I enjoyed some parts of this book and didn't enjoy some other parts. I could have done without the crazy ex girlfriend and support group subplot as I don't ever like that trope, but overall I enjoyed the story of Aspen and Brick. I am interested to see where the story of Sierra and Kane goes as there was some foreshadowing to that as well.

Jennifer Probst’s Book of the Month is an absolute delight—a heartwarming blend of humor, romance, and emotional depth. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the Outer Banks, this story captures the magic of second chances, both in love and in life.

Aspen Lourde, a writer grappling with creative burnout, is a relatable and endearing protagonist. Her journey of rediscovering inspiration by orchestrating a fake relationship with the charming yet enigmatic Brick Babel is both captivating and amusing. The chemistry between Aspen and Brick is electric, brimming with witty banter and tender moments that tug at the heartstrings.

Probst masterfully balances lighthearted romantic escapades with deeper explorations of vulnerability, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to face the past. The supporting characters, from quirky locals to Aspen's inner circle, add layers of charm and richness to the narrative.

The Outer Banks setting feels like a character itself, described so vividly that you can almost feel the ocean breeze and hear the waves crashing. Probst’s writing is immersive and evocative, making it easy to lose yourself in Aspen and Brick’s world.

Ultimately, Book of the Month is more than a romance—it’s a story about the transformative power of love, not just between two people but also within oneself. Fans of contemporary romance will adore this book, and newcomers to Jennifer Probst’s work will find themselves hooked.

Whether you’re looking for a feel-good read or a story with a bit more emotional weight, Book of the Month is a must-read. Highly recommended!

Jennifer Probst’s "Book of the Month" is a charming romance that blends humor, heart, and the creative struggles of a writer in search of her next big hit. While the premise follows familiar tropes, Probst’s engaging writing keeps it fresh and enjoyable. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, this story is a delightful exploration of love and creative inspiration.

It’s been way over a decade since I picked up a Jennifer Probst book, and honestly? I’m furious with myself. What have I even been doing with my life?! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the ARC—I’m beyond grateful!

Let me tell you, I adored this book. Like, full-on smitten. Where do I apply to get myself a Brick or a Kane? One? Both? I’m not picky. 😉 Probst has absolutely mastered that perfect balance of gripping plot, swoon-worthy spice, and deep, layered character development.

And can we take a second to talk about how much I devoured the behind-the-scenes peek into the publishing and marketing side of the book world? It was FASCINATING. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what authors go through—and a simmering Rage about how dependent everything is on BookTok. There are so many brilliant authors out there who deserve more hype, more shelf space, and more love! The system is broken, and I’ll happily die on this hill.

Okay, stepping off my soapbox now because I have a decade’s worth of Probst’s backlist to binge. Jennifer, if you’re reading this… how does one go about getting a shoutout in your next book? Asking for me. 😏 @pagerage_podcast

Thank you again for this masterpiece—I’ll be screaming about it for months to come! If you’re not reading Probst yet, what are you even doing?
4 stars!

This one wasn't my favorite. It was good, there were cute moments, but it fell a little flat for me. There were times where it felt like the author was trying to be funny but instead came across cringy instead. That being said, I still finished it and didn't find it hard to read. I won't be reading it again, but I don't regret adding it to my Goodreads goal.

Thank you NetGalley, Blue Box Press, and Jennifer Probst for the early access copy of Book of the Month.

Book of the Month follows the story of Aspen and Brick. Aspen is a famous author who has been struggling to write. She's written three books, but only the first was successful. Now Aspen is desperate to get back to how she wrote her first story, brokenhearted and bleeding onto the pages. In comes Brick, with legends of breaking many hearts. While he refuses all of Aspen's advances, when she offers to help his soon-to-be bankrupt company in exchange for a fake dating experience, he agrees. But what happens when lines blur, barriers break, and real feelings form? Is writing a book of the month worth the cost?

Probst does a fantastic job at her character development and creating tension between Brick and Aspen. It was hard to feel the emotions of the lead characters and wish for an easier path for them.

This was cute. A story about a writer who wants to write a best seller so she decides to use the town playboy for inspiration. The characters were fun and the story was fun. I liked Brick's character the most.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-Arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the concept of this book, I thought it sounded pretty interesting. However, it just wasn’t for me. I DNF’d the book at 37%.

Mostly I didn’t like the main character, Aspen. I thought she was a little entitled and quite me-me-me, which is something I can’t stand in people, fictional or real. Aspen is also very much ‘not like the other girls’ - another trait that sucks no matter where you are. I wasn’t a fan of Aspen’s plan to get Brick (MMC) to break her heart just so she could write another bestseller. It’s such a stupid idea to begin with, and very obviously was always set to backfire, there’s no way they couldn’t see that. Also it’s a bit icky at the start where she keeps pursuing him even though he very plainly said no. If it was the other way around, it would be viewed very differently.

Maybe the book got better after 37%, so I can’t say anything about the rest of it. I have seen plenty of great reviews for this, so I would definitely say to give it a try if you think it sounds interesting. And if you did enjoy it, I’m happy for you!

Book of the Month is an absolute delight—charming, heartwarming, and a true love letter to readers and writers alike. Jennifer Probst weaves a story that feels like a warm hug, celebrating the magic of books, second chances, and the unexpected ways life can surprise us.

The characters are the heart of this novel. Probst creates people who feel real, with flaws, dreams, and struggles that make them easy to root for. I especially loved how the story explored the connections we make through stories—both the ones we read and the ones we live. The romance is sweet and satisfying without feeling rushed, and the themes of growth and self-discovery added emotional depth to the plot.

While the story follows a somewhat predictable path, the journey itself is so enjoyable that it didn’t matter. Probst’s writing flows effortlessly, and the small details—whether about books, relationships, or personal growth—make this novel truly shine.

If you love stories about love, life, and the transformative power of books, Book of the Month will leave you smiling and feeling inspired. A wonderful read for book lovers everywhere!

Thank you @BlueBoxPress and @NetGalley for the ARC. Books about writers are one of my favorites. Aspen is a writer whose first book was a hit, unfortunately it was about the worst time in her life. Her next two books are not so popular so she decides to fall in love and than have her heartbroken so she can write a sequel to her first book. Her fans want a happy ending but Aspen has other plans.

The Book of the Month is a charming, feel-good novel that will appeal to all book lovers and fans of character-driven stories. Jennifer Probst captures the magic of books and the beauty of relationships, reminding readers that healing and love often come when you least expect them.
This book is perfect for fans of The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan, This book is a warm, uplifting read for anyone looking to escape into a story about the power of friendship, love, and, of course, books!

This was a fun, steamy romance set in the world of books. Our FMC is an author and I thought it was fascinating to peer behind the veil and learn more about the struggles that authors go through while writing and publishing a book. It really gave me pause and made me sympathetic to how brave it is to put your craft out there to have the masses criticize (or love!) it.
Brick (could’ve done with a different name) is a MMC with emotional depth. He is beautiful on the outside and also pretty great on the inside. His stubbornness towards the end was frustrating but I thought both characters were refreshingly mature throughout most of the book.
I loved learning more about OBX and the wild horses and sea turtles!
My biggest problem was the unrealistic plot. I just didn’t believe in the plausibility of the “contract” and it was a little distracting.
However, I very much enjoyed this book and think that it will make a great summer read.

Overall, a good book.

I really enjoyed the characters. The chemistry is off the page. Brick and Aspen spark from first look, and it was so fun to watch that develop. The setting was a dream. I would LOVE to sign up for one of Brick's tours just to get a glimpse of those wild horses. Take me to OBX! The supporting cast was also pretty three dimensional. Marco and his crew added some loveable levity, and Sierra was the perfect foil to Aspen. Would love to get more into that sisterhood.

Downgraded a bit because the conflict was a streeeeetch. I think if we had a little more insight into the relationship that essentially ruined Aspen, it would have added some realistic development. I just had a hard time believing she *had* to create issues to write the story. Again, a little more context to just how broken Aspen was probably would have gone a long way.

Would generally recommend this read. 3.5 stars.

When Aspen is struggling to write her next novel, she goes to the Outer Banks to visit her sister.
What Aspen did not expect was the big and beautiful Brick. Of course, her sister Sierra has warned him away from Aspen.
Aspen has a big idea if she fake dates Brick and breaks up at the end of summer. She will get her writing mojo back.
What Brick.finds since he hasn't dated in a while is Aspen isn't afraid to speak her mind and challenge him.
Brick shows Aspen all the joys of living by the ocean and to appreciate nature.
When these two confess to loving one another, Aspen leaves and goes to New York. She writes the sequel to her 1st novel, but she is sad and miserable.
Aspen retur.s to fight for Brick, but he pushes her away. It takes a while, but with the encouragement of friends, Brick rethinks of all he has lost.

First, I want to thank NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I really struggled with this book.
The beginning is set up in a way that you think this is a terrible idea and then thankfully they correct that pretty quickly. And although I had a little bit of time where I started enjoying it, as the book went on, it felt more and more like it was written in the early 2000s when these type of quirky plots and cliche characters would take over movie romcoms. Also, the cringe factor during the steamy scenes was hard to read.
Overall, it didn’t feel fresh or modern, and the couple was just fine. I felt like this book was also predictable and that they were trying really hard to set up a possible sequel with the other side characters.
I did like the writing around the wild horses and the sea turtles though and I actually wish they had continued to talk about the horses throughout.

This one was for people who:
-like a slow pace
-enjoy reading about authors
-the woman being the one pursuing
-lots of description


Thank you to Negalley the author and publisher for letting me read any early copy of the book’

This is my first Jennifer Probst book and I'm definitely a fan! I love books about writing and protagonists who are authors, especially if they are writers struggling with their muse. The love story between Aspen and Brick (the name, ha!) was convincing and their chemistry was sizzling. Witty banter and amusing situations made this book an easy, fun read. I love the grumpy/sunshine and fake dating tropes. A winner!

I was interested in this one based off of the title alone. Unfortunately, it was a little bit of a letdown. I was hoping for a fun story about an author and their writing journey, but this just didn't meet my expectations and was significantly more focused on the romcom aspect of the story.

Aspen Lourde’s debut novel was a hit. Fresh off a heartbreak, the words just flowed. Now she can’t write anything to give to her publisher and she is panicking. Deciding heartbreak is the key to her literary success, she goes looking for someone to break her heart.
Brick Babel has a reputation for being a bad boy and when he walks into the bar where she is visiting her sister, Aspen decides Brick is the perfect man for the job.

Aspen goes to Brick’s tour company and her attempts to attract Brick’s attention don’t go anywhere. When Aspen learns his tour company is about to file bankruptcy, she offers to pay him to date her then break her heart. Brick is devastated to lose the company his grandfather started and he reluctantly agrees to Aspen’s plan.

While Aspen is inspired to write, Brick - the unattainable playboy - starts to catch feelings for Aspen. As she gets to know the real Brick, she can’t reconcile the man she is “dating” with the rumors. Even if she likes him, she is determined to follow her plan and deliver their story of heartbreak rather than see if there is a future for them.

I did not love Aspen’s character. She was not likable at all. Brick’s story (and the company’s wacky neighbors) was good, but not good enough to make A Novel Proposal one I would recommend. The idea was good, but Aspen seemed both sleazy and inexperienced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an advance copy in exchange for my review.

Thank you Jennifer Probst and NetGalley for this eARC.

Aspen is a successful author who has been in a bit of a lull after publishing a successful book focused on a past break up. To spark some creativity, Aspen goes to visit her sister and retreats to a beach town for the summer. Aspen has to really think, is the only way to write a successful book by having your heart broken?
In walks Brick. The town bad boy with a reputation of breaking hearts. He sounds like the perfect fix for inspiring a new book of the month.

I enjoyed Aspen's relationship with her sister and was excited to read Sierra's book is coming next summer. Some parts of this book dragged for me and it took me longer than it typically does to finish a book. I did enjoy the story, but not a fan of a 4th act break up...

3/5 Stars