This book is as melodramatic as it gets. The romance felt forced (which is kind of the point) and I did not especially care for the MMC. He was capital-B Boring. Prose was fine. There was so much sex though. Hard to believe these two fell in love when all they did was eat food together and fuck each other. The end was so melodramatic that I actually rolled my eyes a couple times. A sequel was set up with two side characters, but I will not be reading it.

Aspen doesn’t want to be a one hit wonder author. Her first book was hugely successful but she can’t seem to write another book that inspires the same degree of excitement among readers. The first book was inspired by her own life’s disastrous heartbreak. Readers are asking for a sequel. She needs inspiration so she decides to head out of New York and stay with her sister for the summer. Brick (?) is the local man everyone warns you about. He’s the classic love ‘em and leave ‘em type. Aspen decides he’s the man she needs to kick start her next novel but he is not interested in her games. When she hears that his company needs financial help she decides to offer him a deal. All he needs to do is fake a relationship with her and then dump her dramatically and she’ll write the book about it. When things start to get real, what will Aspen do? Is her book more important? An interesting story that took a while to warm up too.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst was a good contemporary fiction story.
I was so excited to open this book up. The description and cover art pulled me.
I enjoyed this story a lot. The characters were so interesting and kept me glued the pages.
Set in the Outerbanks, this book had a charming, small-town feel.
I will definitely be looking for her previous titles in the future.

Thank You NetGalley and Blue Box Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A struggling author tries to write her next bestseller by putting herself out of her comfort zone in Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst. Follow Aspen as she ventures from NYC to spend the summer in the Outer Banks - she goes to find writing inspiration, but she gets more than she bargains for. Highly recommend grabbing this book!

This is a tough one for me. I generally really enjoy Jennifer Probst's books but this one left me feeling...distant? I can't seem to come up with the right word. The premise is one I usually enjoy, books about books, books about authors. I had the most difficult time connecting with either main character from the beginning. Of course, I am not an author so this author would know way more about the thought process of an author and trying to remain relevant in the book world. Aspen felt very desperate and Brick, not desperate enough? I don't know exactly what it was. I tried to step away for a bit and come back to it. It DID get better for me and I enjoyed the locale (OBX) and the side characters (Kane, Marco, Sierra) quite a bit.

I grabbed this book on a whim, intrigued by the idea of a romance with a writer at the center—because who doesn’t love that? Aspen Lourde, feeling stuck and out of ideas, heads to her sister’s place in the Outer Banks for the summer. That’s where she crosses paths with Brick Babel, the town’s misunderstood bad boy. But is his reputation really deserved? Between dune tours, baby turtle rescues, and writer events, their “no strings” deal turns into something more than either of them planned.

It’s a sweet, breezy summer read. While I didn’t totally click with all of Aspen’s quirks, I loved her optimism and really related to her struggle with imposter syndrome. She makes some questionable choices, but they all come from a good place—and that’s what makes her such a relatable character.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Blue Box Press!

Book of the Month is Jennifer Probst’s latest book release, and this one definitely is going down as one of my favorite books for the year (2024). I loved everything about it that I could gush over this book, but I promise to keep my review short. (at least try to)

After reading Book of the Month, I need to visit the Outer Banks again. It was one of my favorite places to visit when I used to live in Virginia Beach. The areas that Jennifer mentioned and the donuts the characters purchased and ate in the book brought back so many memories. I may very well be taking a summer trip with my family up there again soon, and it’s all thanks to the book. Maybe I’ll run into Brick Babel and Aspen Lourde while I’m there. (If only they were real characters.)

This book follows Aspen Lourde, a romance author struggling to write her next best-seller. Seeking inspiration, she stays with her sister in the Outer Banks. During her visit, she encounters the notorious ladies’ man, Brick Babel. Hoping he can ignite her creativity, Aspen asks him to engage in a pretend relationship so he can share his techniques for charming women and making them fall madly in love with him—only to break their hearts afterward. Aspen believes if she feels the same way those women felt, then she can write her book, especially since her last best seller was all due to her breakup with her previous relationship. Meanwhile, she also aims to help Brick save his grandfather’s business.

Even with this book being written in the third person, I felt sympathetic for both Aspen and Brick. Aspen and her struggle of being able to write her next book, especially give her readers what they wanted, and Brick’s struggle with keeping his grandfather’s legacy alive while also dealing with women gossiping about him. It was like these two characters were meant to meet one another and help each other, especially since both were dealing with broken hearts. Brick may come off as grumpy at first and a player, but once you get to know the real Brick, you will fall hard for his character. I loved how he took on the pretend relationship with Aspen, even if he knew what the outcome was in the end. I loved how Aspen was finding herself and realizing what she truly wanted out of life.

I could gush about this story, but my review will get even longer. Just know that this book is an emotional rollercoaster, and you’ll be rooting for Aspen and Brick’s relationship to be real instead of pretend. I loved the chemistry of these two, and I loved how Brick showed Aspen how she should have been loved. (Brick may very well be your new book boyfriend after you get to know the real Brick.) Their dates that were supposed to be fake were absolutely adorable and I can see why these two started falling for each other.

The ending of this book did make me angry at first, but any author who can make my emotions go haywire is an amazing writer. From the beginning to the end, I was engaged in the story of Aspen finding her writing inspiration again and Brick saving his grandfather’s business while also rooting for these two to realize they were in love with one another.

Overall, this book is definitely going to be one of my favorites this year, and I wish I could give it more than five stars. I look forward to reading more books from Jennifer Probst and can’t wait to read Aspen’s sister’s book next. =)

Single/Dual POV: Dual POV (Third Person)

Standalone or Part of Series: Standalone

Would I recommend this book? Yes. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sweet, funny, small-town romances and want a book that makes them want to visit the beach. Yes, you will definitely want to visit the beach after this book, especially when it’s based in the Outer Banks.

What to Expect:
💙Small Town Romance
💙Grumpy/Sunshine
💙Fake Relationship
💙Slow Burn Romance

4.5 STARS: This excellently written book with fully-fleshed characters is a mixed bag for me. Of the two MCs, Brick proved to be a complex, complicated and perfectly written character that I fell in love with. I loved the trio of young goofs who run the shop next door to Ziggy's. I even liked Aspen's tough older sister, Sierra. (And I really loved Dug - that mess of a dog!) I wanted to love Aspen, but I didn't quite get there. Her stubbornness showed itself early on and only intensified as the story progressed. Her inflexibility and how badly she hurt Brick really bothered me. Brick - who is a pretty perfect mix of smart, sweet, vulnerable and hot - will stay with me for long while. That he forgave Aspen "fits" and Brick may be just the guy who can completely let it go and trust Aspen. Eternal optimist that I am, I'm moving forward imagining that Aspen will always put that sweet man first and picture them living their beautiful HEA! This angst-filled book gives readers plenty of snarky humor, steamy times and heartbreak. I do recommend.
WHAT I LOVED: Entertaining-Funny-Romantic-Steamy-Witty-Wonderful Characters-HEA

I received a complementary copy of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Probst’s latest offering has it all. A broody bachelor who finds himself in a financial pickle, a desperate heroine, a stunning small-town beach setting sea fauna and villager busybodies included; just enough steaminess and a generous amount of laugh-your-socks-off scenes to keep you stuck to the pages.

Interestingly, the author’s story is about a writer who mentions the qualities a romance novel should have. However, Aspen is a realist; gets her ideas from personal experience, and a true-to-life happy ending is something she has yet to have. With only one bestseller in which she refers to her muse–an ex-fiancé in Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover, the two following novels were flops. So, she needs to get her mojo back and wow her readers with that one heart-wrenching Book of the Month. Yes, the title is spot on, and the premise intriguing, so I couldn’t wait to see how Aspen would pull her next novel off.

Her modus operandi is to get Brick, the town’s presumed ladykiller to fall head over heels with her at a price attached, and well, the question is if either of them would get hurt when the win-win arrangement reached its expiry date. Although the story is pretty well-paced and pure escapism, a scene or three baffled me, especially seeing that I’d worked some of their issues out before they did. But, I’m glad I went with the flow.

Brick was an unexpectedly delightful guy I connected to easily. On the other hand, Aspen came across as needy, and there were moments when her actions frustrated the pants off me. That said, not only was I taken with her towards the end and there’s a good reason why I changed my opinion, but I also enjoyed everything behind the book publishing process and the pressure it causes.

A mutt you can’t help adore, secondary characters that’ll make you sit back and think about, this easy-to-read fake dating novel is worth a one-click.

I gratefully received the ARC from Blue Box Press and the opinions expressed are my own.

This is my first time reading Jennifer Probst’s books - and I am thankful to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I really loved this story. It was very interesting seeing how Aspen was trying to get out of her writing slump. The plan was unique, and the possibility of it not working was always something she had to consider. Brick had his own reasons for agreeing to Aspen’s plan but the possibilities of him getting caught up in the actual performance was a whole different story for him to deal with! I loved how they figured out what was part of the deal and what was real in the end. I recommend it.

I was interested in reading this book based on its bookish plot summary, but I found it more retrograde than the cover's contemporary rom com vibes suggested. The main character initially irritated me with her naivete and entitlement, although she did grow on me as the book progressed, and the central relationship was mostly based on (somewhat skeevy-feeling) sex. The best parts were the sections devoted to Outer Banks wildlife and the revitalization of the love interest's tour business.

This was my first Jennifer Probst book and it won't be my last. I found the book engaging and witty. I enjoyed the characters, especially Aspen, and the plot keep me reading a a pretty quick pace. Aspen's character gave me insight into some of the nuances of an author's life that I had not considered before. The spicy sex scenes were also well done.

Thank you Net Galley, Jennifer Probst and Blue Box Press for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Book of the Month is set to be released Oct. 22, 2024.

This was such a fun read. Books about books are always a hit. Aspen is a writer and decided to pay Brick to romance her so that she can get some inspiration for what she hopes and needs to be her next best seller. I loved this take on fake dating! Brick jumped in so fast it seriously made me laugh. As well as the banter between the two of them. The spice was so perfect too. It's undeniable the connection between them even with how much Aspen wants to stick to the original plan. I loved the small town setting. But I thoroughly enjoyed getting a little sneak peek behind the scenes of what some authors go through. Such a good premise.

4 stars for Book of the Month! Set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, Aspen has relocated from NYC to try and write a redeeming follow-up to her super successful debut novel (there were a couple of her books that missed the mark since). Her debut was autobiographical and Aspen believes if she writes based on her own life again, she will once again have the "Book of the Month". She catches sight of Brick, a local heartbreaker, and is determined to have her next novel reflect her relationship with Brick.

I really enjoyed the plot of this book and as a North Carolina resident, was really excited to see it set in the Outer Banks. I found Aspen and Brick's relationship to be believable and progressed nicely. I feel like it is nit picky to knock a star for Brick's name but I'm going to do it. Like, why Brick? I would literally pause every time I saw his name because it kept taking my attention away from the book. Makes me think back to 2023 when a certain romance novel had the MMC named Beat.....
Ok, 1/2 star off for Brick's name and 1/2 star off for Aspen's immaturity at times.

Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out so strong and while i loved the concept and the characters; the plot itself got really weird and I ended up having to DNf

Happy Pub day (tomorrow)!!!

Book of the Month was a fun delight. I found Probst’s writing to be cleverly written and easy to follow. I enjoyed the plot of this book and the complex characters! Their backstories and histories had me invested!

I loved the side plot of Aspen being a writer and her struggles with trying to keep up with writing best sellers. This reminded me a lot of Elle Kennedy’s series on the beach! This one is set in the Outer Banks. I love the small community of beach side towns.

I struggled with certain points of the story and the end conflict and misunderstand had me docking the two stars! Would definitely recommend though. Think this will be a hit with some readers!

Will come back to add review link on pub day!

I love the cover of this book as well as the general description. I was afraid I wouldn’t like the book as the male main character is a tad grumpy at the start but the book picks up and the second half of the book is very cute and was an enjoyable read. Interesting character names and a great plot as well. Overall a very fun read.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Blue Box Press, for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book had so many sweet parts, meaningful moments, and cute quotes, but some parts were a little cringey. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot. It felt more like a summer read than the cozy read I was expecting.

The audiobook was great as well, the narrators did an excellent job bringing the characters to life and made it easy to imagine everything happening. They were funny and felt so real. I loved it so much!

Book of the Month left me stunned… I was not expecting such an emotional and steamy read. This was my first book from this author but it will not be my last - I will be going back into their backlist and I’m very much looking forward to the next in this series with Sierra and Kane! But first, about this book… Aspen is an author who hit it big with her debut, which was written from a place of heartbreak and pain, a love story (not romance) that made her famous. But her next two books didn’t do so well, and she’s on the verge of losing her contract for her next book. Which is a problem when you’ve got writer’s block because she can’t seem to come up with a story good enough to write about. Thinking she needs both a change of location - NYC to Corolla NC - as well as a side of heartbreak to get the emotions and story pouring out of her, she makes a deal with local heartbreaker Brick: she’ll pay him to have an affair with her only to break her heart at the end of the summer so she can find what she needs to finally write her new book. Brick needs the cash - he inherited his grandfather’s failing beach tour business and is on the brink of bankruptcy, and he already has a reputation around town as a playboy. But the pair have dynamite chemistry, and despite each having a reason to hold up their end of the bargain, they fall head over heads for one another. But end of summer looms, and they each have a choice to make: stick to their bargain, walk away from one another broken hearted, but getting out of it what they need. OR… give up the money and story for a chance at a happy ending together. The story was compelling, the writing flowed, and the characters well-developed. And the chemistry between these two was intense. If you love the writings of Tarah DeWitt, this one is for you!

Aspen is a best selling author, chasing her next great book. She is having a tough time getting getting past her writer's block. Brick is the hottie with a reputation the town heartbreaker, who is trying to keep his failing grandfather's tour company alive. Aspen hires Brick to make her fall in love with him and then break her heart. They both catch feelings, and drama ensues.

One nitpick. Aspen and Brick are dumb names. Having both MCs have nouns-as-names is just silly. I kept thinking of Brick as Rick.

The romance is decent. It's essentially a fake dating slash paid escort type of situation. It's sweet, and hard to put down. Brick, while he has a dumb name, the character is incredibly sweet and thoughtful, so your heart aches a little over his reputation as a jerk. Aspen is definitely delusional, and naive, thanks to a terrible ex. She's probably in her mid 20s, but acts like a clueless teenager when it comes to romance. That part annoyed me. The good news, I guess, is that the love interest is written as a gentle giant kind of guy.

This is cheesy romance. It's not intellectual literature. But it's definitely a fun adventure.