I love a book where they guy is more confident and trusting in the relationship than the girl. Of course, going through a divorce leaves anybody vulnerable and not super confident so you definitely need someone who is all in. This made me love this book even more. Great one Jennifer Probst! Really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Blue Box Press, for providing me with this ARC. This was my personal reading experience with this book.
This was a quick, easy, small town beach read. I could practically feel the wind and salt of the sea in the air as I read. Our FMC Sierra was a likable, strong female character who came across as relatable. Our MMC Kane came across as ambitious, devoted and focused in what he wants in life and in love. Sounds great right? However, somewhere along the way, he lost me as a fan and because of that I couldn't fully get behind them as a couple. That's a personal preference in an MMC, and what I prefer may not be the same for a different reader. He was really my only issue with the book. The plot, FMC, side characters, writing style, and setting all worked for me. So I'll definitely be trying another book by this author in the future! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes late 90's to early 2000's romcoms. The dialogue, characters, and plot are very reminiscent of that era of romcom movies.

The Reluctant Flirt
By Jennifer Probst

A fun read, you might want to read the previous book first.

Sierra has reinvented herself after her divorce. She's built a stable, thriving business that she enjoys. So she's had no luck in the love department, maybe that's for other people. But watching her sister find her happily every after makes her think about what could have beens.

Kane came to the Outer Banks to get away from the mess in New York. He's ready to start taking steps to get back on track. When the past comes right back into his life and he realizes that she's what's been missing. Now he has to overcome her roadblocks and so much more.

This is a cute small town romance, but it did read a little slow to me. I was really excited to get more of Kane and to learn a little more about Aspen, but I couldn't connect with either character at all. The first 40% felt sluggish and it was really hard for me to power through the rest. I do think this story is a great beach read, but it just wasn't for me.

This book will just melt your heart!! Kane & Sierra certainly have a lot of baggage to deal with to get their HEA. They have quite a few obstacles to overcome but thank goodness love prevails. I definitely recommend adding this book to the top of your tbr pile! Can’t wait for the next installment in the Outer Banks series!

I loved this book! I enjoyed the characters and the plot! I liked Sierra, the FMC but I loved Kane the MMC. He was the perfect guy even with his issues. The premise was cute and I would love the chance to walk around browsing the items in Sierra's store Flirt. The shoe quotes at the beginning of each chapter added a an extra flare. This is a perfect beach read and released just in time for your summer TBR!

Thank you Net Galley, Jennifer Probst and Blue Box Press for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions expressed are my own.
The Reluctant Flirt is expected to be released July 15, 2025.

Was so happy to get approved for the second book on the series, I loved the first so much! And having our house so close but moving away for military reasons and than reading both of these books made me even more homesick!! Did find that if they were on their first date watching the sunset on the ocean-it wouldn’t happen since the sunsets on the sound side, but most people wouldn’t know that slight mistake.
As for the relationship I really struggled with sierra being so mad at Kane taking on the project. Ok I get that he lied by not telling her right away and we both knew this was coming. But as he said he technically couldn’t say anything under contract. AND he literally has been trying to find another property for the resort and her shop. She should be a little hurt but understand that he did and is continuing to do all that he can for her. And he didn’t even know it was her shop when he accepted in the first place and like he said if he backs out now he thinks they’ll use his jail against him. Ugh I get that the romcom had to have some sort of trouble to work through but it was so easy to predict and could have been sorted out way better. Random side note-I know she loves shoes, so does Kane but it doesn’t come out till later I feel, but I don’t love the shoe quotes in the beginning of each chapter. I feel like if Kane would have said the quote earlier than at the end of the book and we understood that both loved shoes mom in would have made a little more sense to me? Loved the little doodle art heart at the start of the chapter but also would have preferred the name of their chapters on each as well. Overall I really did love reading this book and am really hoping for a 3rd book and it to be Jane’s brother not mal and Marco. I read this book along side of my book bestie and it was wonderful to talk back and forth on our thoughts, predictions and opinions on finishing it! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc in turn for my honest opinion.

I am loving this series so far! Sierra and Kane are wonderful characters that you just want to see find their HEA together. It may have taken them some time for reasons you will read about, but find it they finally do. I really love these two and enjoyed every moment of their story.
Looking forward to more on this series I hope! The setting is amazing and I do hope to one day travel to the OBX! But for now I can do that through this series!


ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

🌊 Book Review: The Reluctant Flirt by Jennifer Probst

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Reluctant Flirt is the second book in Jennifer Probst’s Outer Banks series, following Book of the Month, which I read and really enjoyed (four stars!). This instalment follows Sierra Lourde, who unexpectedly comes face to face with Kane Masterson—the man behind a memorable one-night stand and, inconveniently, the developer threatening the future of her beloved small-town business.

It’s a setup with a lot of potential: a second-chance vibe mixed with opposites-attract tension. Sierra is clearly meant to come across as independent, forthright, and unwilling to compromise her values —which is great in theory. But in practice, I found her character just a little underdeveloped. I wanted more internal life from her, more emotional depth to match the surface-level sass and self-assurance. She felt like a sketch of an interesting woman, rather than a fully fleshed-out character I could invest in.

As for Kane, I think readers are meant to see him as charmingly persistent and hopelessly taken with Sierra from the get-go. But for me, his pursuit veered a bit too far into “overly pushy,” and the whole insta-love element didn’t quite land. I just didn’t fully buy into their emotional connection, which made it hard to root for them as a couple—even though they clearly had chemistry.

✨ The good bits:

There’s still a lot to enjoy here—cute setting, easy prose, some fun moments with side characters. Probst knows how to write breezy romance, and if you’re in the mood for something light with a familiar enemies-to-lovers twist, this could hit the spot.

📘 Final thoughts:

While I really enjoyed Book of the Month, this second instalment didn’t quite work for me. The romance felt a bit rushed, and the characters didn’t feel as fully realised as I’d hoped. Still, it’s a pleasant, low-angst read that could work better for others—especially those looking for a quick dose of flirty summer escapism.

Sierra Lourde is a woman reclaiming her life after betrayal, and her no-strings encounter with a charming stranger in a New York bar is her first bold step forward. That stranger turns out to be Kane Masterson—smooth, confident, and impossible to forget. Fast forward four years, and Sierra is now the proud owner of Flirt, her beachside boutique. The last person she expects to see walk through the door? Kane, again. But this time, he’s not just a blast from the past—he might be the very person who could destroy everything she’s built.

The chemistry between Sierra and Kane leaps off the page. Kane barrels into her life like a bull in a china shop—determined, relentless, and completely swoon-worthy. I loved that Sierra held her own and challenged him every step of the way. Their dynamic was fun, fiery, and emotionally grounded.

The premise—a second chance at love born from a one-night connection—was compelling and well-executed. Probst captures the magic of a fated love story without veering into the overly sweet or cliché.If you’re a romantic at heart and enjoy stories about strong women, determined heroes, and the kind of fate-driven love that makes you believe in second chances, The Reluctant Flirt is for you. It’s heartfelt, humorous, and satisfyingly sexy—a true contemporary gem.

What a great book! I truly love Jennifer Probst, her books are always well written and have great characters to immerse yourself into while reading her stories.

I found The Relunctant Flirt to be heartwarming, funny, and bit emotional given Kane and Sierra's past. Loved Montgomery and his hysterical antics, especially loved Flirt, and the secondary characters, all made for a really great read. The chemistry between Kane and Sierra was definitely off the charts and kept the pages turning! Loved the ending, and really hoping there's another book to this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

The Reluctant Flirt is a charming, feel-good romance with heart, heat, and humor. Jennifer Probst delivers witty banter, relatable characters, and a slow-burn chemistry that keeps the pages turning. The heroine’s growth and the hero’s vulnerability added depth to a story that’s both fun and emotionally satisfying. It’s the kind of romance that leaves you smiling.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

. ݁₊ ⊹ — 1 ⭐️ — . ݁˖ . ݁
started june 13th | finished june 13th
ˋ°•*⁀➷ tropes: second chance, small town romance (i think?)

this book was so weird. i was kinda excited for it because the cover is cute and i like the title, which initially drew me in with its promise of a fun, lighthearted romance. but no. i had to dnf it because wtf was that. i was so bored and uninterested in the whole story from the very beginning. the plot just kinda weirdly jumped from there to there, suddenly we were four months later then five years earlier like what? the characters were so weird and unrealistic and flat and i really can't tell you their names or anything memorable about their personalities. they lacked depth, motivation, and any sort of chemistry that would make me care about their relationship. even the hockey elements, which usually add some excitement to a sports romance, fell completely flat and seemed more like an afterthought than an integral part of the story.

───୨ৎ────

ˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 ♡
this is a big NO for me. there’s not even much to say because i just don’t remember anything that would stand out to me enough to remember it. sorry not sorry.

⤷ *thank you to netgalley and blue box press for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review <3*

yup. this was every bit of me for this book. i loved it. totally smitten romance reader here. you know when you get a good feeling from the blurb and you hope it pays off. well hope is fulfilled as this book delivered what i was wanting from said blurb. and more.
one night and a welcome and fire lighting connection. but its one night. its over. its done. right?.... hmm come on, you know the drill by now dear readers.
i am liking what books are showing more of. where the guy is all in. at first i was cynical. thinking these guys dont exist, dont act like this, so the heartbroken from life part of me was just unable to believe in it. therefore i was so hurt by this it made romances get a bit hard to read.but then you realise when do things change? how do they? and that might just be in small changes we see in books. and in these cases where the guy isnt afraid to be all in. show it. and all at once that for me 'MADE THEM MEN'.
i also love we get to see side characters which make the book what is is. they make,never over shadow but always add so much to the novel. and i also think there could be a potential for them to have the own shining light? what do you say Jennifer? i think you know who i mean...
this book covered how hard it truly can be to break the wall you can put around yourself when hurt. i truly felt that coming off the pages. its frustrating and painful but the rawness can be healed. sometimes with time, sometimes with work, sometimes with others. but it can. and i felt that all being done to perfection in this book and how it told it.sometimes it can go further than people like it too. they want it tied up in a bow. but for some it takes longer and in some cases might even hurt those you love or around you. but thats humans for you and some people dont heal as we'd like or when we'd like. and when people stick it out by your side then that is love, that is something so strong in a relationship, it will always be life changing.
ive gone deep in my review, and i think this is because ive seen a few people recently complaining when people dont just "get over it". but this book is so much fun. its full of warmth, and flirting and smiles that truly reach your ears.
loved it.

I really liked the authors writing style and enjoyed the story. I did notice all the names seemed a bit out there (I personally love a more modern and unique name, my 9 year old is a Sawyer) but it felt disingenuous to me that all of the main and side characters had these sort of names and it took me out of the story briefly. I rated the book 3.25 stars, I think it was an enjoyable read

Fun read with good chemistry between Sierra and Kane. I liked that the story shows peeks that neither one really ever let their one night stand go - him with the honest & direct pursuit of Sierra, and her with such a strong connection to the word flirt that she names her store after something he said to her that first night.
I enjoyed the growth between the two of them, her realizing how much effort he was putting into spending time with her as they planned her sister and his best friend's engagement party even though she kept trying to create distance.
There was some additional backstory for each of them that I felt was missing, but now realize there may be some answers in the previous book (which I haven't read yet).
I always like and appreciate a good second-chance story, especially when there aren't lots of common pitfalls from miscommunication or no communication. And when someone steps in to create a mentor/found family aspect for one of the characters (like Duncan did for Kane), it makes me root even harder for them.

Ultimately, this one did not end up working for me all the way. Though, maybe that is because I didn’t read the first in the same universe as I didn’t realize they were interconnected.

I didn’t buy how angry they seemed to be at each other based on one night together. A lot of unearned tension.

thank you to netgalley for this early e-arc <3

I really did enjoy this book esp inbetween reading fantasy books its always nice to pick up a romance.

I devoured this book within a couple of hours.

The Reluctant Flirt is the sequel to The Book of the Month, and I’d definitely recommend reading that one first. This second installment picks up during a familiar scene from the first book—but this time, we get the story from the new main characters’ perspectives, which was a nice touch and added a fresh layer to the timeline.

That said, this book didn’t quite have the same spark as the first. The plot felt slow and predictable, with very little happening to keep the momentum going. For a romance, it lacked the emotional depth and excitement I was hoping for. I also found the constant repetition of the word “God” as an exclamation distracting—it popped up so frequently it became exhausting to read. There are more creative ways to express emotion, and I wish that had been explored more.

Even so, it seems like this book is setting the stage for a third, focusing on some of the side characters—and that part has me intrigued. While The Reluctant Flirt wasn’t a standout for me, I’m still looking forward to seeing where the series goes next.

Wow, I really loved this book. I read it so fast, I was hooked from the start. Sierra and Kane have amazing chemistry, like, really strong. I could feel the tension and all the emotions between them. Both of them felt real to me, with their own strong personalities and past mistakes. I always enjoy when the characters feel mature but still show vulnerability. Also, the writing style is easy to follow but still emotional. Honestly, Kane was just chef’s kiss, confident but not arrogant, and Sierra knows how to stand her ground, which I loved. I hope to read Aspen’s story next. Thank you so much to the author and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read the book in advance, I received this for free and I'm leaving a honest review