This story follows Aspen and Brick. Aspen’s first book was a #1 bestseller written after the worst break up of her life. Her next 2 books haven’t had the same spark and now she wants to get it back. Brick is brick wall of a man who has slept through the entire town and traumatized every woman in his path. They come to an agreement, they have a fiery love affair and break up. In doing so, Aspen gets the inspiration for her next book by going through heartbreak and Brick gets money to remodel his grandpas bankrupt touring business. That’s a win-win, right?

I enjoyed the story of this book. I liked watching the relationship between Aspen and Brick grow and change in ways they couldn’t control. I felt like Aspen and Brick were we developed (if predictable) characters. However, I felt some of the writing was simplistic. There were parts where the writing captivated me and others where it felt very hand holdy explaining things that were obvious. I did enjoy the various side characters with Marco and his little crew bringing a lot of humor and some surprisingly good insight to the story.

Overall, I read this book quickly and would recommend as a nice fun romance!

Aspen’s first novel was a hit. Her next two novels? Not so much. Her first novel was semi-autobiographical, so she thinks that the best way to get another hit novel is to fall in love and get her heart broken. She visits with her sister in the Outer Banks and meets Brick, a grumpy tour guide who has an infamous dating history. She convinces Brick to date her for the summer, and when she actually catches feelings, she has to confront her own fears of falling in love and letting another person in.

The plot idea was interesting, but this book is the type of story that you can forget as soon as you put down the novel. First of all, the emotional development of the characters felt too cliche. We have an emotionally immature female that is magically fixed by the end of the novel by the male love interest. While I am all for character growth in a novel, this felt way too fast and didn’t feel earned.

The dialogue and writing was all fine but not great. There were no passages in this book that made me gasp in delight. The spicy scenes were all average but none felt original.

If you need a fluffy romance to pass the time, this will do the trick, but this is not a book you’ll want to keep coming back to. Fine, but nothing special.

Jennifer Probat does it again. Book of the Month was great and I couldn’t put it down! Aspen and Brick were perfect! They made me laugh, cry, and overall just made me happy. I wish the ending would have went on a little longer but we still got what we wanted with these two. I love the town people and a lot of side characters! I love that we have grumpy/sunshine and some spice! A perfect read! Don’t miss out.

Get your chick lit on! A heartwarming and introspective romance that delves into the creative and emotional struggles of Aspen Lourde, a once-acclaimed author. Aspen’s debut novel was a smash hit, but now, facing the pressures of a literary slump, she finds herself desperate for inspiration. To revive her career, she embarks on a summer in the Outer Banks and concocts a plan involving Brick Babel, a local bad-boy heartthrob, to reignite her creative spark.

First of all, Brick and Aspen???

She proposes a fake romance to Brick that begins to blur the lines between fiction and reality, leading both characters down a path of unexpected self-discovery. While Aspen is initially focused on using their "relationship" for her novel, the real emotions that surface challenge her assumptions about love and success.

At first Brick is aloof and tough, and we see his depth and the challenges he faces in his small town, giving him layers beyond his rugged exterior. Their dynamic keeps the story engaging as both characters evolve, and Probst does a great job of keeping the romantic tension alive.
There have been many fake romance stories out there, but Probst also touches on deeper themes, including the pressure to succeed and the sacrifices one makes for a career. The setting of the Outer Banks adds a picturesque backdrop to this emotionally charged romance.

Overall, this novel is a mix of romantic tension, humor, and self-reflection, making it a compelling read for fans of romance and those intrigued by the creative writing process, and the pressures of the publishing industry. Probst successfully weaves a story that will leave readers reflecting on their own definitions of love and success.

This was a light, enjoyable read with a few memorable moments. While it has its charms, it didn’t fully capture my attention the way I’d hoped.

Anticipated pub: Oct 22 2024

Thank you to the publisher! I thought this was a super cute romance and I loved the main characters!

Brick.... my heart went out to Brick when we find out more about his character. He's such a sweetheart and loves his town and the wildlife there. These traits made me love him more. (like, a guy that willingly stays up all night to watch a turtle egg nest!? Helloooo, YES PLEASE)

I felt for our girl Aspen that she just wants to have another big book. But her mindset that she needs to go through another heartbreak in order to write another book? Like, why? Then it would be the same as your last book? Confusion, lol. Also, as a reader, if everyone was asking for a sequel for your first FMC, why be the asshole not to give the peeps what they want!!!

The setting was great for this story, I loved the descriptions of the dunes where Brick sees the wild horses.

All ('all' being hyperbole, it's only 'most' of them) the romances I'm reading lately have 3rd act breakup which I hate as a mini trope/ plot device. I hate it but eventually this does reach a HEA so I guess sort of worth it.

You’re only as good as your last release, at least that’s how Aspen feels. Her debut novel got picked up and became a bestseller that made her a household name. Her last two books didn’t reach the same success, far from it actually. She’s starting to doubt if she’s has what it takes. As a last ditch effort she decides to recreate the heartache she experienced before writing her first book. Brick is the perfect guy for the job, he’s the hottest guy she’s ever met and a notorious heartbreaker. Now all she has to do is convince him to take her deal.

This is how you structure a romance book people, read and learn. Aspens intentions are clear and once Brick agrees to her proposal their whirlwind romance takes off. Their relationship is realistic and it’s so appreciated that they actually got to stay happy with much drama. There doesn’t always have to be tons of twists and turns, third act breakups and drama to make a good book.

I’m not obsessed with some of the characters names. Brick, really? And some of the word choices in general brought me out of the moment but other than that I have no complaints.

I’ll never say no to a bit of fake dating and spice and especially when it’s packed so well. Safe to say I was thrilled when I found out there will be a sequel coming up next year. Happy reading!

Read this if you like
💙Fake dating
💫Grumpy x sunshine
📖Small town
🔥Spicy reads

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is a light-hearted, yet emotional romance novel about Aspen Lourde, a once-successful author who is desperate to recapture her former glory. Her bestseller was based on a real-life heartbreak, but without new romantic turmoil, Aspen struggles to find inspiration for her next book. In a bid to stir up some drama, she embarks on a fake relationship with Brick Babel, a local heartthrob in the Outer Banks. The arrangement is supposed to be simple—he pretends to break her heart, and she writes the book—but as the lines blur between fiction and reality, both characters develop real feelings, complicating their plan.

The novel delivers a mix of humor and steamy romance, with Probst weaving in the charming backdrop of a small coastal town. Aspen’s journey is one of personal growth, but her character can feel a bit self-centered at times, which can be off-putting for some. Brick, on the other hand, stands out as a well-developed love interest—gruff, but with a soft side that makes him the true heart of the story. His emotional depth adds weight to the book, especially as he battles to save his family’s business.

The book strikes a balance between humor and deeper emotional themes, such as the pressure of creative success and the cost of sacrificing personal connections for professional achievement. While some readers may find Aspen’s desperation frustrating at times, others will appreciate her growth throughout the story. The chemistry between the leads and the satisfying conclusion make it a solid read for fans of contemporary romance.

Romance author Aspen is desperate for another bestseller. The trouble is, her heart just isn't in it. What she needs is a romance of her own -- and a broken heart -- to get her creative juices flowing. Enter Brick Babel, notorious heartbreaker in the Outerbanks, where Aspen is staying for the summer. His business is going under and he needs cash flow soon. Brick and Aspen strike a deal: They'll have an intense summer romance that ends in a broken heart. In exchange, Aspen will cover Brick's business renovations. Soon, they're both catching feelings. As the end of the summer nears, will they be able to keep the "broken heart" part of their promise?

This was a fun summer romance and very sexy. You could feel the chemistry between Aspen and Brick.

While Aspen and Brick were likable characters, I didn't think Aspen was particularly memorable. Also, I totally understand that the author will be focusing her follow-up book on different characters, but the set-up for the next book didn't really feel natural.

I unfortunately could not get into this book. I really liked the concept and at the beginning I was really enjoying. I felt like it lost its steam about 25% in, and I found myself put it down to do other things. It was difficult to connect to the main characters in my opinion. I just didn’t enjoy the fake relationship in this one and it is normally one of my favorite romance tropes. If that is something you look for in romance you may enjoy this book it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this early.

Aspen was completely heart broken when Ryan, her former fiancé, decided to leave her for a fellow student. She writes the best book of her life after sequestering herself and letting her heart break bleed onto a page.

After the biggest success of any book she writes, she struggles to chase the same success with two flops. Now she is striving to reach success once again. She has a contract to uphold with her publisher, so she decides to travel from New York to OBX NC for a change of scenery and inspiration.

Aspen is searching for heartbreak and total destruction of her heart once again to write another best seller. Insert Brick. Brick is the town heart breaker, or so thats the rumor mill with the ladies of the town. Aspen reaches an agreement and decides to give the relationship a go with a contract of heartbreak.

Overall, a pretty decent read. Enemies (more like enemy of the town), to lovers. Slow burn. A little spicy. Decent ending and set up for an additional book for Aspen's sister, Sierra. Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was good! It was my first from the author so I had zero expectations. I liked Aspen and Brick together and the OBX is always a good setting. Marco and the gang gave enough comedic relief to keep this a light read. I'd definitely read Sierra and Kane's story, which isn't always the case for me. There's enough intrigue to have me signing up.

Thanks NetGalley for the e-arc!

This was a cute book - an author who is stuck after writing less-acclaimed books after her highly-rated debut is trying to recapture the essence of her first one. Only problem is, she was completely heartbroken so the first book was really just a catharsis after her split with her college boyfriend. She goes to the Outer Banks to try to relax while writing her next book so she doesn't lose her publishing deal where she meets the local grump who is stunning (because of course he is). She decides to let him break her heart so she can write the follow-up book to her debut. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. OBX is a good backdrop and there's some detail in there about the wild horses and hatching of turtles which I enjoyed. The character cast is funny as well. I would recommend if you're looking for a beach read vibe.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the advanced reader copy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cute and unique premise that started at 4 ⭐️ then went down to a 2 and ended up at 3 ⭐️. It was fun and easy to get into, but then really dragged in the middle. I also found the way Brick talked to be really cringey. Side note: I can’t stand it with men call women “baby”. Ick. I also wasn’t a fan of all the random names. Aspen Lourde, Sierra, Brick, Kane, Anastasia, Maleficent (seriously?!). Oh and the last minute encounter of two characters that suggested a significant back story was too forced. It’s a set up for the next book, and seemed like a half baked cliff hanger. Regardless, it’s a fast and entertaining read. Great for a vacation.

This book felt fast and slow for me. It took forever for me to be fully invested in the main characters. The FMC was fine. It took her forever to grow but she did in the last two chapters. The MMC was fantastic. Very swoon worthy and loved his backstory. Side characters were a highlight in this book. Ending felt a bit rushed but it ended on a sweet note. Can’t wait to read about Sierra and Kane.

I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher.

Book of the Month was a very enjoyable romance featuring Aspen Lourde, a romance/women's fiction author struggling to write a sequel to her bestselling novel. Escaping to her sister's small town in North Carolina for the summer - she becomes adamant that in order to write another great love story full of emotion and heartbreak - she needs to have her heart broken again. Enter the town "heart-breaker" - Brick Babel has incorrectly developed a harsh reputation for romancing women into bed and then leaving them broken-hearted and joining the local support group of women still trying to recover. I had some trouble connecting with Aspen early on - her journey throughout the book was rough at times. Brick is perfectly grumpy on the outside but so damn kind and considerate that it would be easy for anyone to swoon. The small town quirky characters are always fun and entertaining - would definitely be interested in Sierra and Kane's story which is next, and any and all future moments with Marco which are bound to be hilarious. This was the first novel I've read by Jennifer Probst - but I would absolutely be interested in reading more from her. Thank you to Blue Box Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

I must admit that it took some time for me to get into this book. But I really enjoyed the premise and the story. Loved Brick so much! Anxious for Sierra and Kanye’s story.

The FMC in this one really had me struggling to connect with the book at first, and I almost put it down, but I’m thankful I didn’t. I ended up enjoying the story!

The male POV in this book can be summed up by one quote. She was completely average in every way. Am I too old for the bad boy? Brick gets better but only because the author pitted women against each other for his reputation to be saved. This book had funny parts and I liked the relationship with sister but hard pass on this romance. What the fuck? A club to bash him? Women in this town just throwing themselves at him? The author loves to defend a man and I guess in her world women in small towns get their feelings hurt and ruin one man’s life with all their power. It’s so cringe. Please do better. Thank you NetGalley fir this arc in exchange for my honest review 😬

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy. I enjoyed Book of the Month. The premise was interesting and was delivered well.