Thank you, NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this book for review. This was a cute rom-com book about a struggling author who wrote a bestselling first book and now she can't seem to write another. The truth people don't know is that the first book wasn't really fiction, it was about her last real relationship and how he broke her heart. It really came from the heart and that's why everyone loves it. Aspen can't seem to tap into that emotion again. Brick is every woman's dream: he's beautiful, but the rumors abound. Word around town is that he's a love and leave 'em kinda guy. He's perfect to get the juices flowing for a new story. Aspen just needs to get him on board, and she'll have a new story in no time. So, Aspen gets Brick to agree to a dating contract, a summer romance and then he needs to break her heart so they can both get what they need. But will this really end how either of them wants or expects?

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I’d say this one is a solid 3.5-4 stars

This is a about a writer who is desperate to write a best seller like her first book but needs some inspiration. She ends up using the town playboy to break her heart. They end up making an arrangement to where they can both get what they need out of the deal.

There’s great banter and a little spice and of course a happily ever after. I enjoyed the setting of the book and the horses.

I liked the characters in the story and their relationships. Looking forward to reading the sequel to this as well. Would love to read her sister and Zane’s story.
This was my first book I've read by the author but I do not think it will be the last.

This book centres on Aspen who wrote a bestseller which unknown to her readers based it on her own experiences.
She has written 2 others but they haven't been as successful.
She decides she needs another heartbreak.
I raced through this book it was a fun read. The author described the Carolina Shore really well. I felt I wanted to visit.
I liked Brick apart from his name. It would make a good beach read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

Loved the cover art, very beachy and the blues drew me in. As someone who lives close to obx I was exciting when reading about it but also nervous they wouldn’t do it correct justice. But let me tell you it made me fall in love with the book so quick! Loved the characters and the growth they went through on each of their own pasts. I knew the break up would happen and really hoped for them to come back together! Only down fall for me was I wish we could have had a chapter or two more of how they resettled into life back together or an epilogue from 2-5 years down the road. Was hoping for a Kane and sierra book and got to the end to see a little tease of it! Already looking forward to reading that one when it comes out! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the early read in turn for my honest opinion! Will be suggesting to all my friends and hopefully a book club read when it releases!

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is a charming and relatable story about love, friendship, and the power of books to bring people together. The story centers on Riley, a bookstore owner navigating the ups and downs of her own life while creating a community for readers who find connection in the pages of her shop’s monthly picks.

Probst’s storytelling is warm and witty, with characters who feel like real friends. I loved how she captured the magic of bookstores and the unique ways literature can change lives. This book is a reminder that no matter what we’re going through, there’s always a story out there that can help us feel less alone.

If you’re a book lover, Book of the Month is a heartwarming escape that’s sure to resonate. It’s a love letter to readers, bookstores, and the transformative power of stories.

This is an emotional read of two characters working through traumatic parts of their lives. I don't care typically for super emotional books and I should have investigated further before I read this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I love the behind the scenes look into the publishing industry. I think "Book of the Month" gives us a good viewpoint on how an author may feel when it comes to their writing and sales. The chemistry between Aspen and Brick was pretty good. The ending was predictable but overall, the story was enjoyable. I can't wait to read Sierra & Kane's story!

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I took a bit to get into this one, but it was worth it.

Aspen is struggling to write her next book. After massive success of a book she wrote following a personal heartbreak, her next books have not done well. And her fans are anxious for a sequel to her first book, wanting to see her FMC get her HEA. Her publisher is also champing at the bit for a sequel.

But Aspen has not been able to tap back into those emotions. She escapes NYC to visit her sister in a small town and comes up with a plan. She’ll have a fling, get her heart broken again, and be able to finally write another hit.

Enter Brick. His less-than-stellar reputation with the women in town makes him the ideal candidate. Brick is trying to save his family business, so when Aspen approaches him with her offer, he agrees, yet insists that the money Aspen wants to pay him is a loan.

Things go to plan, until they don’t.

I loved getting to know these characters as the facade of their initial arrangement faded away and we got to see who they really were, flaws and all.

I overall liked the book, but there were some cringe sayings that had me rolling my eyes at times. I appreciated the setting and all together would recommend for someone looking for a HEA.

Not a bad read, but not a great one either? I didn't DISLIKE this book, but I felt like I was struggling to get through it at certain points. I enjoyed the chemistry between Aspen and Brick, and all of the side characters fit really well in this story and were quirky and funny and interesting to read about. But the plot (the idea of essentially paying Brick to date her and break her heart so she can write a good book) I personally didn't love. And there being entire club of people that are dedicated to bashing Brick/protecting women against him was WEIRD. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

I wish this book didn’t end! Solid 4.5 stars! I want to move to OBX and be friends with these characters!

Here’s to hoping for a sequel !!

Aspen needs some inspirational heartbreak to write her next book. Enter the town playboy who will woo her and hurt her and she will pay him for the plotline. Thing is, this is romance, so nothing ever goes according to plan. The setting of the Outerbanks was felt through the pages and these characters were great together. Aspen's desperation felt real, and so did Brick's anger, but together they presented an emotional, steamy story that gives us the happily ever after both so needed. Books about books are one of my greatest pleasures, and Book of the Month was a good one.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst

This book was truly so cute and I really enjoyed the story the Jennifer created. I can always rely on Jennifer Probst to write a story that will leave me wanting more.

This book will make giggle with the thought of Aspen chasing down the hottest bachelor all for her new book and I love the banter these two have.

If you need a story that will give you a good time you need to check out Book of the Month.

Author Aspen Lourde is feeling the pressure to write another best selling book, but cannot seem to find the inspiration. She heads to the Outer Banks for the summer hoping inspiration will strike. Enter Brick Babel.

I always enjoy any story about an author and the writing process. I don't think I have read many books that take place in the Outer Banks, so it was a nice change of pace for me. I grew to really care for the characters and wanted to see them both succeed in their businesses. I am even more excited for the next story in the series that will focus on Aspen's sister!!

Aspen Lourde is struggling to produce another hit book. Especially when the one hit wonder was based on her own tragic love life. Aspen desperately needs to get away and figure out what to write, so she heads to the Outer Banks for the summer in hopes of finding her next big idea.

Brick is every girl's dream. He's a heartthrob with a wild reputation. Could he help Aspen get ideas? The only problem is everyone tells her to stay away from him. Aspen doesn't care and tries anyway.

When he doesn't hall for her advances, he learns that his business is in danger of bankruptcy. He decides to go with her plan in hopes of saving his business. will they call in love in the process?

A cute and fun romance set in my favorite place (North Carolina)!! Can't wait to recommend this book to others.

After the success of her first book Aspen is left wondering if that is where it ends as her subsequent stories have not held the same appeal. Needing to get inspired she decides to spend some time with her sister and when she meets Brick, he is exactly what she believes she needs in her hero.

With the family business in jeopardy that is where Brick needs to be focused and not on Aspen. It begins as a simple arrangement that will allow them both to get what they need however it is not long before breaking up is the last thing that either of them wants.

Brick has a reputation he has not been able to live down and that is what draws Aspen to him however the more time they spend together she realizes he is not that man. In addition to Aspen and Brick there is an eclectic group of secondary characters that make this heartwarming story even better.

I enjoyed this book. It's a bit cliche but oddly that really worked for me. It's also a combination of first person/third person that I don't normally love but it didn't bother me. It was a seamless transition. I loved the laid back town and characters. There are some really quirky folks that had me laughing. The brownie scene was hilarious. Brick and Aspen are quite the match. It's a fake dating/with an on purpose break up story that goes awry. There are going to be more stories in the world which are set up in this book and I am here for it. I was able to listen to this on audio and the narration was fantastic. In fact, it made it more enjoyable to listen to them all come to life.

So after I got over the fact that the main character's love interest's name really is Brick I quite enjoyed this book. Even though I think it is truly a summer book so I see myself grabbing for it again when the summer season starts as it's an nice holiday read.
Somehow I kinda like stubborn characters that take time to realize themselves what they are feeling and here the stubborness was shown for both in different moments and I enjoyed it because they managed to overcome it and slowly but surely crack the facade they put up to the world in order to really show themselves to eachother.
I also think it was kinda a cliche that the main character tries to serve themselves while helping struggling bussiness but her being writer and kinda aware of it herself made it more okay for me.
Overall I really enjoyed this read and I cant wait to see what happens with Sierra and Kane.

Such a cute read. It’s good to switch up genres sometimes. This one wasn’t one I’d typically pick but I’m glad I did because it was enjoyable!

This book struggled with a lot of overly familiar tropes and not knowing what genre it wanted to lean into.

It felt that the protagonist’s struggles were very clearly a mirror for the author.

Unfortunately, I felt very disconnected from this book.

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.