2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for an advanced copy of Book Of The Month.

Aspen’s first book was a bestseller. But unfortunately her other books fell flat. What no one knows is that her first book is about her life and about being left at the altar. She needs another bestseller so she decides to head to her hometown to visit her sister. While there she meets Brick who is gorgeous so she decides to make a play for him but he turns her down. She decides they can help each other-she can loan him mine for his business and he can break her heart to give her material for her next book. What can go wrong?

I was so excited for this book but it fell flat for me. The characters were so immature and not very likable.

- fake dating
- small town
- spice


This is my first time reading this author’s work. I didn’t have much expectation going into this book but I really loved the flow, character development, side characters, and general real human emotion and mess that people go through. Not including the “hate group” Brick has - that seemed a bit more book world and not very real world but it could happen I suppose.

Reading them fall in love and deal with their character growths at the end quickly and effectively was well written!

I’m very hooked to read her sister’s and his friend’s story next!!

I really loved the idea of this book, but I felt that the execution really lacking. I really struggled with the changing tenses from first person the third person, and I felt that as soon as character dialogue was building that they came to an abrupt stop, and it felt very confusing-like it was an unfinished thought. This made it really hard to connect with the characters and feel emotionally invested in the storyline-so much so that I had to give up at 68% . The main female protagonist was hard to like because it felt like she was stalking the male character and then abusing her power of money to gain his favor to get him essentially to sleep with her and it just didn’t feel like an organic way to build a relationship, even with the whole fake lover trope. Likewise, I was hoping even with the odd way they came together that they would build a rapport and he would feel natural for them to create a relationship, but the interactions just didn’t feel organic and I was like how do we get here- There was not enough that felt organic and right in the relationship for them to magically start having these feelings. I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to continue to explore new authors And for my copy of this book book.

4.5⭐
2🌶️
Aspen is in a slump. Her first book went viral, a mostly autobiographical story of her forbidden relationship and breakup with her college professor, but her next two books have been flops with her fans. Determined to write another bestseller, Aspen decides to spend the summer in OBX with her sister, Sierra. While she’s there she meets Brick, the owner of a failing wild horse tour company, and because of his “love em and leave em” reputation, decides to convince him to make her fall in love and break her heart.
I spent a few summers in Corolla Beach, so I liked the nostalgia factor. Also, the names reminded me of Simon and Garfunkle, and Ben Folds Five. That was a little bit distracting, but not bad.
This book is SO GOOD but I took off half a star because I couldn’t get past the unrealistic-ness of her bargain with Brick. It was always in the back of my mind distracting me lol. I’m not sure why it was so hard for me to suspend reality with this book but I couldn’t.
How can the hurt feelings be enough if she’s paying someone to do it? How can you get to that level of raw emotion she supposedly needs to write this newest novel if you ask someone to do it? The success of her first book was because it happened organically.
I also have mixed feelings about the BAB club at the end, but it wasn’t a huge issue.
Despite that, I still really enjoyed the book. I’m sure it will be a turn off for some people (as evidenced by the rating lol) but I still liked it.

I loved this book! The fake dating trope was done so well in this it reminds me a bit of How to lose a guy in 10 days! I will say the third act breakup was very sad, same with that movie, where one person was so focused on their goals that they lost sight of what was important. It made me physically sad for the characters. But that just means that the writing and story telling was so good!

A cute and spicy romance about Aspen, a writer who hasn't had a hit book since her last heartbreak a few years ago, and Brick, an infamous playboy who leaves behind a trail of broken hearts, and who everyone tells Aspen to stay away from.

The couple was great together, and I liked the fact that they both benefited from the fake relationship. There was great chemistry between both of the characters but it became pretty repetitive after a bit and I grew bored. Of course, there's also a third act break-up, like there is in most romance books, and this type of third act break-up, where one character is so set on focusing on their goals instead of being happy and ruins something that they actually want, is not my favorite.

I liked Sienna as a side character, and am curious about her and Kane, so I can see myself checking out the next book and their story. And of course, Dug, the best boy ever, deserves the most love.

Thank you to Blue Box Press, Jennifer Probst, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

EH... I thought this sounds super good, but it was not what I was in the mood to read. I came close to not finishing it but I don't really know what the issue for me was. Overall, it had a great premise but just fell a bit short. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐⭐.✨ (will round up to 3 stars)

There were so many things about this book that I would normally be on board with, especially the fake dating trope. But for some reason I just couldn’t get into them with this book – not that it’s ever for the “right reasons”, but the reasoning behind their fake dating just fell flat for me. Felt more forced than usual, and I had more hopes for the relationship between Aspen and Brick. I did love the aspects of writing and publishing sprinkled throughout the book, especially being best friends with an indie author myself, it was interesting and fun to read about the process and writing.

Overall, the book was kind of meh for me, and felt like I had to force myself to finish it. I’m sure this book will find the right readers – it just wasn’t for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Jennifer Probst and Blue Box Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

The premise of this one was very cute ! I've also spent a few summers in the Outer Banks, including in Corolla, so there was a lot that appealed to me.

Unfortunately, it fell very flat to me. There wasn't enough character development and the conflict felt a bit shallow. Just not for me.

Aspen leaves New York City to regroup and get her head back in her writing game. She’s hoping the change of scenery and some time with her sister Sierra will end her writer’s block and produce another bestseller. When she meets Brick, she becomes determined to use him to her writing advantage. What she doesn’t factor in is actual feelings. Probst takes us through the writing process through her main character, creating an almost meta like story that as the reader, you watch from the outside. It’s different and not like many other romances currently on the shelves.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

This one wasn’t my favorite. I had a hard time connecting to Aspen and Brick, and the writing style was a little awkward to me. I thought that the “Brick’s a heartbreaker” bit was overplayed and I found it very strange that there was a support group for it. I cannot imagine actual human women doing something like that. I did enjoy the bits about writing and publishing, but overall this just wasn’t the book for me.

Aspen Lourde wrote a huge bestseller, but hasn't been able to produce another one since. She's desperate at this point, fearing that her career is over if her next book is a flop. Aspen comes to the conclusion that the only way for her to write another hit is to have her heart broken - again. Cue Brick Babel, the local bad boy heartthrob. She tries to get him to fall for her, but when he rebuffs all of her advances, she makes him an offer he can't refuse - one summer romance that will end with her heartbroken and in return she will fund and save his failing family business.

What could possibly go wrong with this plan?

I enjoyed the banter between the two, and there was definitely some spicy scenes.

Overall I found this enjoyable and fun to read.

Overall, this is a good fiction romance book with only a few slightly-spicier scenes. I wish we got to see more of the relationship between Aspen and her sister, Sienna. I like Aspen and Brick's deal of exchanging money so he can revamp his grandfather's tour shop, but I don't understand why Aspen thinks she needs to get her heart broken to be able to write another best-seller. That's the part that kept falling flat for me. While I rated this book 4 stars, at the end of the day, I feel like this could be a forgettable book as there's not much to set it apart from other romance fiction books (at least to me).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a cookie cutter romance that was not particularly well-written. I did find the character likeable and did feel the chemistry between them and enjoyed the Outer Banks setting. However, the whole story felt way to simplistic. Everything was perfect but for the one obstacle which was neatly solved in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars

If you enjoy a classic fake dating trope gone wrong, with spice, this was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and AuthorBuzz for the advanced digital copy! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. Aspen's passion and anxiety were relatable even though I am not an author. Her feelings were well conveyed and you could feel them off the page.

Brick had so much pressure after his Gandpa Ziggy had passed and a desire to do well. He can't understand why his business isn't doing well when his competition is thriving.

There meet cute was planned by Aspen as she purposely approaches him at the bar. It was telling in that they both felt the sparks.

Both main characters are interesting and working on solving their own problem while pretending to be a couple. Funny how the pretense isn't so much of a pretense. The gossip of small towns can be real but the mistreatment shown Brick is wrong. I really didn't care for Anastasia and some of the friends who stood up for her.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was witty, well written and fresh.

🍻 This is a lighthearted small-town romance between a struggling writer and the local tour guide with a bad reputation. I enjoyed the sibling core represented by Aspen and her sister, Sierra. The small town was great and reminded me a little of the town in ‘It Happened One Summer’. Personally I would have preferred if the story was written in the first person POV, especially for the more romantic aspects. There was a lot of unexpected spice! Also, it was so nice to see some bookstagrammers namedropped, I’ve never seen that in a book before?! Overall a great read to add to your summer tbr! 📚.

Thank you to Blue Box Press, Netgalley, and author Jennifer Probst for allowing me to read and review this book!

I loved the concept of this book as well as the setting. I’ve been to Corolla and taken a horse tour so it was fun to relate to that. The cover is beautiful. Overall, unfortunately I didn’t love the book as much as I wanted to.

I really enjoyed this book, however it felt like a book I have already read. It had a lot of hints dropped for the story for book 2, but it felt unnatural at times since the side characters were developing but we didn’t actually find out what was going on.

A little more spicy than I usually read but all in all, “Book of the Month” is cute with a galloping storyline that kept me thinking about it even when I wasn’t holding the book in my hands!
The characters were lovely and the location and setting were charming and engaging without being corny or unbelievable.
A really great book if you are like me and looking for something to read to sweep you away from reality for just a minute!