This book was so many things! It started off as the perfect rom-com (thanks to Aspen’s hilariously terrible attempts at flirting) and then took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Seriously, it's got a bit of everything.

Aspen is in a crisis—her last two books didn’t sell, and after a record-breaking debut, she has no idea how to recreate that success. The obvious solution? To write another heart-wrenching book, she needs to experience heartbreak again, just like the first time. Enter brooding Brick (yes, the name’s questionable, and both Aspen and I know it). With his reputation as a professional heartbreaker, he seems like the perfect choice. But, the line between pretending to have a broken heart and actually having one is pretty thin…

Let me just say one word: Brick. He’s the ultimate book boyfriend—charming, thoughtful, and to my delight, the perfect "hate-everyone-but-you" type. I fell in love with him right alongside Aspen, and I’m really hoping we’ll see more of them in Sierra and Kanr’s next book!

Thank you, NetGalley and Blue Box Press, for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

"Book of the Month" by Jennifer Probst is a delightful, light-hearted romance that’s perfect for a beach read. The novel focuses on Aspen Lourde, an author struggling to pour her emotions onto the page and produce another bestseller after her debut novel which was inspired by her own heartbreak. In a desperate attempt to give her fans the sequel they’re clamoring for, Aspen decides to spend the summer at her sister’s quaint house in the Outer Banks.

There, she hears about Brick Babel (honestly, the name is too weird, I pictured him more as a Hunter), a notorious heartbreaker with a reputation for leaving a trail of devastated women in his wake. Aspen concocts a wild plan: she’ll pay Brick to break her heart, convinced it’s the only way she can tap into the raw emotions needed to write her next great novel.

As the summer progresses, what starts as a calculated arrangement between Aspen and Brick begins to transform into something deeper, with witty banter and unexpected feelings blossoming between them. The side characters add another layer of charm, creating a rich dynamic that enriches the story and beautifully captures the close-knit community vibe of small towns. I’m especially eager to see how Sierra’s story unfolds in the next book!

However, the writing was a bit cringy from time to time and the overuse of “masculine” and “feminine” got on my nerves. Also, I wasn’t a fan of the manh steamy scenes, which leaned more toward a “hot girl summer” vibe. I would have preferred a stronger focus on the emotional journey of the characters, which is where the novel truly shines.

Overall, "Book of the Month" is a fun, engaging read that offers a sweet escape into a world of romance and creativity. While it may not be groundbreaking, it’s definitely an enjoyable experience!

This book swept me off my feet. Aspen’s struggle to find her next big story hit a little too close to home, her desperation, her fear of fading into irrelevance. I could feel her longing for inspiration, and when she meets Brick, I was right there with her, hopeful and a bit skeptical. Their chemistry is electric from the start, but what really got me was how much heart Probst infused into this “fake” romance. Watching Aspen and Brick’s walls slowly crumble had me torn between rooting for love and dreading the inevitable heartbreak. The layers of humor, vulnerability, and unexpected depth made this more than just a breezy romance. It’s a story that digs deep into what it means to find yourself when you least expect it. By the end, I was left with a full heart and a smile, but also a quiet ache, knowing how real those choices can feel.

I woke up and immediately started thinking about this book after I started and knew I had to finish is as soon as possible to see how Brick and Aspen’s story would play out. Aspen was such a relatable and spunky character and I loved how she was open and honest and vulnerable about how she felt about Brick. Brick was boyfriend material from the very beginning and I’m glad we got to see his redemption and the arc of him falling in love. Can’t wait to get the physical copy!

I really liked this book! The characters felt real, and the location of the Outer Banks felt super dreamy and gave all the summer vibes. The story is well paced and a quick and entertaining read with just a touch of spice.

Aspen is an author who is coming off a two book slump after her first book went viral. Hoping to write another best seller worth of the book of the month, she escapes to the Outer Banks to try and create the same scenario that led to her first big hit. She encounters a local tour guide, Brick, who has a bad boy reputation for breaking women's hearts. Brick was left a failing business by his late grandfather and a reputation in a small town he never asked for. Aspen has the perfect solution that will benefit them both, and all it requires is a fake relationship and guaranteed heartbreak. But what happens when one of them can't play by the rules?

Laugh out loud funny and an engaging romp with the fake romance trope, Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is a charming and feel good rom com.

I am a sucker for books about writers, so I was drawn to the story of Aspen Lourde, a one hit wonder with her bestselling first book now battling writer’s block. Her solution is to leave Manhattan to visit her sister in an Outer Banks beach town and try to get her heart broken so she can channel those emotions in a new book. Although this plot line sounds very silly, the reader goes along for the ride and finds the situations and characters believable. Aspen is immensely likeable, and Brick, the heartthrob she goes after has a sympathetic back story.

There is enjoyable banter between Aspen and her sister and also between Aspen and Brick. There are lovely descriptions of the Outer Banks including volunteer rescues of sea turtles and the endangered wild horses living in the area.

Great fun!

You know the Kim K. meme of her crying? That was my face at different points of reading this book.

Book of the Month by Jennifer Probst is officially one of my favorite reads this year! The intricate details Jennifer uses to describe the town made me feel like I was there. Written in 3rd person POV, BOTM is a fake relationship/pact and sunshine/grump trope taking place in a small beach town, OBX. The beginning does start a bit slow and the ending feels a bit rushed, but it’s worth every second of the read.

I swooned over Brick and felt jealous of the sisterly bond between Aspen and Sierra. Brick with his heartbreaker reputation and Aspen determined to get him to break her heart had me on the edge of my seat. You know from the beginning there’s going to be heartbreak, so you know to expect it and yet, it still HURTS when it happens.

Aspen proposes to pay Brick to break her heart in order to write another bestseller and save her career, in exchange, Brick can use the money she gives him to save his grandfather’s legacy, Ziggy’s Tours. Brick makes every attempt at rejecting Aspen from the beginning, to spare her heart, but agrees to Aspen’s terms. Once Brick starts dating Aspen, I kept falling for him time and time again. Brick is dominant but also conscious to make sure he has Aspen’s permission before doing something for the first time. “I need your permission before I kiss you, Aspen… Before I do, know one thing. I don’t do fake. I’ll kiss you when I want to, and this will be the first and last time I ask for permission.” Then comes the heartbreak, “Just remember this, baby. I didn’t break your heart… You broke mine” --*Cue the Kim K. meme here.* My heart broke for Brick (and Aspen) but mainly Brick. The spicy scenes were *chefs kiss* and not excessive. This does end in a HEA and makes your broken heart whole by the end.


Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

IF THIS DOESN'T BECOME BOOK OF THE MONTH OR EVEN YEAR, I'M DONE!

I loved every single thing about this story, from beginning to end. Every single character was well written and held a place in my heart, even the evil Mal.

I will tell you this, you may think you know what's happening...but you don't.
You'll think that you have this whole story figured out ... but you will be pleasantly surprised and humbled, because the authors version was so much better.

Thank you Netgalley and Blue Box Press for giving me the opportunity to read such a beautiful story! Aspen and Brick will forever be one of my favorite couples.

Aspen is a best seller writer hoping for her next best seller. She based her first romance on her own love life disaster and is running out of ideas. She chases after Brick- hoping that she will have a good heartbreak and write the next novel.

Love Brick and Aspen. They are so much fun together. Steamy too. I love reading about writers so this is a terrific book for me. The other characters are terrific too! Looking forward to Sierra and Kane in the next book!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

3.5 ⭐️ fun summer read!

Book of the Month follows Aspen Lourde a one-time bestselling novelist who is suffering from some serious writer’s block. She is hoping for another instant best seller but realizes her inspiration for her last book came from her own heartbreak which she will need to recreate if she wants to succeed. Enter Brick Babel, the vacation-town bachelor who every woman falls instantly in love with and ends up heartbroken. Aspen devises a plan to have her heartbroken by Brick in the hopes of producing another “book of the month” club selection!

This book was laugh out loud funny, especially in the initial bar scenes and the brownie scene 🙈 I also enjoyed learning more about what happens behind the curtain in the publishing/writing world (much like Book Lovers in that sense). The premise was a little far fetched but because the character development was so well done, I could accept Aspen’s motivation for why she made the deal with Brick.

This was my first time reading a novel by Jennifer Probst so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of the romance. I found some of the spicy scenes a bit icky but if you like open-door romances then maybe the language/descriptions won’t bother you. I loved some of the secondary characters, including Marco and of course Dug the dog. Overall, I enjoyed the book and will definitely pick up the next one in the series when it is released!

✅ grumpy/sunshine
✅ fake dating
✅ 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
✅ open-door romance
✅ beach-town setting

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying an e-copy!

This book was so good. I loved the premise of the story. This is one of my favorite authors so I was super excited to get to read this early.

If you like books about books, this one will probably catch your eye. To me it felt like one of those books you would read on a holiday or in the pause of some heavy non-fiction. It gives cozy vibes, small city and summer. It is easy to read and overall light.

However, there are several aspects that didn't sit well with me. Some of the language used in the book, particularly in the way women are described, is troubling. For instance, a female character describes another woman with the phrase, "She had wicked curves with a booty that made men drool..." – why use language that objectifies women in this way? This is said by female character in the book. Why would a female writer participate in reduction of women to their physical traits.

Moreover, other elements of the book didn’t resonate with me, though they may appeal to other readers. The story places a strong emphasis on casual sex, which might not align with everyone's values. I fully support female empowerment and the celebration of one's own pleasure, but not at the cost of loosing self-respect. The book seems to suggest that love cannot exist without great sex, a notion I strongly disagree with. The relationship between the characters lacked depth and was driven purely by lust. I am sorry, but I cannot understand this approach of so much sex before they are even in love with each other. If that’s your kind of story, you might enjoy this book. However, in my case, it felt too shallow. I struggled with Aspen as a character. She came across as immature and irritating, making it difficult for me to connect with her. The premise that she couldn't write a good book without experiencing heartbreak felt overly simplistic and unconvincing. I only managed to finish the book out of curiosity about the fate of her next novel, not because I was invested in the characters or their interactions. Unfortunately, Aspen only showed some depth and maturity towards the very end, but by then, it was too late for me. Those last two few pages couldn’t redeem everything I disliked about the book.

This was such a sweet romance with a really interesting and unique premise. Not quite fake dating, but dating with a contract for guaranteed heartbreak at the end. Two people who had been hurt in different ways and somehow learned to trust and truly care for one another. I found myself so sucked into their story that I read the first half of the book in one sitting.

I loved how straightforward and honest Brick was. He didn’t play games and he was vulnerable while also protecting himself. Aspen was selfish with her needs which is refreshing to see in an FMC.

The inevitable breakup was heart wrenching and everything after full of joy. A really unexpectedly wonderful read all around - I can’t wait to know more about Sierra and Kane (and am so glad to know that book is already in the works!

"Book of the Month" offers a charming and lighthearted escape into the world of romantic fiction. Aspen Lourde, a struggling author seeking inspiration, finds herself entangled in a playful dynamic with the enigmatic Brick Babel. The novel's setting in the Outer Banks provides a picturesque backdrop for the blossoming romance.

While the initial premise is engaging, the narrative takes some time to fully captivate. However, once the plot gains momentum, readers are drawn into the world of Aspen and Brick. Their witty banter and evolving relationship contribute significantly to the novel's appeal.

The author skillfully weaves humor and romance into the story, creating a pleasant reading experience. However, the novel's reliance on pop culture references occasionally disrupts the narrative flow. Additionally, the character development of Aspen could be explored in greater depth to enhance the emotional connection with the protagonist.

Overall, "Book of the Month" is a delightful and entertaining read that offers a temporary respite from everyday life. While it may not be a groundbreaking work of literature, it is a suitable choice for those seeking a light-hearted and enjoyable romance novel.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital review copy.

I thought I would enjoy this story more. I really liked the premise and I found the plot interesting. My issue was that I couldn't connect with the insta-lust going on because it made absolutely no sense. I liked the insight into the life of a writer, but I felt that certain parts became repetitive. I enjoyed Brick's POV more than Aspen's, she kind of started getting on my nerves after a while. The steam was good, though some gradual development and build-up would have worked to the story's benefit.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fast paced and cosy and I'd definitely recommend to rom com lovers. I loved the author and literature focus and the romance was well developed in this book. I laughed alot throughout reading this and I'm intrigued in the next book in this series. I📖

3.75/5

BOTM is a swoon-worthy read, which made my heart go la-la-la. I liked the small-town romance and the challenges of their vocation. It brought up memories of Emily Henry's Book Lovers, which I adore. Aspen and Brick had a nice, easygoing connection. I liked how their feelings for one another were not hurried because there are enough instances in their relationship for the readers to understand why and how they fell in love.

Additionally, The exploration of a writer's world drew me in because as a reader the fascination to know more behind-the-scenes of a writer's journey is always there.

Unfortunately, the only thing that kept me back from giving it 5 stars, was Aspen playing the savior, like <spoiler>helping Brick and then Marco and the team, mending Maleficient's relationship with Brick and then defending Brick's reputation felt a little bit over the tip</spoiler>. Secondly, the ending felt rushed and pretty guessable from miles, the cliche 'she leaves the town and then realizes she is better off with him and comes back, leaving everything in its wake behind her'.

Overall, the story was fun to read and pretty enjoyable, and I felt connected with the characters entirely, I fell deeply for, how Aspen and Brick didn't shy away from expressing what they felt, Jennifer has brought something new to the table, which was refreshing to read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Blue Box Press or the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
All opinions expressed in this review are my personal opinions.

thank you to netgalley and blue box press for providing this eARC!

i usually rate books based on vibes, write some nonsense, and then call it a day, but seeing as this is an ARC, i will actually try to gather my two brain cells and review this properly.

there are a number of things that didn’t quite work for me reading this book, but before i get into that, i want to be abundantly clear that i thoroughly enjoyed this. i think it embodied most of what i want from a summer romance: fun, addicting, great banter, and stuffed full of chemistry and sexual tension. it’s one of those books that’s like, wow, this is so fun to read when you don’t have a rat in your ear criticizing every little thing and judging your taste.

as a writer and artist, it was really easy to relate to aspen and her compulsion to create for the masses instead of creating something that inspired her and made her happy. i wish the book leaned a little bit more into that. in the time she and brick spent apart toward the end, i wanted to see more about how her relationship with ryan really impacted her. we got a touch of it and i craved more of those complex feelings but it was over before it started, and they were back together before it was really fully fleshed out.

regardless, i appreciated aspen and understood the decisions she made and as someone who mostly despises third act breakups, i can forgive one that’s believable and tracks with what i think the mcs would do—which this book did.

my only qualm with aspen’s personality was that she was constantly comparing herself to sierra… but also incredibly confident she could bag brick. she was (as brick put it) “innocent” and “inexperienced”… but she also gave perfect, life changing blow jobs. it took me out of the story a little at times.

as for brick, i hate the man’s name but i’ll let it slide bc he’s lovable. i just got the ick over how many times “masculine” was used to describe him. some of the biggest offenders:

“masculine energy swarmed around him” (like what? flies?)
“sexual masculine energy crackled from his very aura”
“it made him want to howl with masculine satisfaction” (🤢)

there’s a lot more than that too but you get the point.

while i’m on the topic of things that gave me random icks, i didn’t like aspen randomly saying that she froze and it felt like she was in the middle of a book scene. wasn’t into her feeling so dizzy, she felt like she was on the guardians of the galaxy ride at disneyland. could’ve done without the comparison of brick to chris hemsworth and jason momoa. these all just felt misplaced and really took me out of the story to go ????

i know this review makes it sound like i didn’t like this but again, i really did. i just want to list things that other people might not enjoy, but in the grand scheme of the book, it really wasn’t a big deal and it was still a story i loved reading. i kicked, i giggled, i was rooting for them, and i’ll absolutely be tuning into the next book to see what sierra gets up to.

overall, would absolutely recommend (and i will be!)

It sounded so good! I loved the premise but I just couldn’t do it. I dnf’d at around 35%. It was light and easy to read and funny (especially Dug haha) but as soon as she made the business proposal it felt like it was just all about his pants getting tight and her wanting him to touch her….not really my book preference so I lost interest. But if that’s your thing, you’ll enjoy this book. :)

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me, but it picked up momentum as I went along. Once I got past the beginning, it became a fast-paced, quick read that’s perfect if you’re in the mood for a rom-com.

The story centers around books, featuring a charming blend of fake dating and a wonderful found family dynamic. While I found the writing engaging, I didn’t feel as connected to the main characters as I would have liked. However, the side characters were well-developed, and I’m particularly excited to see what’s in store for Sierra and Kane in the future.

Overall, the happily ever after left me with a warm, happy heart. I’d rate this one 3.5 stars— above average, but worth the read.

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I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review