Thank you to Blue Box Press and Brilliance Audio for the review copies.

Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. I went in expecting a fun romcom, but it fell short. One issue I had was the sexualization of the male main character. In a time when we're moving away from objectifying women, it feels off to accept or normalize the same treatment of men. While it's natural to appreciate and talk about attractive people, the way Brick was portrayed felt dehumanizing, especially considering the female main character’s own past experiences with mistreatment.

The writing also felt underdeveloped. The pacing was slow—too slow for my taste—and not much seemed to happen. The characters didn’t feel relatable or well-rounded, and the overall tone skewed younger than I expected. While I don’t mind younger characters in romance, I needed more depth and engaging development to stay invested.

As for the audiobook, while the voice acting was fine, I struggled with the male voice actor's style. His narration was loud and rushed, to the point where I had to lower the volume in my car when his chapters played. I also found that listening made the repetitive and less polished aspects of the writing more noticeable. While I usually enjoy dual narrators in romance, the mismatch in style and pace limited my enjoyment of this audiobook.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review, however, I'll have to DNF this one.

First and foremost, I struggled with the pacing of this book. The plot was established quickly in terms of why the romance developed, why the FMC was in the situation she was in, but very few actual events happened in the first third of the novel. This book would likely be more enjoyable for folks who enjoy a more small-town, slow vibe to a book. While I love a small-town novel, I need a much faster pace. It did not compel me to keep reading. I may have continued if the characters felt more devloped, but they fell flat. The over used "not like other girls" trope was worn out in 2015 and here we are...it's still tired out. It felt like a cheap, quick way to flesh out an FMC who had a lot of potential that, at least in the first third, wasn't realized. There were also moments of insensitivity that the editors should consider cutting entirely, like making jokes about authors all being schizophrenic.

The cover of this book drew me in but unfortunately I ended up DNFing it about 45% in. It felt repetitive and flat and the FMC was just very .. weird to me for lack of better words.


Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book

This one took me FOREVER to get through and it really should’ve been a quick read. The cover and the synopsis drew me in, but the plot and writing fell flat for me. Thinking back, I hated the beginning when the author describes the lead male love interest, Brick, is not interested at all in the female main character, Aspen, and even writes that her looks are average. She makes a deal with him though and his first thought is sex? Not a fan. I also don’t like how innocent they had to make Aspen and how the majority of the book she only cares about fame. They try and make her seem like a savior of the town, when really she doesn’t suggest anything out of a basic realm of ideas. I thought some scenes could have been cut, the resolution could’ve been a little longer, and that the sex scenes had some cringy writing (swollen tissue?! Seriously?).

Personally I think that the story of Kane and Sierra is going to be better than this one, we’ll see when it comes out.

Thank you NetGalley, Blue Box Press, and the author for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: October 22, 2024

📚 Faking Dating
🌊 He Fell First
📚 FMC is a Writer
🌊 MMC is a Tour Guide
📚 Beach Vibes
🌊 Small Town Romance
📚 Third Act Breakup
🌊 Summer Fling
🐢Sea Turtles🐢
🐎Wild Horses🐎

Aspen wrote a Bestseller on her first book. She is having trouble writing another bestseller like her first one. Aspen visited her sister at the beach town that she is staying for the summer. Aspen got this idea that would her help create another bestseller with the help from Brick Babel. Aspen made a deal with Brick in order for him to save his grandfather's legacy. Aspen and Brick started faking dating as inspiration for her new book. Aspen and Brick have great chemistry when real feelings develop. I love the scenes when they mention the wild horses and watching the sea turtle eggs. It was such cute moments they shared together. It was cute that Brick read her novels to have a better understanding of Aspen. I liked that Aspen realized that she became part of the community at the beach town more than when she lived in New York ever. I'm proud of Brick for considering his feelings before jumping back in like that. I'm happy for Brick and Aspen at the end.

I initially liked the synopsis of this book so I grabbed it when the arc became available but as I started to read, the premise just did not play out how I imagined. Aspen wasn’t the most likable FMC and her reasoning for the fake dating trope just didn’t seem like a sound idea. The MMC was wonderful and I developed a huge soft spot for Brick, the clearly misunderstood and mislabeled playboy of the small OBX town of Corolla. I did enjoy the beach setting and love the OBX so that was a bonus to the storyline. I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. I found myself frustrated more than anything with the plot lines and not really rooting for the FMC because of her flawed logic. The book did seem to turnaround at about 70% and I even found myself getting a little teary eyed when the angsty moments presented but at that point it was too little too late. This was a very predictable storyline with lots of unlikeable characters. But Brick and his neighbor store owners were highlights of the book for me and of course the beloved mutt Dug. I’m not sure if I’ll read the sequel.

Book of the Month wasn't for me. My biggest issue with this book was Aspen. To be frank, I couldn't stand her. I found her pursuit of Brick cringey. I didn't enjoy her interactions with him. I also wasn't a fan of how sexualized Brick was. It made the book feel icky. I simply didn't feel motivated to continue on and see what happened. This book felt super long and the descriptions were overdrawn. Thank you to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the ARC.

This was such a cute book, I loved Aspen and Brick. I'm a sucker for fake dating and Brick was the perfect fake boyfriend. There were a few things in the book that nagged at me. For example he kept saying she was average/not the most beautiful girl but then he kept giving her compliments about her looks and it just seemed ingenuine. The ending also bothered me even though it ended up being HEA it just did not sit right with me. Overall, I enjoyed the book especially the romance and spice but it wasn't a 5 star for me because of the ending.

This book is a quick, easy read with a fun plot that keeps you hooked! I absolutely loved the ending and the chemistry between Aspen and Brick. I'm really looking forward to reading Kane and Sierra's story next. A delightful read for anyone who enjoys light romance with engaging characters!

This book was a quick, easy read, and I'm glad I read it! I love the Outer Banks setting, and the quips about romance books and tropes! I thought the pacing was done really well and I loved the ending. I didn't quite feel the chemistry between Aspen and Brick; it felt like their relationship moved very quickly in a way that I didn't quite understand. There were some aspects of the book that missed the mark a bit for me personally. I am curious about the next book/couple!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book prior to release date in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 ⭐️ This book was slow paced up until 30% in then the story quickly turned around for me and kept me engaged. The plot was very silly but drove the readers to understanding both Aspen and Brick’s recent life struggles. I would say the supporting characters really made the book for me as well as the details of the OBX scenery, giving small town vibes. I am looking forward to Kane and Sierra’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Probst and her team for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

What a fabulous and fun book! I couldn’t put it down and read it over two days! It makes me want to read more of Jennifer Probst! Thanks for the advanced read!

Book of the Month was just okay. I always enjoy a love story, but this one felt flat with me. I’m not a fan of romances where the main character is a writer writing about love stories. It’s like the writer only knows anbout love stories. I also didn’t feel the love between Brick and Aspen. This wasn’t a bad book, but I certainly didn’t love it.

Aspen is the author of a best selling novel that fictionalizes her doomed love affair with her college professor. She dumped all of her pain and angst into the book and it resonated with readers because of its raw and real emotions. Her second two books were not even close to the success of her first and she believes that she needs to have another doomed love affair to write another great novel in the vein of her first. Her agent suggests that she get out of NYC for the summer…a change of location may spark her writing. She visits her sister in coastal North Carolina and sees an opportunity to put her plan into action. Brick Babel (I removed a star because of that terrible name!) has moved to the same town to take over his beloved grampa’s tourist business. In addition to inheriting the business, he also inherited a ton of debt and the business is stale, antiquated and failing. Unless he can get some capital quickly, the business with tank and Brick will have let down his grampa’s legacy but the business is so insolvent, no bank will give him a loan. Aspen see a perfect opportunity to help someone else and get what she needs too. She proposes to give the capital that he needs if he agrees to have a kinda fake relationship with her all summer that then break up with her, break her heart and she’ll be able to write about the pain….again. What could go wrong??

This is a quick, easy, laugh-out-loud, feel-good read that would be perfect for a fall night by the fire or a vacation poolside read.

Normally, with a romance book, I tend to find myself thinking "no one would actually say this" but I did not have that thought while reading BOOK OF THE MONTH. Probst does a great job at making Aspen and Brick such a sweet couple and realistic people, not just characters. There are so many tropes that the book touches on, but I am a sucker for a fake-dating trope.

I can't wait for the story behind Sierra and Kane next...

I really enjoyed this one! Aspen Lourde (great name!) is desperate to write another bestseller and thinks the only way to do it is to find a man to break her heart. Why? Because she's done it before. She wrote her debut novel, which was semi-autobiographical and an absolute sensation, after her fiance cheated on her and left her at the alter. She's published two additional novels since, but sales have not met expectations.

Enter Brick Babel (another great name!), local heartthrob and certified heartbreaker. He may be perfect? I feel like this man has zero flaws, and I am not mad about it. He also has a dog named Dug (yes, like Up!), which made me smile so big.

I absolutely adored watching these two fall in love and really appreciated the dual POV storytelling. I can't say much surprised me in this story, but I think it was well executed and was exactly what I wanted. I am 1000000000% ready for Sierra and Kane's story. BRING IT ON.

This was my first Jennifer Probst book, and I am excited to check out her backlist!

FMC Aspen Lourde is looking for inspiration for her next best selling novel. Her last book was based off her real heartbreak following a break up. Problem is, she currently has no dating prospects. So she decides to relocate for the summer and finds just what she is looking for, or so she thinks. Brick Babel is the local playboy and Aspen sets her sights on him. It's only when she finds out his business is in trouble and offers help in exchange for dating her that Brick shows any interest. Their fake dating leads to real feelings that further complicates the premise of Aspen's next book.

Aspen Lourde has a problem. Her first book became a smash bestseller but her next books haven’t attracted the same fierce devotion from her fans. And now her publishing career is at risk. After a change of scenery from the city to her sister’s home in a seaside community, Aspen has found the solution to write the perfect BOOK OF THE MONTH.
Because her first title was filled with romantic angst, Aspen knows a similar situation will be what she needs to strike gold again. And the town even has a resident bad boy with a reputation to love ’em and leave ’em.
Author Jennifer Probst excels at ruining best-laid plans.
Brick Babel, Aspen’s potential muse, is a beautiful character who is far from the one dimension that Aspen assumes. He has his own reasons to go along with her scheme. All goes well until life — and tender feelings — get in a way.
I must admit that, at one time, Aspen truly frustrated me, but we moved past that.
My big sister has told me for years that I need to read Jennifer Probst titles. Now I have no idea how I resisted for so long. Yes, my big sis was right. Probst is a terrific author who creates fun characters and situations that are a delight to read.

Want to extend your summer dreams? Luxuriate in that easy-breezy, carefree feeling that comes from a walk on the beach? This book is IT. Set on the Outer Banks? CHECK. A hunky MMC dedicated to caring for the wild mustangs and sea turtle hatchlings? CHECK. A female writer healing herself through writing? CHECK. A cast of wacky lovable side characters? CHECK. His efffusive support for her feminist dreams? CHECK. Oh, and don’t miss his hot dirty talk. Highly recommend, and I can't wait to read Sierra and Kane's story next!

I honestly could not connect to this story. It was more instantaneous than even the quickest insta-love. We went from a quick sighting of the MMC to full stalking and then coercion in basically one breath. Would have loved a bit more gradual build up. It continued to get more frustrating as the book went on and never worked out to be enjoyable for me

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.