I loved this book! Aspen is a strong and caring woman that has been hurt by a man she should have been able to trust. Brick is a beautiful man that tries to do the right thing but keeps getting beat down by life. Everything changes when they cross paths and come up with a plan to solve both of their problems. This book has love, passion, sexy times, friendship, and a weird looking dog. The story pulled me in. I was glad for the HEA but I didn’t want the story to end. I’m looking forward to the next book.

Jennifer Probst's contemporary fiction is fun, enjoyable, and the perfect beach read. But her romance? That spice?? Perfection. I loved this deeper look into the writing life and look forward to reading more in this Outer Banks series!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The third act breakup was frustrating at first but once I saw how the characters grew because of it, I loved the book.

A story written within a story- that one definitely got my attention! I was excited to receive a copy of Book of The Month by Jennifer Probst. This one was just average for me. I did like the idea of the story and the characters. Just kind of an average read.



Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this adult romance from author Jennifer Probst!

Book of the Month will have you meeting Aspen, a relatable lead who is dealing with an enormous amount of pressure and some really intense writers block, and Brick, a guy that seems like a walking red flag. But as Aspen and Brick really get to know each other, they realize they have more in common than they ever imagined! This was a sweet romance!

Aspen, is headed to the Outerbanks for some inspiration, and lo and behold she finds it in Brick! I really enjoyed this book, it had the perfect amount of spice for me and the right amount of romance com. It held my attention and was a quick read. I am excited to read the next book! Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this book!

**Book Review: *Book of the Month* by Jennifer Probst**
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (3.5/5)

*Book of the Month* by Jennifer Probst delivers a spicy twist on the classic “writer-in-search-of-inspiration” trope, with a summery coastal setting, a struggling author, and a local heartthrob who might just be the muse she didn’t know she needed.

Aspen Lourde is a one-hit-wonder desperate to reclaim her literary fame. Her solution? Escape the chaos of New York for the laid-back charm of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. There, she concocts a bold—and slightly chaotic—plan: fall for the town’s notorious playboy, Brick, and get her heart broken… all in the name of art. Naturally, emotions blur, lines get crossed, and sparks fly.

The premise is undeniably fun—romance, creativity, and a little fake dating with a twist—but the execution is a bit uneven. While the setup promises charm and wit, the story sometimes leans too heavily on exposition. Much of the background is told rather than shown, which can create distance between the reader and the characters. For some, the spicy content will be a draw; for others, it might feel a little over the top, especially early in the book.

That said, there *is* a satisfying emotional arc. Aspen and Brick both experience genuine growth as individuals, and their chemistry makes for plenty of swoon-worthy scenes. The slow-burn tension is well done, and their flirtation often brings a smile. However, a somewhat abrupt third-act breakup detracts from the momentum and feels a bit forced in an otherwise sweet and steamy story.

**Bottom line:** If you're into small-town romances with a heat level that leans high and a heroine chasing creativity in the most unconventional way, *Book of the Month* might be your jam. While it won’t be for everyone—especially those craving a more subtle or deeply nuanced read—it’s a light, flirty escape perfect for a beach day. A solid 3.5/5 stars.

This was an easy read but not something I would recommend. It felt like a very predictable story and very similar to other books I’ve read recently and preferred

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst was such an adorable and feel-good read. I really liked the characters, the romance was sweet without being over-the-top, and it had that cozy, charming vibe that just made it super enjoyable from start to finish. It’s definitely one of those books that leaves you with a happy little smile.

"Book of the Month" is definitely an interesting premise.

The story centers on Aspen, who is desperate to write another best seller, after taking the literary world by storm with her debut novel. She is convinced she needs inspirational heartbreak to achieve success. Enter the town playboy, Brick, and chaos ensues as feelings begin to arise.

While, I liked the concept of the story, I found myself checking out a little while reading it. I did finish the book but it didn't hold my interest as much as I would have liked.

Thank you to Blue Box Press for selecting me for this ARC.

This book had a really interesting blurb and premise. Aspen needs an inspiration and I am drawn to stories wherein the protagonist needs to escape to the quiet rural settings (North Carolina) and away from the hectic busy life (New York). Brick, our MMC, has just given up on anything and would need a spark again. I was hoping for an endearing love story, finding inspiration and hope in this book.

Sadly, I have to DNF this at 23% as the number of times I've read the word [orgasm] is too much. Realizing this might be a very spicy romance book that is not really my cup of tea. I can see how this book will surely appeal to certain audience and lovers of contemporary romance with sizzling spice.

Thanks to #netgalley and #blueboxpress for a #gifted digital arc!

A fun read… the title doesn’t really reflect the story. Interesting trope and lots of emotions expressed including ,ore spicy scenes I skipped. Interested in reading the next one.

This one didn't work for me. I found the main character to be unlikeable and hard to root for, and all the bookish things about the plot felt a little gimmicky instead of part of the story. I did finish it, but I was definitely enjoying less and less as it went on.

I was wary of this book, but the first chapter did a great job of setting up the story. I read about a FMC who was sad, desperate, and ready to do anything to get her writing career back on track. The problem was that after that "set-up," we suddenly find out that the FMC is headed to visit her sister in North Carolina (it felt a bit abrupt, even though I'm sure the author was just trying to get to the "real story" in the book). But that's where my problems began. All of a sudden there is a huge amount of "telling" and no showing. The FMC, as the narrator, is literally "telling" the reader all about herself, her personality, her appearance, her sister's backstory, her sister's appearance, her parent's appearances, etc... It completely took me out of the story. If these things had been revealed organically instead of as a weird info-dump, I could have connected with the plot much better. I was not impressed, and found that I didn't care about the characters or what they were doing.

4.5 stars Thank you NetGalley for this copy! What a fun rom com of a story! I loved Brick and Aspen and of course Dug! The story had lots of spice and a wonderful storyline about choosing happiness; growing from pain and being true to yourself. I look forward to reading more of her stories and can’t wait to read Kane’s and Sierra’s story out in June!

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is a super cute and fun romance. The book follows Aspen Lourde, a romance author who’s been struggling to write anything good after her big debut. She’s totally stuck and needs inspiration, so she heads to the OBX to clear her head and find some new ideas and over there, she finds her muse and offers him to date her, and break her heart so she can bleed the pain into the pages.

Aspen and Brick both grow so much, and the fake dating moments (that are barely fake) are honestly adorable. It’s perfect if you love those slow summer romances where the tension builds with every scene and the end was satisfying. The only thing I dislike is the third-act breakup. It was very unnecessary. But overall a good book, I enjoyed the read.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was silly fun and low stress. There were a couple annoying moments that felt like shoutouts in a very obvious way, but I felt like it was easy enough to move past. I’m interested enough that I want to know the story between Sierra and Kane and will probably read that too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this ARC!

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. if the author could fit in any more references to "her big nose", i wouldn't be surprised. i thought this was a poor attempt at a romance book, it was more of an act of desperation. hated both characters.

Cute, quick romance! Being a frequent visitor to the Outer Banks I loved that this was the setting for this story. This book felt so light and balanced. There were no slow parts or over developed portions. This would make a great beach/summer read. The spice was not overkill and the perfect amount.