📖 Title: The Proposal Project -a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Donna Marchetti- I read Hate Mail and gave it 4 ⭐

📅Publication date: 6/19/25 | Read 6/15/25

📃 Format: eBook 384 pgs.

Genre:
*Contemporary Romance

Tropes:
*fake dating
*enemies to lovers
*1-bed
*forced proximity
*slow burn

👆🏾POV: 1st person, single

🌎 Setting: New York

Summary: When Tina enlists Priscilla in planning a wedding proposal to her boyfriend Ryan. She convinces Priscilla to start her own event planning business after being fired. Priscilla learns Ryan is also planning a proposal for Tina with Oliver's help. Priscilla hates Oliver, but they are forced together for a dual proposal if they can get along.

👩🏾 Heroine: Priscilla
👨🏾 Hero: Oliver

🎭 Other Characters:

* Tina+Ryan-Priscilla and Ryan's BFFs
* Bailey-Ryan's ex-girlfriend
*Majorie-Ryan's mother

🤔 My Thoughts: This was another great fake dating trope between Priscilla and Oliver. They helped plan proposals for their BFFs and fall for each other in the process. Not much drama, some miscommunication that was resolved quickly with two HEAs!

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 4/5 🌶️open door, explicit

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and Donna Marchetti for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

The Proposal Project follows Priscilla, who after losing her job, finds herself roped into planning her best friend's proposal to her boyfriend. However, when she discovers that said boyfriend is planning to propose with the help of his own best friend, Oliver, Priscilla decides to join forces with him and plan a dual proposal for the couple.

This was such a fun romance! The fake dating and plot was so refreshing and breezy, I loved how Oliver and Priscilla worked together and got to connect after so much distance. Their banter and chemistry was everything, not to mention the tension of the will they or won't they was unmatched. The two had so much charged energy and I love how it exploded and they just fell into pace with each other. Beyond the romance, the writing and plot flowed so well with all the crazy happenings surrounding the proposal. The build up and fake dating added the perfect touch of light drama, steam, and emotion. If you're in the mood for a playful and sweet rom-com, I highly recommend this one!

Where do I even begin?
A fake-dating, slow-burn romcom where two people team up to plan a wedding proposal for their best friends? It’s like this book was written just for me.

I haven't enjoyed a romcom this much in a long time! Donna Marchetti is incredibly talented. She crafts an intricate, beautifully executed plot that stays engaging throughout. From the first page, I was completely entranced. The balance between the humour and seriousness was spot on, and I felt every emotion on the page.

The dynamics between Priscilla and Oliver were amazing, and their dialogue flowed effortlessly—sharp, witty, and full of chemistry. Every interaction between them felt very real. Even the fake dating setup felt believable, never forced.

I also really enjoyed seeing Priscilla interact with Tina. Their friendship was truly beautiful, and I'm glad that Tina had depth, even if she wasn't a main character. Tina and Ryan’s relationship was also wonderfully written, adding richness without being the main focal point.

Overall, Donna Marchetti has earned a spot on my 'Top 10 Authors' list, and I'll gladly pick up anything she writes in the future.


Finally, thank you so much to HarperCollinsUK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

Priscilla has just been fried form her dream job. But upon hearing her best friend wants to propose to her boyfriend, Ryan, just like her mom did to her father, she decides to start her own event planing company.

Of course on her way home Oliver, friend’s boyfriend’s friend’s, gives her a life home. Finding an engagement ring in his car which is hold on for Ryan. She knows she is going to have to endure her greats her moment to propose before he does.

I loved the authors other book, Hate Mail, and have been eagerly waiting for her next book. This was just as fun and as her first! I eat it up!!

I had to get my tabs out to save all of the fun and heart wrenching moments.

This reads like a romcom and I didn’t want it to stop,

Thank you one more chapter for sending me this ARC!


Spoiler below (this is my explanation for why it’s not a five star read)

Hey spoilers coming!!

Ok fine here are the spoilers:

- the author did a great job of explaining why the word obsessed is a trigger for Priscilla. I would have liked this to have been carried through to the fall out and had ensured that Oliver fully understands why this upset her.
- when they were having their big argument, I really wanted a few lines of inner monologue to explain how she didn’t know he liked her the whole time. I know to the reader it was obvious but it did feel sort of like whip lash. If she had thought something along the lines of “all this time? He liked me back… it wasn’t just me falling” I think it would have made this book perfect!

First of all - wow! When I read “Hate Mail” by Donna Marchetti, I was instantly hooked. The banter, the chemistry, the charm - I couldn’t get enough! So when the chance came to read and review her latest novel “The Proposal Project”, I said YES faster than a surprise rooftop proposal!

And let me tell you: it DELIVERED, and even more than I could have imagined! This book is bursting with all the best rom-com tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, unstoppable chemistry, and a main character duo that had me grinning like a fool. Priscilla and Oliver are pure magic: witty, warm and hilarious with just the right amount of spice.

The setup?

Priscilla plans proposals for a living, just not her own.
So when her best friend ropes her into organizing the perfect moment to pop the question, things are under control… until the groom’s best friend Oliver shows up with a competing plan.

The compromise? Join forces in secret to pull off one epic double proposal. The problem? They’re terrible at keeping it professional, and even worse at pretending they’re not falling for each other.

Two planners. One bed. Zero chill. Love wasn’t on the itinerary… but it might just crash the party anyway!

If you love enemies-to-lovers with a big heart and bigger laughs, this one needs to go straight to the top of your TBR.

This book? ABSOLUTE ROM-COM PERFECTION.
Enemies to fake dating to lovers with top-tier banter, sizzling chemistry, and enough swoon to make me reread scenes on the spot.

✨ What I loved:
💘 The banter—so sharp, so flirty, so FUN.
🔥 Oliver. Just… OLIVER. That man was hopelessly into Priscilla and it was glorious.
😆 I laughed out loud so many times, especially watching them sabotage each other’s proposal plans.
📖 The writing felt effortless and quick—fast-paced without ever feeling rushed.
🥹 The tension?? Unmatched. Slow burn excellence.

💬 I usually DESPISE miscommunication plots, but Donna Jay actually made it work. It felt natural for these two chaotic disasters to get their wires crossed, and it added to the payoff rather than dragging the story down.

💭 Tiny gripe? The Malcolm subplot didn’t really need to be there—it fizzled out fast and felt kind of random. Also, remember the poem Priscilla read in Oliver’s journal? That was SUCH a cute moment and then it just… disappeared?! Still not over it.

But honestly, those are just minor things. This book was a total delight. Think early 2000s rom-com vibes with a fresh, modern twist. I read it in a single day and loved every second.

💞 If you’re into:
✔️ Enemies to lovers
✔️ Fake dating chaos
✔️ Big feelings + bigger kisses
✔️ Laugh-out-loud schemes
✔️ Book boyfriends with soft hearts and sharp suits

…add this to your TBR immediately.

Donna Marchetti's The Proposal Project is a delightful romantic comedy that effortlessly blends humor, heart, and a touch of tension. Set against the backdrop of a wedding proposal gone awry, the story follows Priscilla Cain, an event planner who finds herself teaming up with Oliver, her best friend's boyfriend's best friend, to orchestrate the perfect proposal.What begins as a professional collaboration soon sparks unexpected chemistry, leading to a journey filled with fake dating, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics_
Marchetti's writing shines with witty dialogue and well-developed characters.
Priscilla's growth from a recently fired young woman to someone embracing new possibilities is both relatable and inspiring. Oliver, with his charm and patience, complements her perfectly, creating a dynamic that keeps readers engaged. The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative, though some subplots, like Priscilla's parents' storyline, feel like there should have been more.
The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, maintaining momentum without feeling rushed. The third-act conflict, while emotionally charged, avoids the typical breakup trope, offering a refreshing take on romantic tension. The epilogue provides a satistying conclusion, leaving readers with a sense of fulfillment.
While the book is a joy to read, certain moments, particularly in the intimate scenes, might feel slightly out of sync with the overall tone. Additionally, some readers might find the miscommunication trope a tad overused, though it is handled with nuance here.
In conclusion, The Proposal Project is a charming and engaging read that will resonate with fans of romantic comedies. Marchetti has crafted a story that is both entertaining and heartfelt, making it a must-read for those looking to add a little romance to their reading list.

The Proposal Project by Donna Marchetti
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75 stars)

If you’re a fan of fluffy rom coms, forced proximity, and some fake dating, this book is perfect for you.
After losing her job, Priscilla finds herself roped into planning her best friend Tina’s dream proposal… but plot twist, said boyfriend, Ryan, is also secretly planning his proposal and has enlisted his best friend, Oliver, to help him out. Forced to collaborate, Priscilla and Oliver, who seem to strongly dislike each other, need to work together to plan the perfect joint proposal. Enter: forced proximity & fake dating.
This was such an adorable read and gave major rom-com vibes. The story was funny and witty, and completely roped me in. This was the perfect book for the mood I was in, since I oftentimes enjoy some cheese with my romance (in the best way, of course). There is some delightful enemies-to-lovers tension and some laugh-out-loud moments in here that make this so addictive. If you’re looking for a fluffy read that is going to make you giddy and blush, this is for you!
Even though I very much enjoyed it, this isn’t a groundbreaking take on the romance genre (which it doesn’t try to be), and that is its charm. So fun and comforting, like watching a feel-good Netflix rom-com with snacks and a blanket. 100% recommend to anyone who loves a trope-filled, fluffy romance.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK & One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was such a fun, feel-good rom-com! After losing her job in event planning, Priss isn’t exactly in the mood to start over—but her best friend Tina has other plans. Tina ropes her into planning the perfect proposal to her boyfriend Nick, inspired by her parents’ love story. Priss reluctantly agrees… only to run into Oliver, Nick’s best friend—and the guy she had an instant (and mutual) dislike for after a rocky first meeting.

Now, Oliver and Priss have to team up to pull off the big surprise without tipping Tina/ Nick off. Fake dating to avoid suspicion? Of course. But the more time they spend together, the more those fake feelings start to feel very real.
Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this free advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

👑 What can I say...... you're the Queen of fun rom-coms! 👑

After falling in love with Hate Mail, I had to request this ARC. Thanks to Net Gallery for the approval! 😍

If you love laugh-out-loud banter and enemies to lovers romances, this adorable read with a touch of spice is for you 🥰

Plus, the cover is gorgeous 💖

So much fun! This book gripped me immediately and it was the perfect romcom to break in between more serious reads.
A little miscommunication trope from long ago meant that our lead pair did what ever they could to avoid each other, even though their best friends are together.
When their friends are both set on extravagant proposals, the pair end up thrown together to have this joint proposal go off without a hitch!
It will leave you in fits of laughter and really rooting for these two to get together.

✨ARC REVIEW✨

4.25✨

I couldn't put this down. I thought this book was absolutely adorable despite the ridiculousness of that proposal LOL. The vibes were fun and playful and I was genuinely eating up the banter between Priscilla and Oliver.

I see some of these early reviews and what I can infer is that readers don't know how to just have fun reading a book. It ain't that deep ya'll...this was cute and written well. Yeah, okay, there may have been a few things that I wasn't the biggest fan of but was I entertained? Hell yeah. Some of you need to loosen up a bit.

The plot was fun. A tad cheesy and immature but for the sake of a rom com, it was cute. The MCs were adorable and I was lovinggg the slow burn. Could they have had a more mature talk earlier on about their feelings? Uhmmm, yah...but then that's no fun! Give us the slow burn! The romance was super cute and I just loved the concept of "is this real or is this still fake?" constantly being a battle. Did it get repetitive at times? Kind of...but did it deter me from further reading? Absolutely not. The spice was honestly more wholesome than intense so if you prefer that then bonus points!

Again...the vibes were there and I was having fun and isn't that the whole point???

I loved these two teaming up to help their friends with a special day. As I said before, it was cheesy but it was wholesome nevertheless. I'm very traditional when it comes to proposals so I wasn't the biggest fan of Tina wanting to propose but in the end, it all came together and was cute.

Also. The jumbotron scene was hilarious. IYKYK.

The tension and banter were my favorite parts of this book. I loved that even though these two could have clearly let the past go way earlier, they still found a way to communicate to each other instead of creating a super long 3rd act breakup.

At the end of the day, this was a super cute and fun rom com. The MCs may be totally blind to what's literally right in front of them, but they were great characters. What more can I say?

Thank you so much to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the e-arc copy!

A lovely heartwarming romance. I loved Priscilla’s character, she is so strong and independent and Oliver helps her encourage that personality even more. I flew through this book, it was such an easy read with little surprises around each corner. From enemies to lovers, Priscilla and Oliver’s story is definitely one to read!

3.5 stars rounding up to 4.
This was a fun, easy to read, fake dating, enemies to lovers romance. Event planner Priscilla has been hired by her best friend Tina to plan a way out there proposal. Problem is she finds out Ryan, Tina's boyfriend is also planning to propose, and Priscilla doesn't want Ryan's proposal to spoil Tina's proposal. Step in Ryan's best friend Oliver - who Priscilla has some history with and is hurt by him. But Priscialla and Oliver agree to work together to plan the best joint proposal to make both Tina and Ryan happy. Whist the story focusses on planning the proposals, the relationship between Priscilla and Olivia is the key to narrative. There is good banter and you can see how much Priscilla and Ryan care for each other, but they are full of miscommunication (or lack of communication). I love how they work together for the benefit of their best friends, slowly thawing to each other.
I liked the proposal scene, although something felt a little lacking in this chapter for me - I watned more. Plenty of spicy scenes in the second half of the book. A quick, fun read.

“𝗜 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗜 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼.”

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲:6/19/25

*Thank you @NetGalley and @HarperCollinsUK for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: After getting fired, Pricilla gets asked by her BFF to plan a grand wedding proposal for her. Making her a first client in Pricilla’s new business. When this proposal almost gets ruined by her friend’s boyfriend (soon to be fiancée), Pricilla is forced to team up with her nemesis Oliver, to pull off an even grander proposal plan.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
💍 Fake dating/relationship
👻 Forced proximity
💍 Miscommunication
👻 Enemies to lovers

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Such a cute premise with some fun tropes. This story started off well, I initially connected with Pricilla, Tina, and Oliver (not so much Ryan- I think his character was more off page to form a connection). I enjoyed this until about 60-70% when we were still in miscommunication land and the relationship between Pricilla and Oliver became juvenile. The last third of the book seemed rushed at parts, the terminology in the spicy scenes was incongruent with the level of relationship the characters had. The relationship itself came across as more of a young crush and not something deeper. I really liked the flash mob and double proposal aspect- and it was super fun to read it play out at the end.


*****SPOILER*****

I was majorly thrown off with the topic of “getting eaten out”, yes that’s how it’s written in this book. It was the most juvenile language it pulled me out of the story more than once. The author seemed to try and describe some explicit scenes and it came off forced and rushed- it didn’t match the pacing of the book and the tone of the story that was set early on.

It was a good rom-com. It was funny in the way ridiculous moments come to fruition in the most hilarious way.

The characters, there’s something about Priscilla that annoyed me. I’m fine with standoffish characters, but I think I couldn’t really tell where her feelings came from. Or what she described didn’t sound like enough of a reason to completely dislike Oliver.

Oliver was a little bland too, I didn’t get the same book boyfriend vibes from him, but I think that’s also partly based on Priscilla’s perception of him

When they finally had their heart-to-heart to heart was when I was finally digging the story a lot more

This book started off great, and I was really excited to see where it was going. However, the author just rushed and got them together like she realized she was about to run out of pages available. Priscilla and Oliver had a good amount of tension and I was invested in the fake relationship becoming real. But was disappointed when it was just like poof they like each other and are admitting feelings are real. It felt so rushed that I truly thought she was dreaming about it and was going to wake up from the dream when they reached the cabin for the weekend getaway. Overall a good book and would recommend if someone wanted an easy read but does leave some to be desired,

ARC review

Priscilla is an event planner and her best friend Tina asked her to plan the best wedding proposal to her boyfriend, Ryan.
But Ryan already plans to propose to her and Priscilla finds our from his best friend Oliver.
They decide to team up and make sure the proposals take place at the same time.

I received an advance review copy from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

What you can expect:

- fake dating
- forced proximity
- spice
- miscommuniocation
- clueless FMC & obsessed MMC
- only one bed
- single POV (first person)

I liked Oliver a lot and he was so sweet in his infatuation for Priscilla.
Priscilla was so relatable with her overthinking, but also really good at her job.
The miscommuniocation trope is not something that I enjoy and in this case it was the start of the hate from Priscilla's side.
But it was satisfying when I got to Oliver's confession.

The fake dating was something that I enjoyed, especially with the forced proximity of the cabin getaway.
They managed to get to know each other better and the banter was great.

This book convinced me to read more from this author.

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Okay, this book surprised me in the best way. I went in expecting a light, fun romcom, and while it is that, it also has way more depth than I was ready for. It’s giving fake proposal, slow-burn romance, and just the right amount of emotional mess aka, my ideal comfort read.

The main characters are super likable the kind of people you’d want to grab a drink with. The banter feels natural, the chemistry is real (I was rooting for them HARD), and the whole “just friends” dynamic? Peak tension. Also loved the way it explores adulting stress, family expectations, and those “what am I even doing with my life” moments. So relatable it hurt.

My only small critique is that the middle dragged a little like, I wanted to shake them and say just talk already but overall it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed it.

If you’re into fake dating, slow-burn love stories, and characters that feel like real people just trying to figure it out this one’s for you. Cozy, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt. Grab a glass of wine and dive in☺️


Thankyou for the arc copy❤️❤️


❤️shaye.readss

Thankyou to Donna Marchetti, Harper Collins UK, and Netgalley for allowing me early access to the book🎀

This was a cute story regarding Priscilla and Oliver who both work together to help their best friends do a joint proposal without the other knowing, however, Priscilla and Oliver don't like each other. I enjoyed the forced proximity aspect, and this also had other tropes roped in that I enjoy.

It fell a little flat for me for the last 25% sadly, I just got a little bored and found it semi predictable but overall, it was a cute read, perfect for summer!