I think this had a lot of potential and was going in the right direction but it just didn't quite get there. For me, the main characters were not super likeable. At times, they felt real and honest, but then other times almost too real (like giving detailed descriptions of bodily functions), and then they would be completely unbelievable. There's definitely a variety of ways to write contemporary romance but I usually prefer something that's a little more sugary with an err of mystery.

I did like the email exchanges between the main characters, those were cute. I also liked the FMC's friend group a lot and I wish they were included more.

I didn't understand why some background scenes were included in the story as they didn't move the plot forward or provide any interesting context. They felt like they were just there to be there.

I think this book definitely has an audience, it just wasn't for me.

ALSO slight spoiler so don't read if you don't want to know but this really bothered me. How are you going to have the FMC be the MMC's secret admirer in high school that wrote him very descriptive love notes everyday and then not have her tell him or have him find out as adults??? It was brought up multiple times, that she wrote these notes and we got his perspective on how he felt about them but then they just never discussed it?? That felt like a missed opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I like books about writers and the stories they tell. This book is full of crazy and waggish situations. Almost everyone had their own school crush and dreams of dating together. Gracie (by accident) meets(emails) her crush, Colin, who is a cute, charming, and attractive man. Isn't it great? They share candid stories from their past without each other. The story of the lost time that they could spend together is even a bit sad. This book gave me a lot of funny moments on the verge of embarrassment. (Perhaps there are too many jokes that are usually made by teenagers. It would be better if there were fewer of them.) I like that Gracie is trying to deal with difficulties and herself as she writes the book. The dual POV allows you to view the story from all angles. It helps us understand the characters better. To relax and enjoy your evening, I recommend this book because it is really easy to read and hilarious. Thank you NegGalley for this book.

The premise was cute. Grace needed help with her writers block for her new novel and her former high school classmate was willing to help her. Unfortunately, the execution of it was a bit messy. I liked Grace but I thought she was a bit immature for a 31 year old. For instance, all the fart references. It was too much. Like I don’t need a sweet romance with so much gas. Another was references to STDs, big sigh here, but why do I need to read jokes about that? I think it was added for the humor but one can do that without grossing me out. I was a bit upset that curvy was referenced to a 5'6 146 pound woman?! Thats not curvy!! That's slim. I’m hoping it was mistyped. Colin was okay but clearly had his own issues to work out. The ending was too abrupt for my taste. Overall, it was a sweet, and (a bit) gross romance between two people that needed a lot of healing. I’m thankful that the publisher granted my wish for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This was an immediate request for me, however once I started reading. I'd realised the mistake I had made.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy any part of this one. Writing for an older audience, yet making everyone still act like they're in highschool is not enjoyable for me. The chemistry felt lacking between our main characters, it left me thinking that there would be no way these two people could ever fall in love.

Maybe I'll try again after it's release? I try to give books more than one go - just in case I was just not really in the mood to read that style. I would however still recommend this one to people who I feel may enjoy it.

I truly hate to leave bad reviews, but I found the characters to be rather unlikeable and the story wasn't well-written. I found myself rolling my eyes and skipping ahead multiple times in a desperate bid to make it to the end.

I liked this book.
The characters are reliable even if sometimes they are really set into their mind and intentions and can become annoying to me . Nobody is perfect and I loved that they are actually so different in some ways.
The romance story plays a big part in here but I found it gravitating more towards women fiction and one very well done.
Their interactions are hilarious at times, the secondary characters are great and bring more out of the main ones in terms of personality traits.
It’s an easy read and one that many readers will enjoy

Its a rare thing, but I had to give up on this book. I read the first quarter and both main characters were just so unlikeable. I could barely make it through the sections when Gracie was writing her romance novel, and their email exchanges were terrible. It's possible it gets better farther in, but life is too short for bad books.

I received an ARC of this from NetGalley and I was excited because the premise really intrigued me. I love a romance author struggling with love only to find love in the end.

Unfortunately, my excitement dwindled very quickly and was completely gone around the 10% mark when the main character actually sharted herself. There's essentially a story in the story here because Gracie's book goes into immense detail leading to long paragraphs that don't really serve a purpose. It was just extremely frustrating to read this entire thing. Gracie was cringey from the start, and I'm not sure if it was supposed to make her seem relatable or quirky but it just missed the mark. I did not need pages of her shaving herself for a date and proceeding to cut herself and bleed all over her bathroom.
Colin was boring and completely uninteresting and had some questionable morals.
And the whole thing took place in a matter of just over a week? I'm sorry ... what?

Plus, I found the whole "wrote him secret erotic love letters" a little out there because she was supposedly 14 when it happened, maybe it's just me but they were supposed to be these well written letters that she left and he was excited about, which okay I'm sure getting a sex note at 14 made him happy, but I don't know it just didn't do anything for me. You're a child at that point.

I wanted to like this so bad but, for me, the whole thing was just a mess.

This may be someone's favourite book, and for that I am so happy, because finding something you love is exciting and gives you the warm and fuzzies, but this one wasn't it for me.

It took me forever to trudge through this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A love books about books and book authors so this one was right up my alley! I loved Grace and Colin (and not just because I have a daughter named Grace). I was looking forward to reading their story and it did not disappoint!

This was a fun read. Several laugh out loud moments. I could totally relate to Gracie. Liked that you got Colin’s perspective as well.

I’m dissapointed that I didn’t end up enjoying this as much as I thought I would. The synopsis made the story interesting but after reading it, I couldn’t care less for the characters of the romance.

Wow, this book was so annoying to read. The writing style was so juvenile and both Gracie and Colin act as if they were still children. They don't have any chemistry at all, and the plot was just boring.

The Book Proposal was so-so. I really wanted to love it, but I didn't get there. I liked the beginning interactions between Gracie and Colin. There were some weird moments that focus on bodily functions...not my cup of tea.

The best part about The Book Proposal was the main character, Gracie Landing. She has a gift with words. She speaks the truth and she speaks what is on her mind. I admire that about her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this advanced copy.

this book was it for me. very drawn to it and wanted to read more of it. now i will read more. had it all. I just reviewed The Book Proposal by KJ Micciche. #NetGalley

I loved the idea of this book, but I think the execution was poor. Both characters are in their 30's and are acting like a they are in still college. Colin give massive frat boy vibes, with a healthy side of misogyny "those girls are sloppy and overdone. Plus its dark and what looks good in the dark might not look quite as appealing in the light of day." His good friends are just as bad and I think the mark of a man is the company he keeps. It also feels like he's only interesting in Grace because she can help him get revenge on his cheating ex.

Grace has little to no growth throughout the book. Rather than learning from her experience with her ex, she fall into the same trap. She keeps saying she needs to reinvent herself but doesn't expect to put in the work that would require.

There wasn't much romance or build up of their relationship, and the only spice was in the book Grace was writing rather than between the character we are supposed to be invested in. Which to be fair it would be hard to make a believable scene as the chemistry just isn't there.

Thank you to NetGalley for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and KJ Micciche for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion,

Based on the title and cover, I thought I was really going to enjoy this one, but it just wasn't the one for me. I did really enjoy the email concept of this book. For some reason, I really like when books include emails or texts. But I did not like Gracie, I often found her very immature.

This is my second time reading this masterpiece; it was just as good as the first time! I love everything about this book, and I CANNOT wait for more from the author!!

It was lovely, intriguing, sweet, and even witty at times. Absolutely stunning. I don’t think I’m capable of coming up with a cohesive and well thought out review. There is so much to love in this book.

Diving into the found family I find myself incapable of putting feelings into words. I wanted nothing to happen to all the characters because they are all so near, dear, and precious to my heart.

I have so many more thoughts but it’s hard to put everything into words. This book was perfect in so many ways and I will greedily snatch up multiple copies!!!

A funny "second chance" rom-com about Gracie and Colin, high school classmates and fresh off relationship failures (she, a failed engagement, he, a failed marriage) who come back into each other's lives when Gracie drunk emails Colin. She's a struggling romance writer who thinks Colin is good source material for her next book. But putting his life into her stories will become perilous for both of them.

A great pick for lovers of contemporary romance served with a side of offbeat humor. Thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I’m going to be honest here, maybe somewhat brutally, but I struggled with this book. Although a seemingly quick read I felt I had to push myself to keep going.

I had difficulty connecting to the characters who seemed like they hadn’t grown past 15 years of age with all the burping, farting and and crude behaviour. I could not picture Grace as a 30 year old woman and a writer no less – her ‘book’ if you could call it that required more than a little help from an old high school crush. And who does that anyway? I understand taking inspiration from the world and people around you but to copy someone’s extremely embarrassing personal story (only changing the names) is a no from me.

Which brings me to….What’s wrong with Colin sharing all of that with someone on a first date, not even a date, a ‘business’ meeting. Self-respect…anyone?

Aside from the characters, I didn’t find the book to be either romantic or funny… kinda ruling it out as a romcom for me. Instead I found it to be quite cringe-worthy and completely unsexy, warranting only 2 stars.

With thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for this advanced copy in return for an honest review.

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The Book Proposal - Author: KJ Micciche
ARC - Publication Date: May 16, 2023
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The Book Proposal by KJ Micciche is a cute story about a female romance author who gets dumped at the altar. In a drunken pity party with her gal pals, Gracie e-mails the only guy she ever wanted, Collin, the gorgeous jock from high school. They begin a relationship over email that becomes more as Gracie tries to finish her latest novel for a big payday. The former high school beau is amazing but overcoming post-divorce struggles. Collin shares an idea with Gracie for a book that closely resembles his former married life. She doesn’t realize this will make her life very difficult when his ex-wife realizes he is publicly slut-shaming her with some bad but actual life choices. It causes utter chaos and the possible end of Grace’s writing career. Shenanigans ensue, ex-partners find out, nefarious behavior, lots of eating, barfing, drinking, more barfing, and even more bodily fluids than I have ever read in any novel. Seriously, tone down the urps, toots, and tinkles. Who thought I would ever write that in a review?#TheBookProposal #writer #publisher #romanceauthor #callingAA #comfyS-E-X #disappointment #promise #future #love #redemption #book #books #bookstagram @netgalley @sourcebookscasa
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I received a complimentary copy of this e-ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, NetGalley, and the authors for the opportunity to read this book. Pub Date: May 16, 2023.