Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this arc honestly.

I really wanted to like this book. The summary, tropes, cover of the book- felt right up my alley but so much of it was cringey. I tried to give it the benefit of the doubt, Maybe she’s got a medical condition for the gastric issues, but no, it felt like a cheap way to get laughs, but not funny laughs, just cringey. The main guy was a walking red flag. Just the whole thing, there’s so many books to read I wouldn’t necessarily suggest this one unless you want to read a train wreck with unlikeable characters.

What a tasty moving story! This is so well devised and written that I cannot recommend it highly enough. The title is catchy and promises a new look at a romance. It is just that! The characters are so well-developed that they could be your neighbor.

The blurb and cover are great but this book was eh. It was a funny and light read but something was just missing. The characters acted like teenagers and it was one big mess.

First of all, this is more of a 3.5 or maybe a 3.8, so I rounded to a 4. Secondly, The Book Proposal had a weak start. I honestly wanted to put the book down after the first few chapters, but something about the storyline and the dual points of view kept my interest. The main character was a bit immature, but this may be intensional so the reader can see her growth and story arc.

The audiobook was well done and the narrator was clear and emotional.

Thank you for the advance copy.

I absolutely loved this book! I don't think I have even laughed out loud as much as I did while reading this. The banter between Gracie and Colin was hysterical, and if I'm being honest, sounded a lot like the banter between my husband and myself. This book was so sweet and cute, with an emotional aspect I wasn't expecting. Loved it!

This book seriously just left me with the warmest, fuzziest feelings ever Simply reached right into the heart and had me connected so deeply with each of the characters. Absolutely LOVE the writing!!

I love the cover! Instantly drew me in and made me request to read. I enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from Micciche in the future!

3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgally and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for granting my wish for this book. There were parts that made me giggle out loud. Yes giggle like a young girl. I loved that they emailed back and forth. I also loved the concept of actually reading the story that was being written even though I aint gonna lie it was wild. Even though Im usually a girl that needs like a after of what happened the ending was cute and I felt fulfilled.

Sadly, I DNF'd this book rather quickly. I felt that the protagonist was rather immature and I didn't want to even try and push myself to continue reading.

This was adorable ! I loved it and the love story! At first I thought the MC was a bit annoying but I changed my mind at the end

Here's the thing, I didn't hate this book because she started at 8%, relatable. Sometimes you think you're gonna fart and it's not a fart. I didn't have issues with it being relatable, talking about self grooming, tummy problem in some restaurants. I didn't even have issues with the FMC being a romance author that allegedly writes smuts and the book is close door. None of those things bothered me.

What bothered me and made this book a one start book, is the fact this book used phrases like "turned her into a lesbian" "I'm not a lesbian anymore". What bothered me what the Colin knew his ex-wife was a literary agent and still helped Gracie write a book making another woman a villain because she cheated on him with a woman. Fine, he didn't know that his ex-wife was her literary agent, but bruh!!!!! "Maybe part of me wanted her to read this book so she would know how much she hurt me".

Gross. Hated this man. Hated this book.

I really wanted to like this book.... but it just didnt click... I don't know if it was the writing, the plot development or the characters or just me not being in the right mood.

Rating 3 stars because I know that my friends who like romcom would have liked this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

There were a lot of aspects about this book that I enjoyed and appreciated.
It did make me smile and laugh a little bit at times, however I’m not the biggest fan of the Misunderstandings troupe, or Colin’s using Gracie to get back at his Ex.

Such a funny and romantic debut!!!!
Gracie is a hot mess but in the most funny way possible 😂😂

All the drama tho was really not necessary.

I know everyone is so surprised I am reading another book about people in the book world.. I know its not everyone's cup of tea, but I love them so here we go.. my thoughts..
As soon as I saw this amazing cover and read the blurb promise me sweet-lighthearted romcom!!

I thought it was a very enjoyable read. Best parts were absolutely e-mail correspondences between characters (I just love it when authors put emails or texts in their books). Gracie was trainwreck in the beginning of the story: suffering from writer’s block and painful break up push her drinking her sorrows away!! Unfortunately she drank too much sorrows away, ended up writing a drunk- email to her high school crush Colin Yarmouth (yikes!!) who is also suffering from disastrous divorce ( Yep; his ex wife cheated on him and as a consolation gift she gave him STD omg )

The next day Gracie wakes up with extra tormenting hangover and acute embarrassment What was she thinking?? But luckily, Colin writes her back in a polite and friendly tone. They eventually find themselves write to each other. The e-mails turn into phone calls and meeting outside. They are meant to be more than old high school class mates.

But when Gracie decides to use Colin’s real life experiences for her next book at his approval, she accidentally ruined everything in their relationship and career with his help.

I liked characters and entertaining writing style. Only thing stopped me to give four stars was rushed ending. I would have love to see an epilogue at the end of this book. Gracie and Colin’s story finished so abruptly and I really wanted more.

That’s why I’m giving this book 3.5 stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts!!

This was a great romance! I loved the characters and the writing was witty and some parts were laugh out loud funny. I only wish the romance wasn't closed door - come on and give me a little more spice, especially given the language throughout the rest of the book I thought for sure we would get at least one really spicy sex scene but was left disappointed. I am eagerly awaiting KJ Micchihe's next book!

I put this book on the back burner after receiving an early review copy earlier this year, but I am no quitter and was determined to close out all 2023 reviews by year-end!

The Book Proposal has a great premise--when HOT MESS Grace Landing drunkenly emails her high school crush. So when he offers to help her write her next book using his own mess of a love life, she takes him up on the offer, with love (and chaos) ensuing.

I found the book had some laugh-out-loud moments and some cringeworthy ones as well. A mix of endearing characters and some less-than-developed ones--like why did we get an ending moment for Scott but not Elle? I also didn't love reading about three different characters drunk puking (and one infamous shart!) Combined with the instant-love of this relationship timeline, I just had a hard time connecting to Grace & Colin as a couple.

While this wasn't my favorite, it did have some good moments. I think as a debut there is certainly promise here for author K.J. Micciche!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2.5⭐️ rounded up

Gracie is a hot mess. She’s broke, single and in a major writers block, so when she goes out with friends of course she’s going to drink more than a few cocktails and of course she will email her unrequited high-school crush, Colin. Colin is now a successful lawyer but his personal life isn’t going great and when he receives a cheeky email from Gracie, aka Elvis, he decides to send a flirty message back. Gracie and Colin strike up an unlikely friendship, being completely open and truthful about things they have never told anyone else, including Colins divorce and Gracie’s work issues. Gracie is a romance author and decides her bombing manuscript could use some help details from Colin’s story. Little did Gracie know how much damage this would do to her life, career and her chance of a happily-ever-after with Colin.

To be completely honest I have been putting off writing this review because I have SO many thoughts and I always want to be nice and not just post a long ranting review. So I’m going to *try* to keep this short and to the point. When I saw the cover and read the synopsis I was HOOKED, it sounded SO good but the actual execution missed the mark for me. First off, the humour in this book is not for me. I can get why a lot of people find it funny but poop jokes are just beyond me. Please see my note at 10% "the FMC is in her thirties and just had an “Alfredo shart” omfg I had some really high hopes for this but….”. Gracie is very immature and its absolutely shocking that she is in her thirties, I actually had to double check her age because I thought this was a YA novel.

While Gracie is a romance author, that specifically writes erotica and that it noted multiple times, this is fade too black. Please see my Goodreads note at 57% lol "THIS IS FADE TO BLACK WTFFFFFFFF I am shocked! Bamboozled!”. Now the twist that lead to the *spoiler* third-act breakup *spoiler* was shocking, I did NOT see it coming but the fact that it lead to all this drama between Gracie and Colin kinda annoyed me? Like how would Colin know that this would happen? He was to one trying to help Gracie.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced readers copy for an honest review.

Not my favorite. The writing felt immature for adult fiction, and I ended up DNF-ing the book about a quarter of the way through. I just couldn't get into the story, so I just didn't force myself to finish it. Maybe the author should try marketing to a YA audience.