Aspen is a writer trying to write her next big hit. She leaves NY and heads to the Outer Banks to visit her sister and to hopefully find some inspiration for her next book. She finds Brick, the unavailable bachelor that every female in town has attempted to snag.

Fake dating to lovers story. Super slow burn! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

This one was decent but I didn’t love how much the FMC was trying to seduce and lure the MMC, it felt a bit icky to read about. This one was okay but definitely not my favorite

3.5 stars rounded up.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is about a writer, Aspen who is trying to write her fourth book without much luck. The first book topped the charts and books two and three did not. This is supposedly her last chance to get another book published. She decides to go visit her sister in OBX and hopefully be able to write another best seller. While visiting her sister she meets Brick who she makes a deal with. She helps him with hopes to get some inspiration for her book. What she doesn't count on is falling in love.

I liked parts of this book, the first part grabbed my attention. I did think that the attraction and love was fast. There were some spicy parts in the book that I felt were kind of out of place. I think the book would have worked without the random spice mid book. The FMC had some real unlikable moments.

Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an ARC of Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst for an honest review.

This was a cute small town romance! Set up as a relationship of convenience, the MCs quickly realize their relationship isn’t as fake as initially intended.

The cast of characters are fun, there’s an adorable ugly dog, and some small town nemeses.

The story didn’t fully pull me in, but I can’t help wondering about the characters from the sequel - I’ll be back to read more!

Somewhere around ⭐️4 stars for me! I typically love a dual POV romance so this was right up my alley. The concept of an author chasing their next emotional experience to inspire a best seller was very unique and cool to me. Liked being in the mind of an author and her experience felt relevant.
➕Instant attraction but not insta love
➕Well written intimacy
➕Humor

Took 30% or so to get into it but then the connection to the story and emotions really started to flow off the page.
❌A bit slow to get into, felt longer than 300 pages at times.
❌I would have liked to spend a bit more time with the characters together at the end but was typical of a 3rd act breakup romance storyline.

2.5/5 - There was so much about this book that was implausible or even downright ridiculous. I didn’t like Aspen or Brick as main characters and thus felt nothing about their relationship. This was the strangest, most convoluted “fake dating” storyline I’ve ever read. I also had an issue with the changing POVs. From Aspen’s POV she’s always awkward and stammering and unsure of herself. But from Brick’s POV, she’s confident and snarky—it’s seriously like the two Aspen’s are completely different characters. I did like the OBX setting, however and wish we’d gotten a little bit more of a sense of place.

Note: I received a copy of this book free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book of the month byJennifer Probst follows Aspen Lourde who is struggling to write a new book after her debut novel became a success. This was a cute, charming, fast-paced read. This was my first Jennifer Probst book and I absolutely loved it! I absolutely can't wait for the Sierra and Kane story!!
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I find stories about writers interesting. I always think writers must draw on their real life to create stories. In this case Aspen Lourde did just that. She wrote an angsty, heartbreaking bestseller that came from her own love experience. But now she is struggling to write a sophomore novel. Brick Babel is trying to save his grandfather’s tour business. He is a local hotty and Aspen thinks he’d make a great leading man for her book. A fake dating arrangement for the summer with plans for him to drop her will surely help her write the next heartbreaking novel.

Of course lines become blurred. I liked the characters but didn’t love them together. Brick says one too many times that she isn’t his type and I took him at his word. It doesn’t help a big deal is made of the fact that the FMC is considered not pretty. He is very sweet and thoughtful and I loved the descriptions of the beautiful Outer Banks. Also by the end I was not loving Aspen’s choices. So my feelings were mixed even though there is a HEA. I am new to the author although she has written many books.

Thanks to the author for providing an e-arc of this book via NetGalley. This book was cute and I really liked the premise of the story, which is about Aspen, an author struggling to write another book that will hit the best-selling list. She's desperate for it, and desperate for inspiration so she even turns to the hottest guy in town to help her break her heart. Apart from me really enjoying the story of this book, it also contains two of my favorite tropes: fake dating and small town romance. Another thing I thoroughly enjoyed with this novel is the fact that a lot of romances nowadays contain some sort of huge, dramatic third act-breakup which feels very unrealistic, but that was not the case for this book. Overall, this story was enjoyable and fluffy.

However, there were some cringey moments that made me a bit iffy about my opinion on it. For starters, I didn’t like how much it focused on Aspen not being “beautiful”. I don’t know what it was but there was just something that made me cringe about that part, especially since she approached the typically gorgeous MMC while being all "NOOO I'M NOT BEAUTIFUL ENOUGH FOR HIM". Well, why do we always need to focus on appearance? Can't we just believe that characters can have their first connections and like each other despite the way they look?

Overall, I liked the whole fake dating aspect in order for her to get inspired to write the prequel to her bestseller, but some detailed of the story made me not like this book as much as expected. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it, but I didn’t love it either. Therefore, I rate it 2,5⭐️, but round it up to 3.

This book has so much in it. Heartbreaking disappointment and hurt, unbelievable success, mediocrity. Followed by sheltering and love, a business plan that has great success. Falling in love... But the original goal, to regain the unbelievable success, has obstacles.

Aspen, the incredibly successful author of a wildly popular book, followed by two not very successful books, decides a change of scenery, at her sister's place will help her write another best seller. She sets her sites on Brick. I loved Brick, the much aligned single man who has a PTSD support group populated by women who claim to have been hurt by him.

Often books feature a woman who is down on her luck and finances. In this book, Aspen has lots of money and a plan. Brick is down on his luck and can't get a loan. Interesting twist to the story.

I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed it very much.

It has some very sexy scenes and some drug use by the young shopkeepers next door so it won't appeal to everyone. But for readers who are interested in a story with interesting plot lines, this is a great choice.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst was a fun, fast-paced read that kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters were vibrant and well-developed, making it easy to connect with their stories. I especially enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and how their relationships unfolded throughout the book.

What made the experience even better was the hint of more to come—I'm excited about the possibility of another book that could dive deeper into this world and introduce even more characters. If you're looking for an enjoyable and quick read, this book is a great pick!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately I lost interest & DNF'd at the 38% point. I didn't feel any chemistry between the 2 MCs, & if their roles were reversed the FMCs continued attempts to pick up the MMC felt like harassment. While I liked the MMC, I couldn't connect with the FMC. Overall, the use of the meta plot of a writer MC ending up in a romance came across as cashing in on this trend rather than doing something fresh with it. As always mileage may vary, but I've accepted I'm not motivated to finish this one.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6836862349

This was a quick, easy romcom. Jennifer Probst is a great writer, and that's probably the best thing this book has going for it. I'd be interested in reading others by her and seeing if I liked them! I didn't really feel connected to the characters in this one or their love story (I think I've learned that instalove isn't my thing tbh), and I don't really care for smut just for smut's sake (I like the burn lol).

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the chance to read this early in exchange for an honest review!

DNF @ 22%

“Dug humped harder.” And that, my friends, was where I checked out. I hate DNFing a book—especially an ARC—but I couldn’t push through this one.

First of all, Aspen (the FMC)…girl, he’s just not that into you. The level of desperation, apparently required for the plot progression of her next book, was so cringy I physically winced.

And then there’s Brick Babel. Of all the names? I couldn’t hate it more. This guy sounds like he should be moonlighting as a Marvel villain, not a love interest. While she was harassing him, he was trying to set a boundary…and the grumpy/sunshine trope just felt forced.

I’ll give it credit for the Outer Banks setting—I love that—but the overwhelming pop culture references? Hard pass. The book description had me excited, but it’s safe to say the book didn’t live up to the hype.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Jennifer Probst book, and will not be my last! This book is a great palette cleanser as I have recently read a lot of heavy fiction stories and needed something to lighten my spirits. Its fast-paced, dreamy location (did anyone else know there were wild horses in NC?! Internet rabbit hole here I come), likable characters, and comfortable story progression expectations make it a go-to vacation read.

This book is for the reader who wants to be cozy, comfy, and happy while they read. It is perfect for the reader who believes in happily ever afters. It's an emotional support book, in a way. And it's a love letter to all the small businesses (especially in tourist areas) who want to be successful in business and show off their hometowns as they see them, hoping that others will fall in love with them, too.

I picked this book to read this month because of the title. I got curious about it and gave it a try.

It is about an author named Aspen who wants to write another best seller book to avoid being a one hit wonder. I love how the struggles of an author was well written, that I felt their hardships too and the pressure when it comes to writing another book and publishing it. This book is also fast paced and it keeps you wanting more every chapter.

However, the spicy scenes for me are too much. To the point that the two main characters always have sex whenever they see each other. 😆😆
But if you like spicy scenes, you'll enjoy this one. There's also a frustrating scene where I want to scream the solution of the main character's problem because it really easy to solve tbh.

Overall, I still enjoyed it and finished the book. If you want a spicy beach romance, grumpy/sunshine trope and fast paced read, then this book is for you! 🩷

Rating: ★★★.5/5

This was so good! Loved these 2 MCs are so sweet together. It was great to see the MCs break down walls to be together.

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars This was a cute, fun rom-com. Totally fit the bill for a beach read/chick lit escape. Yes, its predictable but that didn't detract from the enjoyment of finding how and when they would get together.

New York-based Romance novelist Aspen Lourde, struggling to connect with her muse to write a follow up to her smash debut novel, escapes to the beach to live with her sister for the summer. Brick Babel, beach tour guide with a scathing bad-boy reputation, is desperate to save his grandfather's business. Both have a history of heartbreaks. The two enter into an agreement--strictly business--that on paper should benefit both of them if they can play by the rules.

The smoldering chemistry between Brick and Aspen is undeniable: their connection becomes more intimate (and definitely steamy) as the two begin dating, and then sleeping together, ignoring the disapproval of most of the women in town who swear that Aspen will just be another notch in Brick's bedpost. Meanwhile, their friends, from the pothead T-shirt shop owner to Aspen's sister, Sierra and Brick's best friend Kane, shamelessly encourage the relationship. Will the two sacrifice the terms of their agreement to pursue true love? Or will they decide that Aspen's novel and Brick's business are more important?

Against a backdrop of a charming beach town complete with wild horses, sea turtle preserves, and coastal vibes, this story also gives the reader a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the writing and publishing process. I found it to be sweet, sexy, and witty, and found myself cheering for the two to discover happiness.

Aspen is a writer who is struggling because after her first book was a huge hit, her last two books have stalled. In desperation she goes to visit her sister in the Outer Banks, thinking a change of scenery might help. Over drinks she cooks up a scheme that maybe getting her heart broken will help inspire her to be a great writer again, so she decides to pursue local heart breaker Brick. Brick is sick of women harassing him and lusting after him, and just wants to focus on trying to save his grandfathers business. But when Aspen offers him a way to save the business if he’ll just break her heart, he can’t refuse. But the longer the charade goes on, the more both realize maybe what they thought they wanted in life, isn’t what they really need. This book had a beautiful setting, zany side characters, a very unusual pet, and a great storyline. I really enjoyed reading it and can’t wait for Sierra’s story! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.