Aspen needs to write her next best seller. She visits her sister Sierra in her small beach town. She makes a deal with Brick to fall in love and break her heart to bring on the emotions. Both of them spend the summer together but they don’t realize they are falling in love.

This was a cute story with cast of characters who make you smile. The story gives you the feels and hope for a happily ever after.

I like but didn't love this book. A great beach read, full of fun, banter, and chemistry, but I definitely found myself just wanting to shake some sense into the characters. The book is about a novelist who has writer's block, so she hires the local town hottie to make her fall in love and break her heart so she has something to write about. Interesting idea, but we all know how it is going to end, right? Nonetheless, it was a fun journey to go on, and I'd be curious to try more of Jennifer Probst's books.

Slow burn. I loved the concept of small town and redemption.

What wasn't for me: giving up the man that would do anything for her to get past her writing block. ICK.

I am happy with the ending the author got to eventually, but I did feel like all of that wasn't needed for this HEA.

This book took me a hot second to get through. I really liked the concept and storyline but the whole being on the book of the month list and how often it was referred to became redundant haha. As the story went on I really liked how the relationship developed between the two main characters. There was cute banter and I did chuckle a bit reading this. It was hard for me to understand the fmc toward the end but the way the author tied it up helped ease my irritation. All in all it would make a cute little hallmark movie, obvs minus the spice (because there IS spice but it’s easy enough to skip haha). Anyways, I give it a solid 3. Good. Not great. Enjoyable but probably won’t read it again. Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this ARC!

2.5⭐️
I was excited to dive into this one. But by the end, I was just relieved to be done with it. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t much enjoy it or feel invested in the characters or far fetched story.

Alexander Cendese and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a fine job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Jennifer Probst, Blue Box Press, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst, in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I love Jennifer Probst's books and Book of the Month did not disappoint. This one is an adorable and heartwarming read that will leave you feeling uplifted. The book follows Aspen Lourde, a bestselling author in search of inspiration for her next book. When she meets Brick Babel, a local heartthrob, she sees him as the perfect muse. However, Brick is hesitant to become the subject of Aspen's potential heartbreak novel. As they navigate a fake dating scenario, their connection grows into something genuine, leading to a touching and emotional journey.

Jennifer Probst skillfully captures the emotions and complexities of love in this book. Through her heartfelt storytelling, she delivers moments of joy, tears, and personal growth. The characters, especially Aspen and Brick, feel relatable and endearing, and they will draw you into their world and make you emotionally invested.

Overall, 'Book of the Month' is a captivating and emotionally satisfying read that will warm your heart. It beautifully explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the power of genuine connections. If you're looking for a book that will make you smile, shed a tear or two, and leave you with a sense of fulfillment, this is definitely a great choice."
4.25 Stars!

The premise really hooked me with this one and I think this might have been the case of trying to read the book at the wrong time? This book tried too hard to have the FMC "not be like other girls." A bit boring for me. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

Aspen wrote a best seller after having her heartbroken. With her fans clamoring for a sequel she takes refuge with her sister. Then she meets Brick, who has a reputation as a heartbreaker. What better way to write another best seller than having her heart broken again. Unfortunately, Brick’s reputation isn’t real, their feelings for each other are but Aspen can’t see beyond needing her heart broken.

Aspen is a bestselling author whose debut novel received rave reviews and a devoted following. However, her next two books didn't achieve the same success. With her fans clamoring for a sequel and her publisher focused on sales, Aspen feels she needs to experience emotional turmoil to recreate the magic of her first book, which was inspired by her own heartbreak. Meanwhile, Brick is trying to revive the struggling local tour business he inherited from his grandfather. Since arriving in Corolla, he has gained a reputation as a heartless womanizer, leaving a trail of broken hearts.

Aspen sees Brick as the key to unlocking her creativity and proposes a simple business arrangement: he will romance her over the summer, leaving her heartbroken so she can write another angst-filled novel, and in return, she’ll help fund his failing business. However, neither of them anticipates developing genuine feelings which definitely puts a wrench in their plans.

With a slower start, this book is much more than just a typical romance. Filled with a plethora of popular romantic tropes (fake dating, small town summer romance, etc), the romance aspect is almost secondary to the journey of self-discovery these characters encounter. One of my favorite aspects of small-town romances is they’re always filled with a cast of quirky and fun secondary characters, and this story was no exception. I’m interested to see who will be featured in the second book for this series!

3.5 stars rounded down. Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Aspen is suffering from major writer's block and decides to spend the summer with her sister in hopes of finding inspiration in the form of love... or heartbreak. Cue the town bad boy with a heartbreaker reputation, Brick. Unfortunately, Brick wants nothing to do with Aspen or her games. That is, until she makes him an offer he can't refuse - help with his failing business. They've both been burned by love, but maybe their scheme can lead them to the forever kind of love. This was a super fun read and I loved their banter and chemistry. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Jennifer Probst, Blue Box Press, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange of my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I adored this sweet, spicy romcom.

Aspen and Brick, like Mallory, deserve a sequel!

If you also enjoy a good, spicy romcom, I would certainly recommend checking this out.

This is the first book I’ve read from the author and I can’t wait to check out more!

I thought this book was cute and the story was fun. I liked the flow and how she made an impact in their small town. It was a really like for me and I'm sure it'll do really well.

Jennifer Probst has been a favorite author of mine for a long time, but I almost didn't read this. I seem to have picked up several books where the storyline was about an author trying to write another successful book. I'll admit that I'm not enjoying them as much. But I'm glad I stuck with this. Probst once again brought the characters to life. I enjoyed their bantering, as well as how real they were. Turned out to be a great storyline. I look forward to Aspen's sisters story!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is my voluntary and honest review.

Raise your hand if you’d like to escape to a beach town when things aren’t going right in your life - right? Me too! Novelist Aspen escapes to a small beach town in the Outer Banks in an attempt to cure her writer’s block. Since her hugely successful first novel was rooted in autobiographical heartbreak, she must need … another heartbreak? It’s the only method she can think of, and she finds the perfect solution in the local tour operator.

Although he’s built quite the love’em-and-leave-‘em reputation for himself in town, in reality Brick is trying to dig his company out of debt and just isn’t interested in dating. Until Aspen presents an offer he can’t refuse - she’ll help his company if he’ll break her heart.

I felt like this book dragged, and despite a great setup, the characters didn’t click for me. And we had a third act breakup that didn’t make any sense. I’ve liked this author before, but this one didn’t work for me as well as her others.

I have to say I had a bit of love-hate going on with this one. I have never had that with a Probst book before this one. Overall, I really enjoyed this read.

This book took quite a while to get into and even when it did, the FMC just didn’t sit well with me. She wasn’t too likeable. I love this concept, but it didn’t quite work for me.

Aspen is a best selling author. Her debut novel was so well received, it reached an almost cult status. So of course, her next two books were disappointing. While her fans clamor for a sequel to her first beloved book, her publisher pushes for sales.

Aspen just wants to recapture the magic.

Trying to rescue the local tour business her inherited, Brick is a bit of a mess. He's gained quiet a reputation, and it ain't a good one.

Feeling that the only way to find her way back is to recreate devastation, Aspen in drawn to Brick. And so she offers this: romance her for the summer and them leave her heartbroken. This will get her creative juices flowing and he will get some much needed cash.

But neither of them counted on developing real feelings for the other.

The beginning felt slow and the instant attraction rushed, but once the reader got more information, it started to come together. I loved the colorful group of secondary characters who brought a lot of humor to the story.

A lively and engaging story of a writer searching for idea content for a bestseller and a guy she hopes will create the story within her. Aspen wrote an emotional bestseller but her two next books flopped. She thinks that if she recreates the emotions that triggered her first book, it will happen again. Enter Brick-desperately striving to revive his grandfather’s business and a willing player in Aspen’s plan. Brick and Aspen make a deal to both of their advantages but a contract does not guarantee the outcome.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once a literary superstar, Aspen Lourde can't seem to write another bestseller like her first and only which was based on her own real life heartbreak. Aspen decides to escape the city for the summer and head to the Outer Banks with hopes that the change of scenery will help her draft her next book. She also believes that she needs to fall and in love and get heartbroken once again in order to deliver another best selling novel. Brick Babel is a down on his luck local heart throb whose tour company is on the verge of bankruptcy. Once Aspen learns that Brick's tour company isn't doing well she offers him a deal: romance her for the summer and then break her heart so she'll have the inspiration to write her next best seller. Of course, he's desperate to save his tour company, which was his grandfather's legacy, so he agrees. What starts as a business transaction quickly gets out of control when Aspen and Brick start falling for each other.

I really loved the story line, the fake dating aspect and the beach town setting but, unfortunately, I didn't love the main characters. Overall though, this was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series when it's released!

The Book of the Month is a fun romance with likable characters. I loved the atmosphere of OBX, beaches, wild horses, and of course our main characters Aspen and Brick!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.