Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I DNF around the 30% mark. I thought the concept of wedding planning would be a fun read but I couldn’t connect with the characters and found the miscommunication trope to be a little annoying.

I read Hate Mail a while back and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to dive into this ARC. It had the same charm I remembered: easy, engaging writing, great humour, and characters you actually want to root for.

Oliver was a total sweetheart. Even when Priscilla was determined to hate him, he still looked out for her. He was a little cocky, sure, but it was the kind that clearly masked how hopelessly gone he was for her. I loved that even when he justified their kisses as part of the fake-dating act, it was obvious... he just wanted to kiss her. From the very beginning, you could tell he liked her, and that early rejection genuinely hurt him.

Priscilla, on the other hand... I’m so glad she didn’t end up working for Malcolm. What a nightmare. He was condescending, overly flirtatious, and couldn’t take a hint if it smacked him in the face. Her decision to walk away and start her own business? Loved that for her. And the support she got from Tina was one of my favourite parts of the book. Their relationship felt like true sisterhood. unfiltered, unconditional love with just the right amount of tough honesty.

Now, the romance… this is where it fell a little flat for me. There was so much time spent on the logistics of the fake dating and planning the proposal that I started to miss the emotional depth. We’re told they were once close friends, but that was a whole year ago and only for a week. I needed more in the present, conversations that meant something, moments where they learned new things about each other. I really wanted a scene where Priscilla opens up and explains why Oliver calling her “obsessive” cut so deep. That kind of emotional clarity would’ve taken their story to the next level. Instead, there was a lot of miscommunication that felt avoidable and dragged out longer than necessary.

That said, the banter? On point. And the sweet moments we did get were genuinely lovely. I could totally buy them as a couple, but only if we’d had a bit more in-between to bridge the jump from frenemies to full-blown declarations of love.

Overall, this was still a fun, quick read. Light, funny, sweet, and even if I wanted more from the romance, I enjoyed the ride.

'I've spent so much time hating him, I didn't know he was capable of doing something that couldn't make me feel good.'

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the first book I've read by Donna Marchetti, and I really enjoyed her writing style. It's one of those books that's a good pallette cleanser between denser reads, and I found myself picking it up any moment I could.

I loved the forced proximity and fake dating tropes through the book, and I thought the chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver was great. However, that hot tub scene was a crime against sanitation 🤣 If I had an Air bnb, I wouldn't be renting it out to these two.

I did also think that Priscilla and Oliver had a tendency to be quite immature, which put me off at times, but their swoony moments helped to balance it out.

Overall, this was a light and fluffy romcom that is perfect for a beach read. The stakes weren't too high, and there were plenty of sweet moments between Priscilla, Oliver and their group of friends. I had fun reading this one 🙂

I enjoyed reading this book overall. The plot was engaging and kept me interested throughout. My favorite part was when the characters realized they had feelings for each other — it was sweet and satisfying, and a highlight of the story for me.

While I really liked the overall premise, I did feel that some sections dragged on a bit and could have been more concise. Still, it was a decent read and worth picking up if you're in the mood for a heartfelt story with a slow-burn romance.

The Proposal Project is a delightful, light, and fun romance that really hit the sweet spot for me. Priscilla Cain, an event planner tasked with organizing her best friend’s dream wedding proposal, finds herself in a quirky and unexpected alliance with Oliver, the groom-to-be’s charming but obnoxious best friend. Together, they hatch a secret plan to pull off a joint proposal—and the sparks that fly between them are as entertaining as the proposal itself.

The story’s strength lies in its playful banter and the chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver, which feels genuine and effortless. I loved watching their relationship evolve from reluctant partners to something much more meaningful, all while juggling the chaos of wedding planning and the complications of keeping their secret from friends.

What makes this book stand out is its feel-good vibe—there’s no heavy drama or heartbreak weighing it down, just a well-paced, fun story with lovable characters. The supporting cast adds extra charm, making Magnolia Cove feel like a place I’d want to visit.

Overall, The Proposal Project is perfect if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted romance that balances humor, sweetness, and just enough romantic tension to keep you turning the pages. Donna Marchetti’s writing is engaging and breezy, making this a great choice for fans of contemporary rom-coms.

Cute little love story. The girl coming up from such a horrible situation and finding a way to make things better in the most comical way. this book was entertaining from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what other books this author has because I'm definitely
about to go down the rabbit whole and read as much of her stuff as I can find. this book was great read and written very well.

Spice 🌶️
Miscommunication ❌
Fake Dating 👫
Forced proximity 🙅‍♀️
Enemies to Lovers ❤️‍🔥
Clueless FMC & Obsessed MMC 👩‍❤️‍👨
One Bed 🛏️

If you’re after a palate cleanser or just an easy summer read this is the perfect book for that! It’s such an easy read I flew through it without even realising.
I quite related to Priscilla in the way she thought he was making fun of her but actually he was being genuine. I feel I also struggle with complements/knowing when people are genuine.
I won’t typically touch miscommunication tropes but I feel this one wasn’t too bad as I found they forgive each other quite quickly. Although I think this is where it worked well with being fake dating and a one bed trope. These 2 forced them both to communicate and sort out any of their differences. I really liked the idea of her going out on her own with her business and it’s something that suited her well.

a cute little romance, however i do feel like it's like every other romance and i will forget it within a few months and it will merge will every other ones ive read in the past.

I like the idea of this book as someone who once was a wedding planner/coordinator, but the execution was painful. This book in a nutshell is miscommunication trope for a thousand. And if I could get a dollar for every time something could have been solved by having a solid conversation, I would have a solid amount of cash on hand. The FMC and MMC need therapy and education on boundaries and communication. Also the jump from “I hate to you” to oral was just…..gah.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute read! I loved Donna’s other book, Hate Mail, and was so excited to read this one! I really enjoyed getting to know the characters.

I thought the storyline was really cute and same goes for how Pricilla and Oliver worked so well together. I loved how Oliver was a band teacher! I think that him leaving tech to become a teacher really speaks volumes of his character. Teachers are so important and I like that they get recognized in this book!

I thought Tina & Ryan were so cute! I wish we got more of them, but Tina seems like a lot so I am also happy with how much we did get haha. I also thought it was really sweet that Tina & Ryan kept it a secrets that they knew Priscilla and Oliver were fake dating. It was like they were letting them figure out their feelings without meddling.

I enjoyed learning more about Priscilla’s passion for her job, especially since her parents seemed like they didn’t believe in her. She became successful all on her own. I also loved the epilogue, such a romantic moment, Oliver did made everything be exactly like Priscilla said she wanted.

A few things that bothered me were:
1. Priscilla’s name, no judgement or any hate towards those who have this name, it just felt like it was less modern
2. I don’t understand why Priscilla was so irked with being called obsessed! Yes, it probably is frustrating to hear, especially from her parents. However, it made me think she was immature, especially since her hatred towards Oliver was because he called her obsessed (and his delivery was also at fault)
3. Why include the whole thing with the charity guy? I mean I liked how she chose to go on her own, but I didn’t like how he had to hit on her and be sleazy.
4. I thought some of the words used during the spicy scenes were as if Priscilla never had sex before. And during the second scene at the cabin it repeated the same sentence that was written in the first scene and it made me question if I accidentally went backwards but I did not.

Overall, it was a cute book! Donna is such a talented author, I can’t wait for her other work to come out!

3⭐️

I received an ARC from HarperCollins UK through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was such a light and easy romance read. The story flowed, the characters were easy to love and it wasn’t over the top. I really liked the focus on friendships in this book too, you could really tell how much Oliver and Priscilla valued their friends in the lengths they went to make them happy! I absolutely loved the development of their relationship too, it felt very real and had the perfect amount of spice! I would’ve loved to have seen a bit more of their actual relationship at the end and that is why I’ve given it 4 stars but it was a very close 5! I’m so excited to see where Donna goes as an author as I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both Hate Mail and this book!

As someone who adored Hate Mail, the new Donna Marchetti was an auto-request for me the moment I spotted it on NetGalley. Naturally, my expectations were sky-high, but sadly, this one didn’t quite live up to them.

This book is a quick, engaging romance with a fun premise that kept the pages turning. However, what I found lacking was the emotional depth and history between the main characters that made ‘Hate Mail’ so compelling. The central relationship between Oliver and Priscilla started with an exciting dislike-to-lovers setup, but that tension dissolved quickly. Rather than a gradual build or a slow-burn realisation of love, their relationship escalated almost instantly, which made it hard for me to feel fully invested.

I wanted to fall in love with Oliver and Priscilla the way I had with the characters in her last book, but unfortunately, I didn’t connect with them on a deeper level. Their development felt a bit rushed, and as a result, the emotional payoff just wasn’t there for me.

That said, I did enjoy the final few chapters, and I still think the book delivers as a light, fast-paced read, perfect for getting out of a reading slump. While it didn’t meet my personal expectations, it’s by no means a bad book, just one that didn’t hit the same highs as ‘Hate Mail’.

I was super excited to read this after reading Hate Mail last year and absolutely loving it! Although this had quite a different vibe, it was still a really sweet story.

There was some heartfelt moments, good banter between the MCs and just a real fun element running through the whole book. The MCs had good chemistry, and were actually quite likeabke. Things did often swing to cheesy territory, but I feel like that's just part and parcel with this book so if you hate cheese, this probably isnt for you. I'm not a fan of the miscommunication trope, so I was a bit this weary when I that was in this book, but it was handelled a bit differently in this so I didn't mind too much.

Overall, this is a sweet rom-com for anyone wanting a nice and easy read.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgally for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you so much Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review!

I have to start this review by stating that I had the privilege to read Donna’s first book Hate Mail and loved it and so when I got approved for The Proposal Project I was so excited!!

This book was fantastic and exactly what a rom-com should be! Donna’s characters are always hilarious and wildly relatable. The entire premise of this book was executed perfectly and felt like something that could really happen within a friend group.

The spice?? 😏 Incredible! It also wasn’t the main thing in the book which I also liked! It felt like it naturally fit in which sometimes doesn’t happen in romance novels.

Overall, a great book that any rom-com enjoyer would love! :)

After Priscilla lost her job as an event planner over something she didn't do, her best friend Tina hires her to plan her proposal to her boyfriend. As she starts ironing out the details, she finds out Ryan, Tina's boyfriend, is also planning on proposing. The only solution she can think of, is for her and Oliver, Ryan's best friend, to put aside their differences in order to team up and combine the events.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Hate Mail, I was so excited to pick this one up, and it definitely did live up to my expectations. While I did have some issues with it, I still really think it is such a good, entertaining book— definitely a great palate cleanser type of read. The writing is light and engaging, making it so easy to fly through this.

The characters are great, and I really enjoyed them all— I actually wish we got more of them, as they felt somewhat underdeveloped at times. I feel like there were certain things that kept being brought up about them, especially with Priscilla, without ever going anywhere, or at least not the way I wished they would. When it comes to the main relationship, that also felt somewhat lacking; I really loved both Priscilla and Oliver, but I don't think we saw a lot of them together in a way that moved their relationship forward, which made it feel very rushed, when it really wasn't. I do believe this is the kind of book that could've benefited from a dual POV, but it is what it is.

Overall, it really is great for what it is, and it truly has a pure rom-com feel to it, which I adore, and I would definitely recommend it!

I loved this book! I thought it was such a fun idea, a fun Rom Com about two rivals planning a proposal for their best friends.
This honestly had everything I love, enemies to lovers, fake dating and rom com!
I thought the characters were so lovable and real, it was actually such a cute story and I’m obsessed with both Pricilla and Oliver. I’m not usually a big fan of miscommunication but it was done really well in this book and resolved in a realistic way!
Highly recommend.

The Proposal Project is a fun, feel-good romantic comedy that ticks all the right boxes for fans of the fake dating and enemies to lovers tropes. With a light touch and plenty of charm, Donna Marchetti delivers a story that blends wedding mayhem with unexpected romance.

Priscilla is an organised, no-nonsense event planner whose mission is to pull off her best friend’s dream proposal. The plan is simple, until she finds herself reluctantly teaming up with Oliver — her best friend’s boyfriend’s annoying but undeniably attractive best mate. Their chemistry is immediate, their banter sharp, and watching them slowly soften towards each other is thoroughly satisfying.

The book leans into all the best romcom ingredients: secret alliances, close proximity, and moments of genuine emotional warmth. Priscilla and Oliver’s evolving connection is heartfelt, and the dual proposal setup adds a fresh twist.

This is a joyful, easy read full of humour and heart. Perfect for anyone who enjoys romance with a dash of chaos and a guaranteed smile by the final page.

3.5/5.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

4 Stars

This was such a cute, low angst book with the best tropes - Forced proximity, enemies to lovers and fake dating! which are some of my personal favourites.

The premise was just silly enough to be a fresh, funny take on teaming up to achieve and mutual goal of making sure their best friends have the best proposal that they deserve with lots of crazy twists and turns!

I actually liked the chemistry between the two main characters and did believe in their ending, even though there was a bit of miscommunication, which isn't my favourite.
The side characters were funny and memorable and altogether, I had such a fun time reading g this book and will definitely read from this author again. (I also really enjoyed this authors debut novel Hate Mail!)

Thank you to Netgalley, One More Chapter and HarperCollinsuk for an ARC in return for an honest review.

our fmc is an event planner who’s hired for her bestie’s over the top proposal.. and the boyfriend’s obnoxious best friend (our mmc 🤭) tells her that that he ALSO planned to propose. they plan a mastermind proposal so both tina and ryan get to propose @ the same time. they fake date (or as fake as it can be for all that tension) to disguise just why they’re spending so much time planning this together. stayed up until the early AM multiple nights, including this one, to finish this book. the concept of this story was so original and the pair were so likeable and had me kicking my feet for the entirety of the book. fake dating trope done well is so! so! good and this is a great example! priscilla and oliver go together so well and he’s such a golden retriever bf it’s insane. a romance book in this day and age WITHOUT a third act breakup is so special to me and it was the cherry on top of a GREAT romance.

Thank you @NetGalley for the book "The Proposal Project" Thank you @HarperCollins. This was a cute romcom between Priscilla and Oliver. They both work together to plan their best friend's proposals. The banter between both of them was sweet and funny. I enjoy reading fake dating troupe, especially when it turns to true love. This was my first time reading a book by Donna Marchetti and I will be looking for more books by her.