This is a lovely story of someone discovering themselves. It’s poignant and funny and entertaining all at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I was super excited to read this book by Jennifer Probst because I have found all her books enjoyable. I was slightly disappointed in this one because it felt like i read this before. Like I saw the movie, something familiar.

But overall I wouldn't deter this from reading other of her books.

Enjoyed this one! I really liked the main characters and their story. I also loved the character growth

I enjoyed this romance novel. Was it predictable and full of obvious tropes? Yes. Was it over the top cheesy at points? Also yes. But did that somehow make it more of an easy, enjoyable read? Absolutely. This was an quick and easy read and a great book to take on a vacation (I took it with me camping). Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Blue Box Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars.

Romance - 3.5*

Aspen is in a slump. She wrote a best-selling novel as a fictionalized version of her real-life relationship. She relocates to the Outer Banks looking for inspiration and to spend time with her sister. On a night out with friends, she meets the local bad boy. The friends tell her stories of his supposed escapades and Aspen decides he would be perfect material for her next book. She approaches Brick and offers to pay him to date her and break her heart.

Brick is trying to run the tour business he inherited, but things are not going well. He made the mistake of dating one of the locals and now stories about him run amok. When Aspen approaches him about her crazy idea, he says no. He doesn't need more wild stories about him when he is trying gain customers. Eventually, his pocket demands he give Aspen's request some consideration.

They become friends and find common ground, which eventually leads them to a relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

Aspen Lourde needs inspiration to write her next bestseller. She’s staying with her sister for a change of scenery and hires the local lothario to make her swoon and break her heart. But what happens when things get too real?

Is the premise contrived and ridiculous? Yes and the characters know that. The people involved acknowledging that makes it more fun than if they played it full of sincerity.

Probst takes her time getting spicy but lays enough groundwork to warn you it’s coming. The door opens slowly and does not close. The sexual tension is there and starts to rise as the two get to know each other. The writing overall was fine. Decent dialogue, the plot doesn’t meander. I have one bone to pick though.

The foreshadowing was heavy handed. I could see the conflict of Aspen returning to NYC, how her comic would prove important, etc. Setting up the next book in the series was so obvious it hurt. The readers are smart enough to figure it out. Don’t beat us over the head so much.

Would I be willing to visit these characters again? Yes. Did I enjoy this? Mostly. It was good, not great. Will I read the next one? Probably but I’m not in a rush. Overall, 3.5

What I liked: A romance author overcomes writer’s block by having a fake dating summer fling with the small town’s infamous heartbreaker

What I disliked: Aspen’s insecurities made her into an annoying main character. She really needs help coping with all her baggage

This was a surprisingly emotional story. I didn’t love the set up, with Aspen thinking that heartbreak was the key to writing another popular book, but it worked better than I thought it would.
Since this is a romance, you know what’s going to happen in the end, but there were some twists along the way. I liked that Aspen and Brick said what they were thinking - I am not a fan of miscommunication - and I liked that they looked inward to understand why they acted and reacted the way they did. There was also just enough of a tease to interest me in the next book of the series.

Book of the Month plunges readers into the world of Aspen Lourde, a once-celebrated author grappling with writer’s block and the pressure to replicate her past success. Driven by a desire for another bestseller, she hatches a plan to engineer a heartbreak, seeking inspiration from Brick Babel, a local heartthrob with a notorious reputation. The premise, while utilizing familiar tropes like fake dating, is elevated by Aspen’s relatable struggles with creativity and self-doubt.

The narrative skillfully blends romance with themes of self-discovery and the pressures of artistic creation. The picturesque setting of the Outer Banks adds a charming backdrop to the story, and the supporting characters, particularly Aspen’s sister and Brick’s dog, contribute to the book’s overall warmth. While some reviewers pointed out occasional cliches and repetitive phrasing, the emotional depth of the characters and their relationships ultimately won them over.

Despite some minor flaws, the book’s engaging characters, compelling setting, and heartfelt narrative make it a satisfying read. The author’s ability to create relatable characters and explore their emotional journeys is a testament to their storytelling prowess. The book’s ending, while potentially divisive for some, provides a satisfying resolution that reinforces the importance of authenticity and self-acceptance. The book is enjoyable, and the characters are memorable.

I love books about books, authors, the publishing industry, so I was excited to check out Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst. This is the story of Astrid, an author who had a very successful first book (that was inspired by her own personal heartbreak) and is struggling to prove herself in her sophomore novel. Brick is a local heartthrob, who is is every woman's dream- who Astrid desperately needs to get with her and then promptly break her heart so she can get some content for her next novel.

Astrid was honestly pretty unlikeable and was blatantly harassing the MMC, which I didn't find cute or endearing. They grew on me over time, but the romance element was kind of ruined for me with how much Astrid was bothering Brick and wasn't compelling enough for me to move past the likeability of the FMC. This one just wasn't for me.

Aspen is struggling to write her next best seller. She goes to visit her sister in the Outer Banks and to also find someone to have a romance with, who will break her heart, just like the real life storyline she used for her previous hit book. She meets the town heartthrob, Brick, who she convinces to enter into a contract to date and break her heart in exchange for money to renovate his struggling business he inherited from his grandfather. What starts out as a summer fling quickly becomes a hot and heavy romance, turning into a true life love story. Can she write her own happy ending and make her life her best work ever without the heartache?

There was some character growth from the FMC and MMC towards the end of the story, and the positive vibes theme throughout the plot made it an easy summer read. This was a quick and easy romance story with a HEA. It's actually a trope I didn't know I'd enjoy - girl has writer's block, meets cute boy who becomes her muse and love interest - and second one in a row I've read now. I would love to see a sequel with the sister, Sierra, getting her own story written.

Aspen Lourde is a bestselling author for her debut book, Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover, written as therapy after her fiancée left her at the alter. Her subsequent books have not resonated with her readers, despite being technically better, as she was not able to recreate the angst and what her fans really want is a sequel to the first book. Her agent advises her to take a vacation, which she does by going to visit her sister in OBX North Carolina. She is terrified of being a one hit wonder so gets this boneheaded idea to get over her writer's block by finding a man to have a summer fling with, fall in love and leave with a broken heart. She offers Brick Babel an offer he can't refuse- she will give him the money to do the renovations on the failing tour company that he inherited from his grandfather if he pretends to be in a relationship with her, make her fall in love with him and then dump her, so she can get her writing groove back. She hadn't planned on breaking both their hearts.

Well developed and written characters, an unusual plot, a hysterical book signing and a lot of information about saving the loggerhead turtle. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading TheReluctant Flirt.

I was gifted with an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased, honest and voluntary review.

I was hopeful going into this read. I thought the cover was cute. Unfortunately, the plot wasn’t predictable and the characters were exactly what you would expect. It was hard to find originality in the book when it felt like I’ve seen movies with the same exact storyline. It was a struggle to get through.

Things I liked:
The setting in the Outer Banks- especially when doing baby turtle stake-outs and finding the wild horses
Brick and Aspen's chemistry when they started fake dating
The relationship between Aspen and her sister- they have no one but each other and the love and care they have for each other is evident.

Things I disliked:
How Aspen kept blatantly propositioning Brick, even when he said he had no interest
The third-act break-up. Predictable and expected in most romances, but did not like the reasoning in this one
Brick's 'reputation' and how it came to be and why it had been propagated for so long

It was a fun, beachy romance. The setting was fabulous and the author made you feel like you were in the Jeep with Brick and Aspen going searching for the wild horses or sitting on the beach late at night keeping an eye on the turtle nests. Brick seemed like 2 very different people to me, was he moody and broody or was he charismatic and charming? He kinda jumped between the two. I also would have loved to know more about his family background, his relationship with his grandfather and his grandfather's relationship with the town. I think that could have maybe helped with understanding the situation he was in better.
3.5 stars

Needing to follow up on her hit book, Aspen escapes away her sister’s house to try to recreate the environment and feelings from her life while writing it. Heartbreak, drama, hot men are all on the menu in this rom/com/dram book that’s full of spicy scenes and great chemistry!

I’ve never read a book by this author before. The writing and pace was up and down for me; some parts were so fast and fun, and others dragged. I loved the characters and their chemistry/banter, but a few things were just too easily solved for my own personal taste. If you enjoy spicy stories taken place on the beach with a lot of descriptive writing, this book is definitely for you. Cannot wait for the second book to be released!

Cute scenes, good characters but a little long winded and had a bit of trouble getting into it and through it. Overall, a good but plodding read. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the read.

Aspen Lourde, a struggling author in need of another bestseller, strikes a deal with the town’s most elusive heartbreaker, Brick Babel, to stage a whirlwind summer romance and guarantee herself the heartbreak needed for inspiration. But as real emotions creep in, Aspen must decide whether success is worth sacrificing a love story that’s rivals the best romance novels.

A very middle of the road romance - decent writing, good spice, a great combination of tropes. I found the characters to be a bit cliche at times, and ultimately wasn’t super into their romance as it felt canned and predictable. With all that being said, I would consider picking up another book by Jennifer Probst in the future.

3/5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst
3.5/5
The author's writing is great, I loved all of the characters, however I wasn't a fan of the insta-love trope, and some of the other themes.
I had heard great things about her books, and definitely wanted to give this one a shot. I will still be checking out some of her other titles as well!

I will not be sharing a review to any other sites at this time. Thank you!

If you’re a romance reader, Book of The Month has all your favourite tropes - small town romance, a business that needs saving, forced proximity, fake dating and a bad boy. Plus, all the spice you could hope for. It’s a unique plot and I enjoyed the glimpses in to being a writer. I enjoyed reading this book but I wasn’t fully invested in the couple. I found the dialogue from the love interest a little patronising/cringy at times. Overall though, I would recommend this to fans of the genre. I think it would make a good beach read.

DNF'd this at 50% but don't want the DNF to impact my % -- so I will be giving one star. I will not be negatively commenting on the book or submitting a review to anywhere else.