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!

When Oliver and Priscilla agree to plan the ultimate proposal for their best friends, fake dating is just part of the plan. But as rehearsal kisses start to feel a little too real, their staged romance begins to blur with something genuine—and falling in love was never supposed to be part of the script.

The Proposal Project is a fresh, heart-squeezing romance with all the charm of a wedding rom-com and the emotional payoff of a slow-burn love story. When Oliver and Priscilla team up to plan a picture-perfect proposal for their best friends, they don’t expect the sparks flying between them to become harder to ignore than the Pinterest boards they’ve made. Marchetti brings witty banter, romantic tension, and genuine warmth to a story that’s as much about second chances as it is about finding love when you least expect it. The chemistry crackles, the fake dating trope delivers, and the ending will leave you smiling like you're the one who just got proposed to.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are mine.

What a read! Firstly loved the cover and the title had a pewnise I did not see coming which I loved. The book follows Priscilla who is down on her luck but ends up being hired by her friend Oliver who wants her to plan the perfect proposal. However her friends boyfriend has the same idea and she has to work with Oliver his friend. Witty ,funny ,heartwarming and a perfect summer read.

4.5⭐️
0.75🌶️

OMG this book!!! I haven’t been this entertained in forever. Enemies to fake dating to lovers?? Yes please!! The banter, the chemistry, the slow burn—I devoured it in 24 hours and wanted to start it all over again.

Oliver = swoony book boyfriend PERFECTION. Priscilla was so relatable and funny, and their dynamic?? Off. The. Charts. I was either laughing out loud or screaming at them to kiss already.

I hate the miscommunication trope (seriously, HATE it), but somehow this book made it work. It felt real and not overdone—bless 🙏

Also, can we talk about how fun the whole proposal-competition-fake-relationship plot was?! Bonkers but SO GOOD. Gave total early 2000s rom-com vibes and I was here for it.

Only complaint: what happened to that journal poem, Donna?! I need closure 😭

If you want something cozy, romantic, hilarious, and straight-up delightful, pick this up ASAP 💕💍

4.5⭐️

OMG, this was so good!!! I loved Hate Mail, but The Proposal Project absolutely knocked it out of the park! I can’t remember the last time I was this entertained—this book was everything I wanted and more.

This was a delightful enemies to fake dating to lovers romance, and the execution was just perfect. The writing felt effortless, and the romantic tension between Oliver and Priscilla built in the most glorious way. Their chemistry? Off the charts. I was laughing out loud one minute and the next, absolutely dying for them to just admit their feelings already!

Oliver was the ultimate book boyfriend—sweet, swoony, and clearly head over heels for Priscilla from the start. Their banter was sharp, hilarious, and had that perfect blend of heat and heart. I adored their dynamic; the way their bickering shifted into flirting was just deliciously satisfying. I was either laughing, swooning, or screaming “just kiss already!”

The plot had that fun, slightly bonkers premise (double proposal plans for their best friends!) that completely works once you're in the world and invested in the characters. Watching Priscilla and Oliver try to outdo each other with extravagant proposal ideas, only to realize they’d be better off teaming up (and faking a relationship), was hilarious, sweet, and—ultimately—very moving. And spoiler alert: was it ever really fake? (Hint: no.)

Priscilla was incredibly relatable—being the one friend who hasn’t quite figured life out yet, but still shows up for her people. Her relationship with Tina, Ryan, and Oliver added such warmth and humor to the story. The friendship dynamics were one of the strongest parts of the book, and the group banter was SO good.

I’ll be honest—I hate the miscommunication trope. Nine times out of ten, it frustrates me to no end and makes me want to throw the book across the room. But somehow, The Proposal Project made it work. It didn’t feel overdone or dragged out, and it actually made sense for these characters. Priscilla and Oliver are both a little too proud, a little too awkward, and just emotionally tangled enough that I totally bought why they didn’t clear the air sooner. It wasn’t one of those "just talk already!" situations—more like, “okay… this actually tracks for who they are.” So even as someone who usually despises miscommunication, I found it believable and even kind of satisfying here. And that confession scene from Oliver? I was literally kicking my feet.

The pacing was spot-on—fast enough to devour in a day (which I did), but not rushed. Every scene felt purposeful and the tone was romantic, funny, and cozy. The ending (and especially the epilogue) was so satisfying and felt totally true to the characters. The third-act conflict wasn’t a full breakup, just a believable emotional blow-up, which made it more unique and refreshing than typical romance arcs.

If I had to nitpick: the Malcolm subplot didn’t really go anywhere and felt a bit unnecessary. Same with the scenes involving Priscilla’s parents—they were never mentioned again, which made those parts feel slightly disconnected. And I need to know what happened with that journal poem Oliver wrote! That was such a sweet, mysterious moment, and I was disappointed it didn’t get revisited.

Still, those are small things in what was an otherwise magical, hilarious, swoon-worthy romance. This book brought me so much joy. It had major early-2000s rom-com vibes, and I wasn’t ready to leave Priscilla and Oliver behind when I hit the last page.

If you’re in the mood for something fun, romantic, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Proposal Project is exactly what you need. I highly recommend it and can’t wait to read whatever Donna writes next.

thank you Netgalley for the ARC! ❤️🫶

okay, so I am dumb. I’ve seen the book on Netgalley and did not connect the dots it’s another book from “the hate mail” author.

It was great! Cute like a webtoon, unserious like a comedy k-drama, and even at times dramatic like a telenovela. Everything you need in a great romance book.

Pricilla annoyed me twice (one when she was going through Oliver’s drawers, and two when the fake dating trope concluded), but overall, she was great. She had personality, and was fun to read about, and had good chemistry with all the other characters.

Oliver was great too. 😩😮‍💨. He was fun and patient and he’s a music teacher, and was just the right amount of jealous.

Pricilla and Oliver spent lots and lots of time together, making it difficult for me to stop reading. I don’t know what Donna put in this, but you don’t know how many times I went “okay, one more chapter.”

I was giggling, kicking my feel, rolling in bed, screaming into my pillow. And that comes from me — the biggest fake dating trope hater.

Donna Marchetti, add me to your retainer, I need all the future books the second they hit NetGalley.

This was such a cute read! Very quick and easy to read and it feels like a 2000s romcom! I love Oliver’s character so much, he’s honestly the best!!

This had all the makings of a fun, bingeable rom-com, and the premise totally hooked me. Fake dating? Proposal plans? Forced proximity? Yes, please. But while the setup had spice and swoon potential, the actual romance left me wanting more.

Priscilla and Oliver had chemistry, sure, but their relationship felt surface-level. Most of their time was spent wrapped up in the plot, not each other, and meaningful communication was basically nonexistent. Every issue was dragged out by avoidable miscommunication, which made them feel more like teens with a crush than grown adults falling in love.

Priscilla came off immature, Oliver felt like a cardboard cutout of a love interest, and don’t even get me started on Tina—the best friend who seemed more chaotic than supportive. The ending felt rushed, and a few plot points were dropped without explanation, which left me with more questions than warm fuzzies.

Still, it’s a quick and light read with a few cute and spicy moments. If you love playful rom-coms with a little heat and don’t mind some drama and mess along the way, this one might work for you.

What to Expect:
💗 Fake Dating
💗 Forced Proximity
💗 Meddling Friends
💗 Enemies to Lovers
💗 One Bed
💗 Hot Tub Shenanigans
💗 Spicy Rom-Com
💗 She’s an Entrepreneur
💗 He Lives to Annoy Her

Thank you to Donna Marchetti, the author, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and the NetGalley team for the ARC opportunity!

This one was so cute! A huge thank you to HarperCollins One More Chapter for the e-arc! I had such a fun time reading this one!

This book is a fun rom com, with just enough humour and funny moments, with lovely romance in the side. The set up was amazing and it enabled so many amazing things, and I just loved how planning a proposal spiralled into fake dating, and so many pretend kisses and more.

I really liked both Pricilla and Oliver, and I feel like they were perfect with each other. The chemistry was definitely there. Tina was also an amazing side character, but Ryan was a bit too basic and didn't really have a big role in the story. I may have enjoyed this one even more if it was a dual pov and we could have seen the other side of the plan and the relationships as well.


For a fake dating, forced proximity rom com this one was a really eno´joyable, and I would definitely give it a chance!

4,5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

My full review is already available on my Goodreads. I will post about this book on my socials (TikTok and Instagram) during publication week.

It pains me to say, but I did not enjoy this book. I was SO excited when I got approved for this ARC because I really enjoyed Donna Marchetti’s debut novel, Hate Mail. It was funny and had this romcom feeling that really differentiated it from other romances.

The Proposal Project started out on similar grounds: a funny romcom plot where two people have to work together to pull off their best friends’ double proposal. The idea was creative and really reminded me of Set It Up, one of my favourite romcom!

I also wanted to add that I really enjoyed the names of the chapters – they added a bit of humour and were very welcome.

The first chapter was promising, fun and light, with some memorable quotes and a main character with a distinct personality. And then it all goes downhill from here.

The main male character is actually plain rude and has the personality of a cardboard box. We know NOTHING about him apart from his job later on. He basically insults the FMC and then makes sexual allusions and is vaguely jealous and is unable to communicate. Great???

The FMC had a bit more background but I just found her very childish? She was extremely nosy and did not respect people’s boundaries. Her "banter" with the MMC was basically just fighting like a bunch of children and blushing every time someone mentioned they would hold hands.

On this topic, I both found the book extremely sexual (in the sense that sex was mentioned every chapter – either by the FMC’s meddling best friend, the MMC’s innuendos or the FMC’s thoughts) but also extremely prudish. I’m guessing the characters are 25 to 35 years old, and the reaction of the FMC just seemed completely unreasonable for no apparent reasons.

The friendship between the FMC and her best friend was also very flat. Basically, the best friend kept prodding the FMC for personal details she obviously didn’t want to share, was very selfish and annoying, and did not support our FMC in the slightest. Same could be said on the other hand, it just did not feel like a genuine friendship to me, and made me increasingly irritated as I read this book.

Finally, the writing really made it worse. I, once again, remember really like the author’s debut and not having any qualms with the writing. I found the letters and humour hilarious – but for The Proposal Project every joke or reference felt very cringe. The writing completely lacked any emotion, describing every single action with very simple sentences. This really hindered the development of the relationship since it just seemed that the two main characters wanted to bone each other and nothing less. When they said they loved each other, I was just confused because… when did that happen? It really would have helped for the writing to lean more on the character’s feelings. To show and not tell.

I do want to say that the proposal and epilogue were very cute, once again showing that the original idea really was exciting but the execution just felt lacking overall. Very disappointed about this one… but I would still reach out for her next release because Hate Mail was great and I’m sure the author can come up with something fun again, maybe with just a bit more editing this time!

I've never been the biggest fan of second-chance romances, maybe because I've never had one of my own, and there's someone I wish I could have a second-chance romance with. Alas, I wasn't sure how I felt about Tina proposing to Ryan. I know, I know. Gender roles and all that jazz, but I like a little bit of tradition. I think the ending turned out really well though. It was quite sweet, and it didn't feel like the two proposals were forced together.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!!

The concept of this book is really fun: a couple is planning a surprise proposal to each other and they both enlist their respective best friends to help plan. OF COURSE these best friends are enemies and have to be forced into a fake relationship in order to explain why they started spending time together when planning the surprise!

While I love the trope of fake dating, I do think it is fairly hard to execute perfectly. In this case, I found their relationship to be very surface level (mostly physical) and repetitive. There were too many moments of lust, followed immediately by thoughts of insecurity and doubt crawling in. I wish I saw more displays of WHY they liked each other!

Proposal itself was also incredibly cheesy, and I personally would hate it lol but overall it was still a very quick, light hearted read if you're in the mood for something fun and breezy!

This was super sweet, I read it in one sitting. Despite racing through it all, not sure i really understood the big dramatic reason for the 2 MCs not to be speaking to each other for a year. But if you you can live with a nonsense plot for the sake some fun banter and swoon, then you'll have a great time!

Priscilla is fired from her job on the same day her friend, Tina, hires her to plan an extravagant proposal to her boyfriend, Ryan. Priscilla happens to ride in Ryan's best friend, Oliver's, car and sees a ring box. When she realizes that Ryan may be planning to propose and could beat her to the epic she's planning, she has to team up with Oliver. Unfortunately, Oliver embarrassed her in front of a bunch of friends about a year before and she's avoided him ever since.

Priscilla doesn't know Oliver very well but she finds that she trusts him. To avoid speculation from Tina and Ryan, they pretend to be dating each other, but that forces them on a bunch of double dates because their friends are so excited. Their fake dating leads to real feelings.

I don't recall Hate Mail being spicy, but Tina's crass commentary seemed forced and awkward. Oliver was great and Priscilla was okay. But her misunderstanding from the previous year seemed overly dramatic and is one of those annoying "miscommunications" that could be resolved in a 5 minute conversation. The big over-the-top proposal, especially from a woman to a man, is not my thing either. The story was cute but didn't check all of the boxes for me. I think Marchetti's premises are creative and I'll continue to check them out, but this one wasn't it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I’d heard great things about Donna Marchetti’s book (Hate Mail), so I was really excited to dive into this one—and it totally lived up to the hype! The Proposal Project had me laughing, giggling, and full-on kicking my feet. It’s such a sweet, funny, and feel-good rom-com.

The characters were absolutely lovable and super relatable. I was rooting for them the whole way through. And if you’re a fan of classic rom-com tropes like forced proximity, a cozy cabin getaway, and the iconic “there’s only one bed” moment—this book delivers them all with charm and playful energy. You can tell Marchetti really gets the genre and has a lot of fun with it.

Yes, there were a few moments of miscommunication that had me mentally yelling “Just talk to each other!”—but honestly, it didn’t take away from how enjoyable the story was overall. The writing is light and engaging, and I flew through it in no time.

If you’re looking for something adorable, funny, and full of heart for a weekend read, this one’s a great pick!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I feel bad for even saying this because the author is a fantastic writer but holy hell what was this? I adored Hate Mail and eagerly looked forward to this one with a light-hearted premise. But I'm afraid this was a slog at the start, then read a lot of chapters before finally reaching 60% and ended up skimming more, then jumping to the end. I can only guess this book is a sophomore slump and that the editors had to just get it out. I'd rather they just delayed this book for a massive re-write (and oh boy it had the bones there for a bit of a fun rom com).

This feels like a bunch of drafts of rambling chapters repeating the same 'oh we better make a PDA for our friends in such an obvious manner so they won't guess we're fake. Oh, this feels real...oh look they're gone we can stop faking it' *cue the disappointment by the character*. It was such a literal interpretation of 'fake dating' that I just had to eye roll. Come on, the best way to make people think you're dating it is to be seen together all the time but behaving like you're trying not to touch each other.

And let us not even go there about how immature all of them were for characters in their 20s - which, we never know their age really because this book is terrible on those sorts of details (which was a minor issue I had with Hate Mail, the author had a very screwy timeline including their ages). From Priscilla and her grudge against Oliver to her best friend Tina who couldn’t keep Priscilla's confidence about her crush on Oliver and couldn't stop loudly talking about Priscilla’s sex life, to Oliver barely was a character, let alone Ryan. Plus, cartoonish villains (Malcolm). There are minor asides that went nowhere (the poetry).

If this book were set in high school about a prom proposal, I think I'd have bought this more.

I wish this was a more measured review. Truth is this comes out of a place of disappointment. I’d still read this author. I think she’s talented, but it’s a no for this one.

Thanks to One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

The plot was decent and i read this pretty quick, but I wasn't a huge fan of the characters, miscommunication isn't my favourite trope and it became a little annoying

2.75 stars!
This was honestly such a bingeable book, but I felt like the actual romance lacked a bit of substance. It felt mostly physical; we got no real communication between the MCs! All they did was plan a proposal and fake date! We never saw any time spent outside of the plot, and I think it could’ve helped make their romance feel more real. It had its cute moments, but I wouldn’t say there was anything special about it.

This was a super cute rom com - and the refreshing read I needed!

After losing her job (and at the behest of her best friend), Priscilla starts her own event planning business - with her best friend as her first client. The job? Planning Tina's proposal to her boyfriend. The only wrench in the plan is her boyfriend's best friend (and Priscilla's moral enemy), Oliver. Now finding themselves thrown together to plan a joint proposal, they have to find a way to work together.

The pacing was great, and the character development was just the right amount. I found myself rooting for Priscilla and Oliver and really enjoyed watching their journey to each other.

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Fake Dating
Spice: 2.5/5

**Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.**

Typical Donna! It was a book about lovers of rivals to lovers. For me it gave me a summer feel, it was light and snappy and the humour was like a fresh, cold lemonade. The characters were likable and the spice was... 5/5