This book lacked in the mystery/suspense department. The main character didn't care enough about the things happening around her. The deaths didn't have enough detail or enough suspense. I think the story should have focused on the engagement and the strange family trying to sabotage it and left the killings out.

4.5 ⭐!! This was so cute(!!!) and such an easy read! As a friend of wedding planners myself, so much of this was relatable and I am sad to say people like Diana do, in fact, exist. This was such a cozy read that I didn't even know I needed. The murders, the setting, all of it was muah! Only downside of A Proposal to Die For was that it made me book an appointment at a spa (perhaps against my better judgement based on the shenanigans in this book) - good for me, bad for my bank account.

Plotttttt:
Jess Bricker is a proposal planner - perhaps the most fun part of the wedding planning experience, when the drama hasn't quite set in. However, this isn't going to be a usual proposal. There's drama from the start when Diana Helston demands she attend a week at a spa retreat to help plan a do-over proposal between her and pecan-tycoon Trenton Tillard IV. From murder to marital distress, things immediately do not go to plan. But... maybe that's a good thing?

Thanks:
Thank you to NetGalley, Molly Harper, and Berkley Publishing for this ARC. ♡

Man, this book had so much potential. I was really into it at first. I mean a woman who helps plan these fancy proposals ends up experiencing murders at a fancy spa. Sign me up! However, I just felt like things started to drag. I wanted some excitement and some shocking moments but it didn't do it for me. After a while I started to skim through because I was no longer interested in the story. Also, I can't believe she didn't slap Diane once this whole book. Like she deserved a slap.

I'm upset about this one. The premise was there but didn't do it for me in the end. I also felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of. I was confused by them in the beginning and took me a while to realize who was who. (even one point the main character was like I need a chart to follow this)

*Thank you so much Netgalley & the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

3.5 STARS

Jess Bricker has the unusual job, which is wedding adjacent, of being a proposal planner. Since everything involving weddings in particular, and life in general, needs to be orchestrated these days especially for social media, Jess has a reputation for going to great lengths to deliver. The building where she lives and works is on the verge of being sold, so Jess needs a big infusion of cash to buy it. A former classmate from her elite school, Diana, hires Jess to push her fiancé’s first lame proposal into the stratosphere by having a grand do over.

Diana, who does not understand the word no, corrals Jess into a spa retreat with the purpose of planning her over the top extravaganza event. Once they are at the spa with a small crew of Diana’s lackeys, the horror of no cell service sinks in for the future bridezilla. Jess spends a lot of her time trying to placate her mercurial boss while getting to know the nice yet quirky Osborne family who run the mountain retreat. Jess is particularly interested in the grumpy, reclusive chef, Dean Osborne.

Early on, odd things begin happening including Jess finding not one, but eventually two bodies who seem to be the victims of something insidious at the supposedly peaceful and safe Golden Ash resort. Jess is desperate to keep her employer happy, while wondering what exactly she has gotten into with all the deadly goings on.

Jess is a likeable character in contrast to her old “friend” who demands sky rocket with each day. She becomes a sort of ersatz sleuth putting herself in some tenuous situations that are not exactly smart. This tale is a mash up of women's' fiction, a little romance, and the less than charming, murder mystery. The most entertaining part is the witty dialog and send up of all that is ridiculously wrong with social media as well as wealthy families who have no morally redeeming qualities.

thank you to berkley for the e-ARC

3.5 stars

this is a book about a proposal planner who gets caught up in a murder when she’s at a spa in the mountains with the demanding bride….. the premise is pretty ridiculous and the story starts off very much stretching the bounds of believability with the characters and the main conceit. I really wasn’t feeling it in those early stretches, but not everyone has qualms with believability in a mystery romance.
however, as the plot moved towards the mystery itself and some friendships with side characters, rather than the toxicity with the wedding party, it improved majorly. once I was 50% through, I couldn’t put the book down! there were lots of fun threads to pull together and I was pretty pleased by how things wrapped up. if you’re looking for a somewhat ridiculous but cute murder mystery romance, I’d highly recommend!

I connected immediately with Jess’s love for contingency plans and pro-and-con lists because I’m the same way, and her personality made her such a relatable and entertaining character. I found myself rooting for her as she tried to manage the tricky dynamics with Diana and her snobby, over-the-top behavior while also dealing with the resort’s creepy atmosphere and secrets. I was captivated by the descriptions of the Golden Ash resort—I could vividly imagine the secluded mountain spa, the tense atmosphere, and the eerie woods surrounding it. I felt the suspense build with every twist, from Jess’s encounter with the gruff chef Dean Osbourne (who I found so intriguing) to the shocking moments like the meditation garden drowning and the body discovery in the sauna. I found myself trying to piece together the mysteries alongside Jess, and I couldn’t wait to uncover the truth about the resort’s deadly secrets.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a smart, thrilling, and entertaining read!

Jessamine Bricker created a business to celebrate love and epic stories. She uses her skills at contingency planning to assemble romantic marriage proposals for her clients. When a snobby high school classmate, Diana, reconnects just as her landlords retire and need to sell their property, the opportunity for a quick payout are enough to override her normal judgement.

Jess has one week to plan a memorable and photographic brilliant proposal, while accompanying the bride to a "pre-bridal" retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort. So exclusive that there isn't cell phone reception and Jess is working a little closer with resort staff in their business office to keep her business going. Additionally, the other guests are behaving badly and the only bright spot is the surly chef. But then Jess finds a body, and this quick payout looks harder than ever.

Why I started this book: Requested it from Netgalley because of the set up, and started it immediately because of the deadline.

Why I finished it: Fun story that drew me in quickly and kept me engaged. Great characters and dialog, and I am eager to read some of Harper's romances.

This book was a lot of fun. Full of wonderful chaos, and the romance subplot was fantastic without overshadowing the mystery.

4⭐

what a fun book with a clever premise! i really enjoyed molly harper's witty writing style and how fast-paced this book felt. i was in the mood for something digestible to read with a fun twist and this book did the trick. i enjoyed the romance sub-plot and how charming all of the characters were. all of the chaos that our lead jess finds herself in after agreeing to help her high school rival, diana, in pulling together a top-notch wedding. that is, until jess finds a dead body in the spa. the mystery aspect of "a proposal to die for" was very fun and unique!

i really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of molly harper's books. thank you berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC. all opinions are my own.

My first time reading this author and I have to say I found this to be a super fun book. I am beginning to get into cozy mystery/thriller and this was perfect for that.

There are many great things about this book but I have to say overall the characters are what's going to win you over the most. They are charming, quirky and definitely a hoot. Jess is a likeable heroine and Dean is the perfect grumpy MMC. I really liked these two together, opposites attract for sure! The side characters are memorable and add humor to the story.

The mystery was well crafted and had a good whodunnit element. Pacing was spot on.

A great time!

Jess Bricker is a proposal planner. She helps people find just the right place, time, accessories, etc. to create a memorable proposal of marriage. However, planning for her latest client could be the death of her.

She is approached by a former schoolmate who is disappointed by the way her boyfriend Trenton Tillard the Fourth proposed. Diana sees herself as a social media influencer and didn't find his sincere proposal acceptable to her brand. Diana was not a friend of Jess's when they were in school, and she hasn't heard from her in years. But with the building where she lives and has her business is in danger of being sold out from under her, a lucrative contract - and she can charge Trenton through the nose - is just what Jess is looking for.

Jess finds herself hauled to an exclusive spa retreat in the mountains of Tennessee for what is supposed to be a planning session. Diana has also brought along her wedding planner and an add-on cousin named Kiki who is supposed to be one of her bridesmaids.

Jess finds herself trying to stay sane and calm among the bride-to-be's outrageous demands and the wedding planner's sniping and finds refuge with the Osbournes who own and run the spa. She needs her new friends because almost the first thing she does upon arrival is find the body of another guest drowned in a meditation pool.

More chaos is added when Trenton and his two best buddies arrive at the spa too. And soon Jess is discovering another body - that of Clay who is Trenton's best friend and who was going to be Trenton's best man.

There is also a romance with Dean Osbourne who is the spa's executive chef and a total curmudgeon. He suffered a loss as an early adult which has made him the man he is. His cousins are really pleased that he seems to be developing a relationship with Jess.

This was quite an enjoyable mystery/romance. I liked Jess's snark and her attitude. The bridezilla also added some humor to the story.

This book was such a ride! A Proposal to Die For delivers the perfect mix of thriller vibes and a romance that had me absolutely melting. The love story was so freaking sweet. I was rooting for them the whole time.

And Jess? She felt so real, like someone you’d grab coffee with and immediately start ranting about life’s chaos. Meanwhile, everyone around her was absolutely insufferable in the best, most entertaining way. I wanted to scream at them, but also, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Molly Harper nailed the balance between tension, twists, and just enough swoon to keep me fully obsessed. If you love a thriller with a strong romantic thread, add this to your TBR immediately!

Thank you to Molly, Loren with PRH, and NetGalley for the ARC 🥰

3.75/5 ⭐️
This was an interesting journey. Kind of gave White Lotus energy. I really enjoyed this story….until I didn’t. There were certain aspects early on that I questioned but ignored cause I was having a good time reading this book. But of course like with any loose screws, the wheels will eventually come flying off as we go down the hill.

What I really liked about this story was the things revolving around her job as an engagement proposal planner and the dynamic with that group that she went to the resort with. What I didn’t like was the romance and murder mystery part. However, those aspects could’ve maybe worked if it had been done differently.

Say it took the murder mystery out. I saw a hint of Emily Henry in this one. I think the time the mystery took up could’ve been used to develop and flesh out the romance. Because honestly, as it is now, it’s cringe. It starts with the love interest being an asshole. I clocked that it was trying to do enemies to lovers but that wasn’t enemy energy, that was a douche energy that would have me instantly saying thank you next. Wouldn’t care if he then starts being nice to me after the fact, wouldn’t care about some boo hoo backstory, if that is how you talk to a stranger, then I want nothing to do with you. And because the romance is being shoehorned in, like randomly shoved in at random points in the story in a very unnatural way, the love interest does a 180 from first interaction to the next. Then to make it worse their conversation was full body shudder awkward. It didn’t help that she so randomly and desperately was thirsty for him. It screamed desperate.

BUT! There is potential with the basic elements of these two characters to have created interesting conflict thanks to her job. And interactions could’ve formed more naturally if the story focused solely on their jobs, the rich entitled friends, and their respective pasts with such people. Because they have similar enough pasts of being nobodies amongst elite circles, they could’ve immediately teamed up. Though I would allow one single, mild interaction with maybe him assuming she would be coming to talk down to him only to immediately apologize once she explains her situation. Once again, there are elements carelessly tossed in here that could’ve manifested into a more Emily Henry-Esq story.

But let’s say the author wants the murder mystery. Okay. Either don’t have the romance or have it come in third place for time and space. Wrap it around scenes dealing with the murder and the friend group. Don’t advertise the romance. Even now as it is, the advertisement of the romance led me to believe it would be more important. The problem right now is that each of these three elements are treated like their own entities. They barely, if at all, interact and affect each other. However, ignoring the romance for a second, let’s look at the murder mystery cause as it is now, it is not a murder mystery.

It is expected and highly recommended that within the murder mystery genre that a murder happens early in the story. Usually it’s the inciting incident. While a death sort of happens early-ish, it comes across as more of an accident than murder. Though it does try to make you think it’s a murder but in a very obvious red herring manner. But it doesn’t matter cause the murder really doesn’t affect them. While the main character might think about it —randomly and in a way that feels like the author went, oh yeah, it’s a murder mystery — the dead person does not affect the plot or circumstances in any way. Either the dead person needs to be someone within their own group (which happens at like the 70% mark! Too late) or their death needs to be obviously treated like a murder and everyone is locked in this location.

As the story stands now, the FMC’s involvement in the initial crime is so weak that I was constantly wondering why she’s letting that take up time and space in her head when she has a demanding client to deal with and a budding romance. It would be reasonable to immediately accept the accident theory and move on. It also was extremely weird for members of this resort to so quickly accept her into their fold and tell her things. I feel like if a death happened at a resort, the business would close ranks and push a particular narrative to keep her away.

For this story to have worked as a murder mystery, either a person in their group needed to die sooner or the first death needs to be obviously a murder and they are locked in. The conflict can then be how this murder mystery is affecting the job the FMC was hired to do and how she really needs the money. And if there’s a murder, you get the added tension whenever she is out and about alone. Maybe the conflict could be that she has become so single minded that she turned into someone like Diana and through this experience and with the help of Dean, Jess regains some humanity and is grounded back in reality. But I don’t know if I would have her investigating. I would maybe have others, but I think it would be cool if she is so zeroed in on her job that she doesn’t care about the mystery but also keeps accidentally stumbling into situations while working that now make her look suspicious.

My final issue with this story was that the FMC was kind of giving Mary Sue energy. Isn’t she just so perfect and morally upstanding compared to others and everyone ALWAYS laughs at her jokes and she think she’s the best when her jokes were super lame. She pretty much did no wrong. She felt on the cusp of giving manic pixie dream girl energy. And of course people just info dumped entire life stories to her, a random stranger. She doesn’t grow and change during this story cause there’s apparently nothing to grow and change from. She’s perfect. I think if the author went in the direction I just suggested of maybe Jess being so single minded with her job that she gives off elitist entitled energy like Diana, then her journey could be coming back down to earth and seeing there’s more to life than just living vicariously though the romances of her engaged clients.

At the end of this, I still had a good time. For the most part. First half I was willing to give this 4 stars. There were some flaws, but I still was having fun. Second half was where all the little cracks then cause the pottery to explode in the kiln. This is another case where I saw the potential and it could’ve been really good, but it fell short. I would definitely still recommend this to people cause it was entertaining enough to binge on a weekend. But I was still left wanting.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

Tennessee - Present Day

Jessamine Bricker is the owner and mastermind of Bricker Consultants, Inc., a proposal planning business. She is a workaholic, and is known for her meticulous events where the potential groom can ultimately surprise his (or her) future mate with a fabulously unique proposal. Jess is devoted to her business and lives and works above TonyCakes Bakery in Nashville. But she's just been informed that the owners of the building want to sell it, and that means Jess will lose her home as well as the office and storage facility. The building owners would love to sell the entire place to her, but Jess doesn't have that kind of money. Which is why she accepts a job that may be the answer to her problems.

Despite the fact that Jess has no love for the snobby former classmate, Diana, the opportunity to make sufficient money to buy the bakery building entices her. It seems that Diana's potential fiance, Trenton Tillard, the Fourth's first proposal was less than adequate for the social media "personality" that Diana sees herself. So Diana wants Jess to come up with a high end event that can be viewed by all. Unfortunately for Jess, this planning period includes a week long retreat with Diana, her cousin, and her wedding planner in a spa in the mountains. Jess immediately knows upon arrival that this isn't going to be a relaxing time.

The Golden Ash resort has no internet or cell phone connection, which sets Diana off on a tangent. She also begins making crazy demands of Jess, who is feeling more connected to the family running the spa than the people she is traveling with. But when Jess finds a guest dead in a small pond, and another in a sauna room, she's beginning to think there is something way more dangerous going on than just having to face Diana's pouting.

A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR is an entertaining tale with interesting characters, and a surprise discovery as to why people are dying at this luxurious retreat.

A proposal planner, a grumpy chef, and a luxury retreat straight out of a murder mystery. What could possibly go wrong?

Jessamine thrives on structure, but when she takes on an over the top client at an exclusive mountain resort, things quickly spiral into chaos. Jess finds herself in the middle of a mystery she never planned for.

This book was such a fun read! The mix of humor and suspense kept me hooked, and just when I thought I had things figured out, the author threw me off track again.

Jess’s sharp wit and the undeniable chemistry with a certain broody chef made for a fun read!

If you love a cozy mystery with charm, humor, and just the right amount of danger, this one is a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the free ARC!

This was such a fun read! It was the perfect palate cleanser between my heavier fantasy novels. As someone who doesn’t typically read murder mysteries, I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable this one turned out to be. The main character was both interesting and witty, and I was hooked from the first few chapters. I ended up flying through the book!

The story follows Jessamine Bricker, a marriage proposal planner who thrives on making meticulous plans. When she gets an opportunity to plan a proposal for her high school classmate Diana and her wealthy boyfriend, Trenton Tillard, Jess jumps at the chance. She’s also roped into attending Diana’s "pre-bridal" retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort. What’s meant to be a relaxing getaway turns into a nightmare when Jess witnesses strange events, including a drug deal and a body in a sauna. As deadly secrets unfold, Jess must figure out the mystery before her plans are permanently canceled.

While this is technically a murder mystery, there was something about it that felt low-stakes to me. It was cozy, atmospheric, and suspenseful, with a nice blend of humor and a touch of romance. Some of the side characters were a bit over the top, but that seemed intentional and only added to the fun. It also made it harder to guess who the villain might be.

I did figure it out about halfway through the book, but the author did a fantastic job of throwing me off track a few times, making me second guess myself. I really appreciated that. I also liked that each side character had a distinct personality, and they didn’t blend together.

Overall, this book was a delightful mix of humor, mystery, and suspense. It kept me engaged from start to finish, and I loved how the author balanced the lighthearted moments with the darker twists. If you’re looking for a fun, quick read with a unique mystery, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you so much to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

💍💆‍♀️🍄 A Proposal To Die For by Molly Harper 🍄💆‍♀️💍
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Women's Fiction
Length: 352 pages
Pub Date: April 8, 2025
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Berkely Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Synopsis:
Jessamine Bricker is an intelligent, talented, and successful woman who owns her own wedding proposal planning business. One day, a former school classmate, Diana, hires her to stage the perfect 're-proposal' by her rich, dopey boyfriend, Trenton (also former classmate).

Against her better judgment, Jess embarks on a week-long stay at the Golden Ash, an exclusive spa and wellness resort in the mountains, with Diana, Diana's wedding planner, Aubrey, and bridesmaid/cousin, Kiki. The 'plan' is for Trenton to surprise Diana during their relaxation week, hence solidifying Diana's marriage into his wealthy family. Unfortunately, amongst all the snobbery, demands, and insults, Jess stumbles onto a body... and then another. These must have been accidental deaths... right? And if not, why does Jess feel like one of them could be next?

Opinion:
This was such a fun mystery, loaded with lots of humor and interesting characters. Jess was a very likeable MC and I loved how she was caught in between her dutiful allegiance to Diana, whom she really disliked personally, and the staff of the Golden Ash, who tried to make her job easier. I also loved how the staff and the 'wedding' party had history from childhood, not to mention Jess's own history with Diana and Trenton. That really added to the red herrings and also a great connected side plot. I honestly didn't figure out whodunit until close to the end, and I also enjoyed how there was a little romance tied in while all the excitement was happening. Great story!

I've been a big fan of Molly Harper for many years and her witty, charming and clever books are a delight. This romantic mystery, set at an exclusive natural retreat, doesn't disappoint. Jess may not think she is the cool girl but she would definitely be a perfect bestie. She and the hot chef Dean are ying and yang with his quirky family adding just the right amount of spice. Before they can get to an HEA they have to handle the rich, snobby and deadly guests. A laugh out loud cozy mystery you are sure to enjoy.

"A Proposal to Die For" by Molly Harper starts with a measured pace as we meet protagonist Jess, who runs a unique business crafting picture-perfect, Instagram-worthy marriage proposals for couples. Rather than experiencing proposals herself, Jess orchestrates magical moments for others. 

The narrative gains momentum when Jess lands the opportunity of a lifetime—planning an elaborate proposal at a secluded resort in the mountains of East Tennessee. Success would cement her reputation and enable her to purchase the building she currently rents, providing much-needed security for her business. And peace of mind for her grandmother, who raised Jess when her mother abandoned her at a young age. 


The plot thickens when Jess is hired by an old classmate from a  prestigious Nashville private school they both attended. As family members and planning staff gather at the remote Appalachian resort, the story takes on elements of both reality show drama and Southern Gothic mystery. The atmospheric mountain setting becomes increasingly ominous when guests begin turning up dead—with Jess discovering the bodies.

Suddenly, Jess finds herself navigating not just a high-stakes proposal but also a dangerous situation that threatens lives and her business reputation. Harper skillfully blends cozy mystery elements with the unique premise of professional proposal planning, creating an engaging read that keeps you guessing until the end.

I quit this book quite early. The main character’s continuous side comments to herself are really annoying, and she seems to lack any intelligence. I found myself rolling my eyes within the first 20 pages and quit shortly after since I couldn’t suspend disbelief at all.