100% correct. This was an incredibly well written and well researched book. I loved reading it. The characters are adorable, it was a delight to read about all of them. Very spicy! Very enjoyable!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Book of the Month publishes October 22, 2024 and is a must read!

Wow, when Aspen wants to write another bestseller she really comes up with a way to get it! Her first book was a hit, totally based on the disaster of her last relationship. The next two books didn’t get the same reaction on the bookseller lists, so she feels she needs another heartbreak to produce another bestseller. It’s the way she goes about it that makes the book so absolutely hilarious to me. The interactions between Hailey and Brick (new heartthrob). It seems that there’s going to be another book making this a series and I for one can’t wait! I need to see what happens with Kane and Sierra!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

This book was so adorable. I got sucked into Brick and Aspen's story so quick. Some of my favorite troupes were in this book and i got sucked in immediately. The fake dating troupe and grumpy male character of Brick made me swoon. I also love reading books about writers. It's special to me when a writer creates their character as a writer as well as it seems semi-autobiographical to me. I would suggest that you read this book. It was such a fun read and i can't read to the next book Jennifer puts out. *It's also blasphemy to not like a book by an author that shares the same first name..lol*

We love books about writing books!! We love when authors sign up to fake date someone to get their heart broken so they can use it for writing a book!! We love it when the love turns real!!

Aspen Lourde (a great name) needs a new idea for a book, stat. Maybe a summer visiting her sister in OBX will give her a new perspective. Enter, new perspective (or prospective): Brick Babel (a less great name). He’s the town bad boy with a bad reputation, but did he even do anything to earn it? Through wild dune tours, helping baby turtles hatch, and writer events, our two find just what they’re not supposed to find from their agreement!

This was a sweet summer book, and while I didn’t connect with all of Aspen’s vibes, I did really love the way that she wanted to see the best in others around her and felt connected to the imposter syndrome she dealt with in her career. She makes some questionable choices, but all with good intent- and that’s what I love in a heroine!

Thanks so much to Jennifer Probst and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

Honestly, a hilarious plot. Why would a yearner ever think they could fake date and not catch feelings? Aspen and Brick were deep in their delusions, and it made for a fun story!

What I love about a good small town plot is how all the characters stand up for one another, so it was definitely different to read a small town romance where the (negative) gossip of townspeople was a driving force. But we always love a “he’s different with you” moment!

It was definitely a bit repetitive, and I could have done with more angst between the characters.