I found this book to be a quick and easy escape from the day to day tasks I neglected while reading this book
Was I blown away? no. Did I feel like it was a wasted use of my time? No but because I was left feeling that the end was rushed, I was not satisfied and felt my time would have been better spent doing other tasks. As I neared the end of the book and I realized it was quickly coming to a conclusion, I had a light bulb moment where I concluded the author just had an idea for another book and wants to finish this one now so she can start the book idea she can’t stop thinking about. Because of that I felt she rushed the ending and didn’t give it the time and attention needed to make it an amazing book.
I enjoyed the concept and the writing style and thought it would be a solid 4 star book until the end

Thank you netgally for an advanced opportunity to read this book

This was such an enjoyable read. I absolutely fell in love with the characters (but especially Sierra). I loved that Brick was so standoffish and slowly opened up, and how Aspen was able to really flourish...

The story was also just super enjoyable and moved smoothly. I am a rather big fan of fake dating, so I might be biased, but the way Jennifer Probst utilized that trope was a fresh take. I really enjoyed it!!!

I enjoyed this book, but didn't love. I liked Aspen and her story. I felt the ending felt forced and left me wanting a bit more. But a fun read

Pause. This book was so cute and so good!!

My first by Jennifer Probst and I found it undoubtedly the first of many I want to read. I was STOKED when I found out there would be a second book!

This was such a unique and interesting take on the fake dating trope but I couldn’t put this book down. It was so much more fun to read this take than the usual. I can admit, the same tropes can get old after awhile but Jennifer changed the game.

The romance was organic and had me giddy. The characters were so fun, especially Sierra. I loved her! Brick’s storyline and character development made the love story that much better. I think you’ll fall in love with him.. it’s hard not to.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Blue Box for the eARC.

The ending of this book felt really rushed, but other than that, I really enjoyed the rest of the book.
It was a sweet read about an author trying to find love and heart break to produce a more authentic book, since she’s had two out of three of her books flop.

Aspen leaves New York City behind to visit her sister for the summer in the Outer Banks. Aspen is suffering from writers block, and is hoping the change in scenery will help her write her next big seller. Brick is the town heartthrob, and his horse tour business is suffering as well.

I have to start by saying I’ve spent many summers in the small town in OBX where this book takes place, so having that connection right away really drew me to this story. Aspen and Brick have amazing chemistry, and the fake dating trope is becoming a favorite of mine. I felt the characters were multi dimensional, and the story had more than just a surface level romance. I struggled at times feeling the story was too slow, but that might have been a me problem. If you enjoy books set in the summer, with fake dating and steamy romance, pick this up when it hits shelves in October!✨

3.5 ⭐️

Aspen Lourde is an author who is struggling to write another bestseller after her last two books didn’t do very well. For a change of pace & inspiration, she visits her sister in the Outer Banks for the summer.

Brick Babel has a reputation in town for being a heartbreaker & is trying to keep his grandfather’s tour business going. Aspen sees him as the perfect inspiration to help her write her bestseller & strikes up a deal with him: she’ll loan him the money to fix up the business, & he’ll make her fall in love with him & then break her heart to provide her the inspiration she needs for the book.

I enjoyed the plot for this book. It’s not a “typical” romance book where it sometimes feels like the plot is recycled from another book, the characters are relatable, & there are plenty of other things going on besides just the romance. I will say it started off a little slow but I flew through the last half.

There are some funny moments & I really liked all of the moments with the side characters. It sets up for a sequel which I will definitely be reading.

Some things I didn’t like:
-long chapters: even though there are a few “stopping points” within the chapters I personally don’t like to stop in the middle of a chapter & do better with shorter chapters because it makes me want to read more
-repetitive descriptions: I can’t even count how many times his eyes were referred to as “ocean blue” or hers as “cocoa brown”

Overall, it was an enjoyable read & I would recommend it if you want a cute, short, small town summer romance but personally it’s probably not a book that I would read again.

Thanks to NetGalley & Blue Box Press for this ARC.

I will premise this review by saying that this book was a largely enjoyable read, funny in the right areas and romantic in others. I was unable to put it down while reading. I really enjoyed the side characters and can definitely see the potential for a sequel with Aspen’s sister.

Now for the negatives…

The beginning of Brick and Aspen’s relationship was icky to me. Fake dating is one thing, but her paying him to make her fall in love with him was too far since it came with physical requirements. It was even more unrealistic than fake dating where the couple falls in love unexpectedly; in this situation, Aspen created a plan to purposefully fall in love. Can you really plan to fall in love with someone like this? Methinks no.

I wasn’t very empathetic to Aspen’s strong desire for another bestseller. There are better ways to be inspired than paying someone to make him fall in love with you, and then breaking both of your hearts. Pretty cruel. I was much more of a Brick stan. The ending made me mad but the epilogue redeemed it somewhat.

This was a cute romance set in the Outer Banks, where the MC Aspen is trying to replicate the success of her first book after her following 2 books didn't appeal to her readers. She needs more emotion, more angst... so she "hires" Brick to be her summer vacation fling. He is supposed to make her fall in love with him and then break her heart, in the hopes of bringing back the emotional writing from her first book. Overall, it was a sweet story of 2 people that really needed someone in their life that wouldn't hurt them.

There were definitely some cringey parts to this book though. The way the dog Dug was depicted was awful, so I'm guessing the author is a cat lover. Poor Dug. Also, the Brick haters club? In today's world, I can't see that happening. It was an odd addition to the story. The writing style was ok, but I never felt a connection to the characters. By the end, I didn't really care if they got together or not. And we never found out about Brick's best friend Kane and his prison time, nor about the connection between Kane and Aspen's sister Sierra. Boo! I'm guessing there will be a sequel to this one...

If you want a HEA that’s sweet, romantic and has all the feels then this book is for you. I’ve read a few by this author now and just love every single one of them. So glad I had the opportunity to read this and can’t wait for a physical copy to put on my bookshelf

Thank you netgalley for the chance to review! 2.5/5 stars, rounded to 3.
This looks at least, on paper, like its going to hit every one of my favorite bookish-focused tropes: Aspen, a writer struggling with writers block, fake dates Brick, the local heartthrob/heartbreaker, to get her mojo back. They have a deal to breakup painfully when the book is over in order to jumpstart her career again. It's set in a bookish world, dual POV, just the right combination of spice, and a male lead thats a bit misunderstood.
This was fun but missing a bit of the grounded in reality spark I need in a good romance. I felt like Brick fell for Aspen way too fast considering his hard exterior, and her pushiness to set up this situation just felt...off? I also really was turned off by the other women in this book, who felt so catty and mean girl...while in the end it turns out ok, it just never quite sat right
I wanted to love this so much more than I did.

What a wonderful story! 
Aspen is seriously on the struggle bus of life, career, and love! She is such a well-thought-out and put-together character. She has her quirks and her determination. Brick was also so well done. Such an incredible MMC. He’s everything you want when he finally comes into his own. It starts as a fake dating scheme but grows so genuinely.

3 stars! I both found the concept of this book to be really enjoyable and also that it held the book back. I liked Brick and Aspens romance; it was definitely sweet and lovely to read. On the other hand, the terms of their deal made it difficult to ascertain whether any of Bricks words were sincere or just an adherence to their rules. All I kept thinking that if I were Aspen this would make me question everything and go absolutely bonkers. I also did not care for Bricks actions at the end. Overall I did enjoy the book but wish there were a few changes. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun read about a writer who writes a hit book and then can't seem to write another hit. She decides to take a summer away from everything and live a life worth writing. Off to the Outer Banks she goes. She meets Brick (no I am not lying about the name). He needs a way to save the family business & she needs a new book. Can their summer romance save their careers? Or will everything blow up?

Wonderful read based in a local town. Multiple facets of relationships keeps you wanting the next read. Based in NC, writers block finds business failure. Superstition and pride make life's challenges even harder.

Aspen is searching for inspiration for her new book. In somewhat of a slump, she finds herself approaching Brick and making him an offer he can't refuse. With Brick playing his part in a summer romance, Aspen finds herself getting more material for her novel. But of course, we all know feelings get involved...

I really enjoyed this book! Fake dating is my favourite and I always love the moment when our characters realize the fake part is no longer there and they want more. Both our main characters were likable and I loved seeing their relationship blossom. The ending was sweet and I am excited to see that Sierra will be getting her own story next.

sweet funny and adorable, the chemistry between the characters is so fun and palpable which made me enjoy it even more
the world building by the author was so original and it totally felt like a perfect summer read

This was such a fun read! I loved the setting in the Outer Banks and the romance was witty and adorable. Aspen and Brick made for the perfect couple despite their differences. I was looking for a cute contemporary romance to enter into the fall season and this was just the right thing.

A love story of Millennials! I’m new to the Jennifer Probst world but am so excited to read more by her. This story was captivating & felt like real life reading it. An easy read!

The book starts out with Aspen, who has recently published two less than stellar books after her larger than life debut. She is visiting her sister in OBX hoping to get the inspiration to needs to write another bestseller to satiate her contract terms.

Que in town heartthrob, Brick Babel, who recently lost his uncle and inherited his failing tour business, house, and slightly scary-looking dog. He has quite the reputation around town for being a player. Aspen decides this is just what she needs to produce another bestselling novel. Heartbreak was what gained her fame for her first novel after all.

Aspen presents Brick with a deal he cannot refuse. She bankrolls the funds to give Brick's business the revamp it needs to survive in exchange for an epic heartbreak at the end of summer. They both naturally fall completely head over heals for each other before the disastrous end of summer hits. Will their love prevail or will it crumble for the bestseller Aspen was hoping to achieve?

This book was so stinking cute. Honestly, I was worried that this would be just another run of the mill romance novel that is impossible to distinguish from the rest. The characters were unique and the book definitely seemed to touch on the normal romance troupes in a humerus light. Overall, I felt this book packed in sadness, laughter, heartbreak, and happiness throughout the book. I am so excited to read the sequel so I can finally know what happened with Sierra and Kane!!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this digital arc in exchange for an honest review!