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The Proposal Project
Priscilla has a plan. And falling for Oliver was not on her to-do list...
The Job
Event planner Priscilla Cain has been asked to plan her best friend Tina’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend, Ryan.
The Catch
It looks like groom-to-be Ryan might just beat her to it.
The Solution
Team up with Ryan’s obnoxious, but gorgeous, best friend Oliver to plan a joint proposal. But keep their unlikely alliance a secret from both their friends.
But as Oliver and Priscilla work together to pull off the proposal of the year, could there be more than one happily ever after on the cards…
Read if you love:
Fake dating
Close Proximity
Enemies to lovers
The Job
Event planner Priscilla Cain has been asked to plan her best friend Tina’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend, Ryan.
The Catch
It looks like groom-to-be Ryan might just beat her to it.
The Solution
Team up with Ryan’s obnoxious, but gorgeous, best friend Oliver to plan a joint proposal. But keep their unlikely alliance a secret from both their friends.
But as Oliver and Priscilla work together to pull off the proposal of the year, could there be more than one happily ever after on the cards…
Read if you love:
Fake dating
Close Proximity
Enemies to lovers
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2025
252 people are currently reading
3225 people want to read
About the author
Donna Marchetti
2 books885 followersDonna Marchetti is a romance author writing fun stories with early 2000s rom-com vibes. Her debut novel Hate Mail was released in March 2024, and her second novel The Proposal Project is available now.
Most people can easily tell you where they grew up, but for Donna, the answer lies somewhere between Florida, Chile, and Arizona. As an American child living in a Spanish-speaking country for a good chunk of her childhood, one of Donna’s first attempts at writing was when she was seven years old. It was a book about a dog written entirely in Spanish. Upon moving to Arizona, Donna played in high school marching band and raised and showed rabbits for 4-H, but she never stopped enjoying writing.
When Donna isn’t burying her face in a good book or tapping away at a keyboard writing her own, she can usually be found spending time with her family and competing in agility with her Dalmatian.
Donna currently lives in New York with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs.
Most people can easily tell you where they grew up, but for Donna, the answer lies somewhere between Florida, Chile, and Arizona. As an American child living in a Spanish-speaking country for a good chunk of her childhood, one of Donna’s first attempts at writing was when she was seven years old. It was a book about a dog written entirely in Spanish. Upon moving to Arizona, Donna played in high school marching band and raised and showed rabbits for 4-H, but she never stopped enjoying writing.
When Donna isn’t burying her face in a good book or tapping away at a keyboard writing her own, she can usually be found spending time with her family and competing in agility with her Dalmatian.
Donna currently lives in New York with her husband, two daughters, and three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 498 reviews
August 8, 2025
╰┈➤ 4 stars!
my second book of donna marchetti and it definitely did not disappoint!
after getting fired from her job, priscilla made the bold decision to finally start her own business—with tina becoming her very first client. she's gonna plan her proposal to her boyfriend, ryan. it has to be huge, something similar with how her mom proposed to her dad. there's one complication though, ryan is also planning to propose to tina! that's how priscilla and oliver ended up teaming up with each other to plan their best friends' proposals to each other!!
౨ৎ priscilla. she’s incredibly supportive, always cheering people on even when she's struggling. she doesn't deserve what happened to her, but sometimes, the thing that we didn't want to happen is the one that will lead us to a greater life. there’s just something so beautiful about watching someone thrive when they’re doing what they truly love.
౨ৎ oliver. a man completely obsessed—and i could easily recognize that. he’s so supportive in every way, always standing behind the people he cares about. he’s definitely someone you could depend on without hesitation. i absolutely adore it when a man does something meaningful for a woman and doesn’t feel the need to immediately broadcast it—that’s when you truly know he did it for her, not for the sake of recognition.
as for the story itself, i absolutely loved how priscilla and oliver teamed up to plan their best friends’ proposals—it was such a sweet and heartwarming setup. the misunderstanding between them genuinely confused me at first, but thinking about it now, if that moment hadn’t existed, we wouldn’t have had this story at all. their little moments together were so precious—each interaction held so much weight. i also loved how ryan and tina acted like matchmakers for oliver and priscilla—it was so much fun to watch it unfold. if there’s one thing I wished for, though, it’s that priscilla and oliver had even more moments together. it really felt as if the main characters were ryan and tina but it was written with priscilla’s pov.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publisher, and the author for the arc in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
i genuinely can’t believe that i got the e-arc of this book! fun fact: i found out about donna marchetti when i was randomly scrolling thru gr and saw her book! i decided to read it because of its pink cover and absolutely loved the book! i have a good feeling about this <3 wish me luck!
my second book of donna marchetti and it definitely did not disappoint!
after getting fired from her job, priscilla made the bold decision to finally start her own business—with tina becoming her very first client. she's gonna plan her proposal to her boyfriend, ryan. it has to be huge, something similar with how her mom proposed to her dad. there's one complication though, ryan is also planning to propose to tina! that's how priscilla and oliver ended up teaming up with each other to plan their best friends' proposals to each other!!
౨ৎ priscilla. she’s incredibly supportive, always cheering people on even when she's struggling. she doesn't deserve what happened to her, but sometimes, the thing that we didn't want to happen is the one that will lead us to a greater life. there’s just something so beautiful about watching someone thrive when they’re doing what they truly love.
౨ৎ oliver. a man completely obsessed—and i could easily recognize that. he’s so supportive in every way, always standing behind the people he cares about. he’s definitely someone you could depend on without hesitation. i absolutely adore it when a man does something meaningful for a woman and doesn’t feel the need to immediately broadcast it—that’s when you truly know he did it for her, not for the sake of recognition.
as for the story itself, i absolutely loved how priscilla and oliver teamed up to plan their best friends’ proposals—it was such a sweet and heartwarming setup. the misunderstanding between them genuinely confused me at first, but thinking about it now, if that moment hadn’t existed, we wouldn’t have had this story at all. their little moments together were so precious—each interaction held so much weight. i also loved how ryan and tina acted like matchmakers for oliver and priscilla—it was so much fun to watch it unfold. if there’s one thing I wished for, though, it’s that priscilla and oliver had even more moments together. it really felt as if the main characters were ryan and tina but it was written with priscilla’s pov.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins Publisher, and the author for the arc in exchange of my honest review.
・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・。・
pre-read:
i genuinely can’t believe that i got the e-arc of this book! fun fact: i found out about donna marchetti when i was randomly scrolling thru gr and saw her book! i decided to read it because of its pink cover and absolutely loved the book! i have a good feeling about this <3 wish me luck!
April 30, 2025
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✧
3.5 stars rounded up
౨ৎ arc review ⋆˙⟡
the proposal project is a fun rom com about two rivals planning their best friends’ proposal. priscilla and oliver have always been rivals… right? priscilla has hated oliver ever since she drunkenly confessed that she was “obsessed” with him, a few years back. now, priscilla’s best friend, tina, and oliver’s best friend, ryan, are getting engaged, and both priscilla and oliver are tasked with planning their friend’s proposal. in a race to get their side to propose first, all cards are on the table with unlikely alliances, and even… their hearts?
after reading hate mail almost a year ago and absolutely loving it, i had to read the next book by this author, and boy, it did not disappoint! the humor in this book is top notch, while the characters themselves are so lovable. normally, i’m not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, but i think it was really well executed in this book. the proposal project definitely rides the line between funny and cheesy, which made for some parts that gave me major secondhand embarrassment. i also thought that the ending was kind of perfect for this book, and it honestly pulled on my heartstrings a bit.
features -
୨ৎ fake dating
ꨄ spicy (NA)
୨ৎ miscommunication
ꨄ best man x MOH
୨ৎ enemies(?) to lovers
ꨄ first person
୨ৎ single POV
ꨄ rom-com
>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own <3
- preread -
i need something sweet and fluffy after all of those romantasy rereads 😅
3.5 stars rounded up
౨ৎ arc review ⋆˙⟡
⊹ ࣪ ˖ overview ᥫ᭡.
the proposal project is a fun rom com about two rivals planning their best friends’ proposal. priscilla and oliver have always been rivals… right? priscilla has hated oliver ever since she drunkenly confessed that she was “obsessed” with him, a few years back. now, priscilla’s best friend, tina, and oliver’s best friend, ryan, are getting engaged, and both priscilla and oliver are tasked with planning their friend’s proposal. in a race to get their side to propose first, all cards are on the table with unlikely alliances, and even… their hearts?
⊹ ࣪ ˖ my thoughts ᥫ᭡.
after reading hate mail almost a year ago and absolutely loving it, i had to read the next book by this author, and boy, it did not disappoint! the humor in this book is top notch, while the characters themselves are so lovable. normally, i’m not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, but i think it was really well executed in this book. the proposal project definitely rides the line between funny and cheesy, which made for some parts that gave me major secondhand embarrassment. i also thought that the ending was kind of perfect for this book, and it honestly pulled on my heartstrings a bit.
features -
୨ৎ fake dating
ꨄ spicy (NA)
୨ৎ miscommunication
ꨄ best man x MOH
୨ৎ enemies(?) to lovers
ꨄ first person
୨ৎ single POV
ꨄ rom-com
>> thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc - all thoughts are my own <3
- preread -
i need something sweet and fluffy after all of those romantasy rereads 😅
July 19, 2025
“falling in love was never part of the plan…”
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚༉‧₊˚✧˚₊⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 1/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: event planner priscilla cain has been asked to plan her best friend tina’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend ryan. but when ryan secretly plans to propose at the same time, priscilla and oliver (ryan’s best friend) team up to pull off a double proposal—only for things to get messy.
༉‧₊˚❀ spice rating: 2.5/5 — a bit steamy, but couldn’t distract me from the chaos
༉‧₊˚❀ thoughts:
i really wanted to love this one, especially since donna killed it with hate mail. but the proposal project? it was rough. tina is easily one of the worst “best friends” i’ve ever read—overbearing, cringe, and throwing money around like it erases emotional labor. the whole premise had potential, but the execution was so tone-deaf. tina’s lavish proposal plan for her own fiancé? pointless. priscilla is messily forced into online condom confessions and oral sex therapy talk? bizarre and jarring. the power dynamic—is she literally going on unemployment, then suddenly thriving? it makes zero sense.
priscilla has zero backbone. she lets tina dictate her life, her career, and her fake engagement with zero protest. and oliver, bless him, is totally oblivious and flat. their romance? no spark. no chemistry. i didn’t feel the slow burn or the tension—they just were. enemies-to-lovers felt skipped. fake dating felt shallow. miscommunication was nonstop and exhausting.
i almost dnf’d multiple times because i was so frustrated. even the sex scenes couldn’t breathe life into this book. none of the characters felt worth rooting for. it’s painful to say, but this one missed the mark so hard. i wish donna would go back to giving us that goofy, fun, emotionally resonant storytelling she’s so good at. this just wasn’t it.
༉‧₊˚❀ tropes:
ꕥ fake dating
ꕥ friends to lovers (forced and hollow)
ꕥ fake engagement
ꕥ meddling best friend
ꕥ miscommunication overload
༉‧₊˚❀ fave quotes:**
✿ “falling in love was never part of the plan…” — plot teaser
✿ “sometimes love isn’t about the grand gesture. sometimes it’s just showing up.”
✿ “you deserve someone who wants to be with you, not someone who’s trying to prove a point.”
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚༉‧₊˚✧˚₊⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
༉‧₊˚❀ rating: 1/5 stars
༉‧₊˚❀ summary: event planner priscilla cain has been asked to plan her best friend tina’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend ryan. but when ryan secretly plans to propose at the same time, priscilla and oliver (ryan’s best friend) team up to pull off a double proposal—only for things to get messy.
༉‧₊˚❀ spice rating: 2.5/5 — a bit steamy, but couldn’t distract me from the chaos
༉‧₊˚❀ thoughts:
i really wanted to love this one, especially since donna killed it with hate mail. but the proposal project? it was rough. tina is easily one of the worst “best friends” i’ve ever read—overbearing, cringe, and throwing money around like it erases emotional labor. the whole premise had potential, but the execution was so tone-deaf. tina’s lavish proposal plan for her own fiancé? pointless. priscilla is messily forced into online condom confessions and oral sex therapy talk? bizarre and jarring. the power dynamic—is she literally going on unemployment, then suddenly thriving? it makes zero sense.
priscilla has zero backbone. she lets tina dictate her life, her career, and her fake engagement with zero protest. and oliver, bless him, is totally oblivious and flat. their romance? no spark. no chemistry. i didn’t feel the slow burn or the tension—they just were. enemies-to-lovers felt skipped. fake dating felt shallow. miscommunication was nonstop and exhausting.
i almost dnf’d multiple times because i was so frustrated. even the sex scenes couldn’t breathe life into this book. none of the characters felt worth rooting for. it’s painful to say, but this one missed the mark so hard. i wish donna would go back to giving us that goofy, fun, emotionally resonant storytelling she’s so good at. this just wasn’t it.
༉‧₊˚❀ tropes:
ꕥ fake dating
ꕥ friends to lovers (forced and hollow)
ꕥ fake engagement
ꕥ meddling best friend
ꕥ miscommunication overload
༉‧₊˚❀ fave quotes:**
✿ “falling in love was never part of the plan…” — plot teaser
✿ “sometimes love isn’t about the grand gesture. sometimes it’s just showing up.”
✿ “you deserve someone who wants to be with you, not someone who’s trying to prove a point.”
June 17, 2025
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 execute 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!
Read if you like:
💐Enemies to Lovers💐
💐Only One Bed💐
💐Forced Proximity💐
💐Steamy Scenes💐
💐Fake Dating💐
💐Miscommunication💐
~Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
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!
Read if you like:
💐Enemies to Lovers💐
💐Only One Bed💐
💐Forced Proximity💐
💐Steamy Scenes💐
💐Fake Dating💐
💐Miscommunication💐
~Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
April 11, 2025
One proposal, two scheming best friends, and a whole lot of unexpected chemistry… what could go wrong?
The Proposal Project is a fun, trope-filled rom-com with a charming premise and plenty of flirty moments. Event planner Priscilla teaming up with her best friend’s best man to plan a secret joint proposal? It’s got all the right ingredients for chaos, comedy, and unexpected romance.
I loved the forced proximity setup, cabin getaway tension, and classic “one bed” moment—all delivered with playful energy and a clear affection for the genre. While I found the characters’ miscommunication slightly frustrating at times, the writing is light, engaging, and easy to fly through. It's a fun and super cute rom-com, perfect for a lighthearted weekend read.
Perfect for fans of trope-heavy, low-angst romantic comedies, this is a sweet, feel-good read with a guaranteed HEA and a whole lot of heart.
The Proposal Project is a fun, trope-filled rom-com with a charming premise and plenty of flirty moments. Event planner Priscilla teaming up with her best friend’s best man to plan a secret joint proposal? It’s got all the right ingredients for chaos, comedy, and unexpected romance.
I loved the forced proximity setup, cabin getaway tension, and classic “one bed” moment—all delivered with playful energy and a clear affection for the genre. While I found the characters’ miscommunication slightly frustrating at times, the writing is light, engaging, and easy to fly through. It's a fun and super cute rom-com, perfect for a lighthearted weekend read.
Perfect for fans of trope-heavy, low-angst romantic comedies, this is a sweet, feel-good read with a guaranteed HEA and a whole lot of heart.
June 19, 2025
This was SUCH a good time omg I loved it. I had average expectations going in but it really exceeded that and more. I would find myself thinking about going back to this book any time I wasn’t reading. I loved the characters and the story and the setup.
Priscilla was litch the cutest button I swearrrr she’s adorable but also competent and really loveable. She did make some silly decisions which I ignored lmao. Her inner monologue was so comforting bc she’s an overthinker and I felt that on a deeper level 😭
Oliver had me blushing twirling my hair biting my finger waiting with bated breath for what he would do next. Whenever he’d enter the scene I’d magically find the strength to blink back sleep and read one last chapter.
The only reason this isn’t a five is bc the reason for the misunderstanding was very blown out of proportion but it also wasn’t given enough importance when it came time to resolve the matter. I hoped she would mention her dad to Oliver and how the word triggers her but that never happened. It felt a little rushed. But that was the only thing that was the con of this book. Other than that I genuinely had the best time.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC! ♥︎
Priscilla was litch the cutest button I swearrrr she’s adorable but also competent and really loveable. She did make some silly decisions which I ignored lmao. Her inner monologue was so comforting bc she’s an overthinker and I felt that on a deeper level 😭
Oliver had me blushing twirling my hair biting my finger waiting with bated breath for what he would do next. Whenever he’d enter the scene I’d magically find the strength to blink back sleep and read one last chapter.
The only reason this isn’t a five is bc the reason for the misunderstanding was very blown out of proportion but it also wasn’t given enough importance when it came time to resolve the matter. I hoped she would mention her dad to Oliver and how the word triggers her but that never happened. It felt a little rushed. But that was the only thing that was the con of this book. Other than that I genuinely had the best time.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC! ♥︎
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April 24, 2025
1 star ☆.
⤿ arc (rant) review
this is a rant a review and I’m about to be hateful, so if you can’t handle an opinion I suggest you click off this review. genuinely what did I just read 😐 this was the most stupid, goofy, cringe, juvenile book i’ve read this year because what. i’m genuinely still processing this book and wondering why I didn’t dnf it while I still could. this book was terrible, from the writing to the characters i hated everything and everyone. our two main characters were so effing dumb and clueless I was seriously questioning if i was making up the shit I was reading. these two idiots jump into a fake dating relationship because their weird ass friends coincidentally are planning on proposing at the same time 😱 how stupid. but I could move past that.
now what I couldn’t get over was how badly the romance was developed. we went from 0 to 5 million in the span of a couple words? their “relationship” if you can even call it that was fully built of lust and no one can convince me otherwise. these 30 yr olds (I actually have no idea how old they are) we’re fully acting like kids with the endless miscommunication. oh and this book was so repetitive holy crap, it was an endless cycle of making out and two seconds later “it was all for show but I have real feelings for him” blah blah blah. boring. ALSO, at the beginning of the book priscilla or whatever the heck her name is discovered this journal that oliver desperately didn’t want her to see. she read a bit of a poem which talked about some beautiful chocolate eyes or whatever the fuck it was, obviously i figured it was about her but they NEVER BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN?? like what ?? what even was the point of that then. talk about plot holes
if you know me, you know im not the biggest fan of spice but to be honest I can often overlook it and i’ll just skip the pages no issue. tell me why two minutes after an argument these two fools had me skipping half the book. and I’m supposed to believe this is all based off love? right, right. the romance was so overly packed with tropes, everything about them felt forced and staged. and when I thought we couldn’t get worse than our main characters, the fmcs best friend got introduced. if this is what having a best friend looks like during adulthood I would rather be alone forever. i wanted to smack the shit out of her. terrible characters, a terrible plot and some really questionable writing. i skimmed the last 10% and i’m so glad to finally be free of that horrible experience.
note: this was written at like 3am so excuse any bad writing 😭
—
— ⋆✴︎ pre-read : i’ve been in a romance mood and just got accepted for this arc, it’s a sign
⤿ arc (rant) review
this is a rant a review and I’m about to be hateful, so if you can’t handle an opinion I suggest you click off this review. genuinely what did I just read 😐 this was the most stupid, goofy, cringe, juvenile book i’ve read this year because what. i’m genuinely still processing this book and wondering why I didn’t dnf it while I still could. this book was terrible, from the writing to the characters i hated everything and everyone. our two main characters were so effing dumb and clueless I was seriously questioning if i was making up the shit I was reading. these two idiots jump into a fake dating relationship because their weird ass friends coincidentally are planning on proposing at the same time 😱 how stupid. but I could move past that.
now what I couldn’t get over was how badly the romance was developed. we went from 0 to 5 million in the span of a couple words? their “relationship” if you can even call it that was fully built of lust and no one can convince me otherwise. these 30 yr olds (I actually have no idea how old they are) we’re fully acting like kids with the endless miscommunication. oh and this book was so repetitive holy crap, it was an endless cycle of making out and two seconds later “it was all for show but I have real feelings for him” blah blah blah. boring. ALSO, at the beginning of the book priscilla or whatever the heck her name is discovered this journal that oliver desperately didn’t want her to see. she read a bit of a poem which talked about some beautiful chocolate eyes or whatever the fuck it was, obviously i figured it was about her but they NEVER BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN?? like what ?? what even was the point of that then. talk about plot holes
if you know me, you know im not the biggest fan of spice but to be honest I can often overlook it and i’ll just skip the pages no issue. tell me why two minutes after an argument these two fools had me skipping half the book. and I’m supposed to believe this is all based off love? right, right. the romance was so overly packed with tropes, everything about them felt forced and staged. and when I thought we couldn’t get worse than our main characters, the fmcs best friend got introduced. if this is what having a best friend looks like during adulthood I would rather be alone forever. i wanted to smack the shit out of her. terrible characters, a terrible plot and some really questionable writing. i skimmed the last 10% and i’m so glad to finally be free of that horrible experience.
note: this was written at like 3am so excuse any bad writing 😭
—
— ⋆✴︎ pre-read : i’ve been in a romance mood and just got accepted for this arc, it’s a sign
June 5, 2025
Ahhh I couldn't stop reading! I loved this!
I loveeee their chemistry and the tension was so amazing!
The Proposal Project is about our FMC called Priscilla who was fired from her job and doesn't know what to do next, until her bestie Tina decides she wants to propose to her partner Ryan! However, she finds out that Ryan is trying to do the same using his best friend Oliver to help plan the best proposal. Priscilla enlists Oliver to help make the ultimate double proposal for their besties. Easy right? Not quite, they really don't get on and she can't stand him. This makes for an amazing story with banter, tension and a slight miscommunication 😉
We have fake dating, he falls first, enemies (eh kinda) to lovers 🔥
I don't normally like miscommunication but I feel like the way it was done in this books was really good! I could completely see how she felt but I also understood from his side!
The story between Oliver and Priscilla is sooo good!! He's the perfect guy, he really shows that he cares for her. She was such a lovable FMC and I could relate to her in a lot of ways, not seeing people for who they are and trying to see the best in everyone and her overthinking made me feel so seen!
I was so not expecting to be approved for the arc of this book!! Thank you to Donna Marchetti & Harper Collins! 💗
I loveeee their chemistry and the tension was so amazing!
The Proposal Project is about our FMC called Priscilla who was fired from her job and doesn't know what to do next, until her bestie Tina decides she wants to propose to her partner Ryan! However, she finds out that Ryan is trying to do the same using his best friend Oliver to help plan the best proposal. Priscilla enlists Oliver to help make the ultimate double proposal for their besties. Easy right? Not quite, they really don't get on and she can't stand him. This makes for an amazing story with banter, tension and a slight miscommunication 😉
We have fake dating, he falls first, enemies (eh kinda) to lovers 🔥
I don't normally like miscommunication but I feel like the way it was done in this books was really good! I could completely see how she felt but I also understood from his side!
The story between Oliver and Priscilla is sooo good!! He's the perfect guy, he really shows that he cares for her. She was such a lovable FMC and I could relate to her in a lot of ways, not seeing people for who they are and trying to see the best in everyone and her overthinking made me feel so seen!
I was so not expecting to be approved for the arc of this book!! Thank you to Donna Marchetti & Harper Collins! 💗
June 9, 2025
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 mc’s! 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.
thank you to netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
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 mc’s! 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.
thank you to netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
July 3, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After losing her job, event planner Priscilla Cain is determined to help her best friend plan the perfect proposal—until she discovers the groom-to-be has plans of his own. Forced to team up with his infuriating (and annoyingly attractive) best friend Oliver, Priscilla must navigate secret scheming, close quarters, and unexpected chemistry. As the proposal takes shape, so does a potential love story neither of them saw coming.
While I was intrigue by the premise (In another live, I’d LOVE to be an event planner!) , this book just wasn’t it for me. Honestly, I probably should have DNF’ed it. Though it’s described as an enemies to lovers, it leaned very heavily into the miscommunication trope. Not only that, I found Priscilla to be shockingly juvenile for her age- I needed much more emotional maturity in order to connect with her. I also felt the romance lacked substance and depth. While there were some cute moments, overall it just fell flat for me.
April 15, 2025
Contemporary romance is GIVING. This was a delightful enemies to fake daters to lovers!
I loved the premise and execution. The writing felt effortless and the romantic tension built in the most glorious way.
Definitely a top read of the year.
I loved the premise and execution. The writing felt effortless and the romantic tension built in the most glorious way.
Definitely a top read of the year.
May 14, 2025
Thank you to HarperCollins & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
I fear my review won't be very constructive because the whole time i just felt like i was playing episode but in a book format
I fear my review won't be very constructive because the whole time i just felt like i was playing episode but in a book format
August 2, 2025
this book was so funny and romantic. ugh it was perfect (i am now depressed) 😭
July 8, 2025
4.2⭐ | Enemies(ish) to co-conspirators to “are we fake dating or actually dating???” energy and I LOVED it.
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This book is chaotic in the best way. Priscilla’s just trying to survive unemployment and plan a proposal for her best friend, but instead ends up fake-dating her nemesis Oliver and plotting a dual proposal. It’s giving: ✨ “we hate each other but also maybe I like your face” ✨ vibes. Oliver is infuriating and weirdly hot, and Priscilla is a human Pinterest board of stress, ambition, and internal screaming — so of course I rooted for them.
Their banter? Top-tier. Their awkward forced teamwork? Chef’s kiss. Add in fake dating, meddling besties, and one very public, very over-the-top proposal plan and you’ve got romcom gold. Did some moments make me want to scream “COMMUNICATE”? Yes. Did I enjoy the ride anyway? Absolutely. Also shoutout to Oliver for being secretly obsessed the entire time — we see you, sir 👀
Tropes I devoured:
✓ Fake dating (for the proposal™)
✓ Enemies to lovers (but like… light enemies)
✓ Forced proximity (wedding edition)
✓ “You’re not so bad when you’re not being annoying”
✓ Secret pining
✓ One bed. Of course.
Romcom readers, grab your color-coded planners and jump in. This one's a mess — a fun, sweet, tropey mess with a gooey center.
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This book is chaotic in the best way. Priscilla’s just trying to survive unemployment and plan a proposal for her best friend, but instead ends up fake-dating her nemesis Oliver and plotting a dual proposal. It’s giving: ✨ “we hate each other but also maybe I like your face” ✨ vibes. Oliver is infuriating and weirdly hot, and Priscilla is a human Pinterest board of stress, ambition, and internal screaming — so of course I rooted for them.
Their banter? Top-tier. Their awkward forced teamwork? Chef’s kiss. Add in fake dating, meddling besties, and one very public, very over-the-top proposal plan and you’ve got romcom gold. Did some moments make me want to scream “COMMUNICATE”? Yes. Did I enjoy the ride anyway? Absolutely. Also shoutout to Oliver for being secretly obsessed the entire time — we see you, sir 👀
Tropes I devoured:
✓ Fake dating (for the proposal™)
✓ Enemies to lovers (but like… light enemies)
✓ Forced proximity (wedding edition)
✓ “You’re not so bad when you’re not being annoying”
✓ Secret pining
✓ One bed. Of course.
Romcom readers, grab your color-coded planners and jump in. This one's a mess — a fun, sweet, tropey mess with a gooey center.
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September 15, 2025
i love a fake dating story with great banger and hilarious moments but this one was a bit lacking for me. the fmc priscilla is a major overthinker which was VERY relatable because same girl. however, i will i didn’t feel the chemistry or speaks with the romance between the fmc and mmc. there was a lot of miscommunication between the two. i wanted to enjoy this more but sadly it just didn’t work for me.
job event planner priscilla has been asked to plan her best friend’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend ryan, except it appears he might beat her to it. the solution? team up with ryan’s obnoxious but beautiful best friend oliver to plan a joint proposal. they keep their unlikely alliance a secret to their friends. as they work on the proposal, will another happily ever after be in the cards?
tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, cabin getaway, meddling friends
💍💐💋🤫⛺️
job event planner priscilla has been asked to plan her best friend’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend ryan, except it appears he might beat her to it. the solution? team up with ryan’s obnoxious but beautiful best friend oliver to plan a joint proposal. they keep their unlikely alliance a secret to their friends. as they work on the proposal, will another happily ever after be in the cards?
tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, cabin getaway, meddling friends
💍💐💋🤫⛺️
July 7, 2025
can someone please help me find the chemistry between these two? and while we're at it, let's teach every single character in this book how to have civil conversations and give them a bonus course on respecting PRIVACY. this was my most anticipated read of the summer. I am so disappointed.
![Profile Image for joni ౨ৎ - [semi hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1752411492i%2F167534965._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
Want to read
March 15, 2025i need this omg
April 6, 2025
the proposal project’s the second book written by donna marchetti that i’ve read and if i have to be honest binged because one the amazing things about donna marchetti’s books’s that her books are a very adorable with 2000s romcoms vibes escape and so every time i start a new book written by her in the end I’ll be ending reading it in a full sitting of reading… but nobody that knows me would be surprised actually since i’m such a romcom girl…🎀💗💐
in this book we have priscilla our girl that after being fired decides thanks to the help of her best friend tina to start her business as an event planner and guess who’s her first client? yes! u get it right! tina because she will help her plan her dream marriage proposal to her boyfriend, ryan but there is just a little problem called oliver aka ryan’s best friend and priscilla’s enemy because oliver’s helping ryan with his proposal and after tina will discover this she has to start working with oliver to not ruin her best friend plan… 🤓 from things and misunderstanding while trying to not let the secrets out oliver and priscilla will start fake dating and go to double dates with their besties and this will lead to a lot of funny moments but also very cute that will help to connect and eventually fall in love 😁
this book’s such a lovely ride and honestly perfect for the spring and summer vibes in my opinion and besides loving to read about priscilla and oliver i also loved to read about tina and ryan because the friendship’s part was cute and funny too and it was easy to immerse myself with all of the characters 🫶🏻 and so if u are in the mood for a light hearted romcom well this one will be waiting for u this summer!!
a lot of thanks to netgalley, harpercollins uk and one more chapter for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!!
in this book we have priscilla our girl that after being fired decides thanks to the help of her best friend tina to start her business as an event planner and guess who’s her first client? yes! u get it right! tina because she will help her plan her dream marriage proposal to her boyfriend, ryan but there is just a little problem called oliver aka ryan’s best friend and priscilla’s enemy because oliver’s helping ryan with his proposal and after tina will discover this she has to start working with oliver to not ruin her best friend plan… 🤓 from things and misunderstanding while trying to not let the secrets out oliver and priscilla will start fake dating and go to double dates with their besties and this will lead to a lot of funny moments but also very cute that will help to connect and eventually fall in love 😁
this book’s such a lovely ride and honestly perfect for the spring and summer vibes in my opinion and besides loving to read about priscilla and oliver i also loved to read about tina and ryan because the friendship’s part was cute and funny too and it was easy to immerse myself with all of the characters 🫶🏻 and so if u are in the mood for a light hearted romcom well this one will be waiting for u this summer!!
a lot of thanks to netgalley, harpercollins uk and one more chapter for sending me the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!!
April 15, 2025
𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙥𝙚𝙧𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙨 𝙐𝙆 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮!
This was such a lighthearted, fluffy and easy read, especially if you're looking for a palette cleanser! It was a fun time, nothing too complex or serious so if you want something intense or heavy, you may not enjoy it.
However, I do wish we got a little more out of Priscilla and Oliver's relationship. They didn't get together until the last few chapters (which I don't mind because I love me a good slow burn) but I wish their story had a little more depth. Since Oliver's pov wasn't in it, I wish we got more insights on his character like who his parents are or his childhood or whatever makes him HIM. Things were definitely missing here and there but it's a fun time overall.
This was such a lighthearted, fluffy and easy read, especially if you're looking for a palette cleanser! It was a fun time, nothing too complex or serious so if you want something intense or heavy, you may not enjoy it.
However, I do wish we got a little more out of Priscilla and Oliver's relationship. They didn't get together until the last few chapters (which I don't mind because I love me a good slow burn) but I wish their story had a little more depth. Since Oliver's pov wasn't in it, I wish we got more insights on his character like who his parents are or his childhood or whatever makes him HIM. Things were definitely missing here and there but it's a fun time overall.
April 10, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
This was an enjoyable read overall, with a fun premise and a lighthearted vibe. I appreciated the setup and the potential for a swoony romance, but I found myself a bit frustrated by how juvenile the characters' behavior felt at times.
Rather than having honest conversations about their feelings, both the FMC and MMC acted more like teenagers with a crush—dodging, deflecting, and leaning hard into miscommunication. While I understood the FMC’s embarrassment, it was disappointing that the MMC didn’t directly acknowledge how he made her feel. Instead, the story leaned heavily into the miscommunication trope, which felt avoidable and kept the romance from fully landing for me.
That said, there were sweet moments and a charming foundation here—it just needed a bit more emotional maturity and open dialogue to make the relationship feel truly satisfying.
This was an enjoyable read overall, with a fun premise and a lighthearted vibe. I appreciated the setup and the potential for a swoony romance, but I found myself a bit frustrated by how juvenile the characters' behavior felt at times.
Rather than having honest conversations about their feelings, both the FMC and MMC acted more like teenagers with a crush—dodging, deflecting, and leaning hard into miscommunication. While I understood the FMC’s embarrassment, it was disappointing that the MMC didn’t directly acknowledge how he made her feel. Instead, the story leaned heavily into the miscommunication trope, which felt avoidable and kept the romance from fully landing for me.
That said, there were sweet moments and a charming foundation here—it just needed a bit more emotional maturity and open dialogue to make the relationship feel truly satisfying.
dnf
July 22, 2025idk
DNF - 33%
DNF - 33%
June 27, 2025
NETGALLEY ARC - Thank you so much for this opportunity!!!
Rating:
For me it's 4 stars! I really liked this book. It was written in an easy to read way and I read it very fast. In my free time I grabbed my phone and read the book!
Plot:
It's about Priscilla and Oliver. They are friends? Enemies? Lovers? All three? They decide to work together for something their friends plan. But because it's a surprise they can't know. So cue fake dating ;). They start fake dating and they grow closer and closer.
UNTILLLLL miscommunication... But the problems solve very quickly, so everything is okay.
Rating:
For me it's 4 stars! I really liked this book. It was written in an easy to read way and I read it very fast. In my free time I grabbed my phone and read the book!
Plot:
It's about Priscilla and Oliver. They are friends? Enemies? Lovers? All three? They decide to work together for something their friends plan. But because it's a surprise they can't know. So cue fake dating ;). They start fake dating and they grow closer and closer.
UNTILLLLL miscommunication... But the problems solve very quickly, so everything is okay.
July 11, 2025
http://www.writingis.fun/the-proposal...
„The Proposal Project“ от Donna Marchetti беше едно сладко, забавно и очарователно четиво, което прочетох на един дъх. Историята започва с Присила, която губи работата си, но вместо да се предаде, решава да се впусне в сбъдването на дългогодишна мечта – да започне собствен бизнес като организатор на събития. И първата ѝ задача идва директно от най-добрата ѝ приятелка Тина, която планира да направи предложение за брак на приятеля си Раян. Присила се заема с ентусиазъм – и с ясната цел да направи предложението на Тина запомнящо се, вдъхновено от романтичната история на собствените ѝ родители.
Но нещата скоро се усложняват, защото се оказва, че Раян също планира да направи предложение на Тина. Така Присила неочаквано се озовава в екип с Оливър – най-добрият приятел на Раян, когото тя смята за надут, дразнещ и прекалено самоуверен. Двамата се договарят да пазят в тайна общия си план за двойно предложение и да работят заедно… въпреки че в миналото са имали напрегната, недоизказана история помежду си.
Присила беше персонаж, който веднага ме спечели – силна, чувствителна и лоялна. Тя беше винаги готова да подкрепя хората около себе си, дори когато самата тя изпитваше трудности. Имаше нещо много вдъхновяващо в начина, по който се впусна в новото си начинание, рискувайки и влагайки сърцето си изцяло. Оливър пък беше от онези мъжки персонажи, които не просто обичат – те обичат тихо, с действия, без нужда от признание. Неговата загриженост за Присила беше очевидна от самото начало, въпреки опитите му да изглежда невъзмутим. И макар тя упорито да твърдеше, че го „мрази“, между тях имаше химия, която не можеше да бъде пренебрегната.
Много ми хареса цялата динамика около организацията на двойното предложение – беше едновременно романтично и весело. Сцените в хижата, моментите на съпротива и сближаване, преструвките около фалшивата им връзка – всичко това създаде усещането за лек романтичен филм от началото на 2000-те, който просто те кара да се усмихваш. Особено много ми хареса и приятелството между Присила и Тина – искрено, топло и неподправено, като истинско сестринство.
И все пак, трябва да призная, че романтичната линия между Присила и Оливър ми се стори малко повърхностна. Имаше страхотни моменти между тях, пълни с напрежение и закачки, но сякаш липсваха онези по-дълбоки разговори, в които героите да се отворят един пред друг истински. Миналото им беше споменато, но не беше достатъчно развито, а конфликтът, свързан с думата „обсебващ“ и тяхната кратка история отпреди година, заслужаваше повече време и емоционално разгърната развръзка. Присила така и не успя напълно да изрази защо се е почувствала наранена, а самото сближаване между тях премина твърде бързо от „фалшиви гаджета“ към „влюбени“.
Въпреки това, историята ми донесе точно това, от което имах нужда в момента – лекота, чар и романтика. Стилът на Маркети е приятен, диалозите са остроумни, героите – симпатични. А краят оставя усещането за топлина и усмивка. Това е книга, която не се опитва да бъде драматична или дълбока – тя просто иска да ти подари няколко часа чисто удоволствие. Ако харесвате фалшиви връзки, закачки между врагове, романтика с малко хаос и много сърце, The Proposal Project със сигурност ще ви хареса.
След Hate Mail, която също ми беше забавна, тази книга затвърди мнението ми, че Donna Marchetti знае как да пише истории, които се четат леко, усмихват те и ти напомнят, че понякога най-неочакваните планове водят до най-хубавите развръзки.
„The Proposal Project“ от Donna Marchetti беше едно сладко, забавно и очарователно четиво, което прочетох на един дъх. Историята започва с Присила, която губи работата си, но вместо да се предаде, решава да се впусне в сбъдването на дългогодишна мечта – да започне собствен бизнес като организатор на събития. И първата ѝ задача идва директно от най-добрата ѝ приятелка Тина, която планира да направи предложение за брак на приятеля си Раян. Присила се заема с ентусиазъм – и с ясната цел да направи предложението на Тина запомнящо се, вдъхновено от романтичната история на собствените ѝ родители.
Но нещата скоро се усложняват, защото се оказва, че Раян също планира да направи предложение на Тина. Така Присила неочаквано се озовава в екип с Оливър – най-добрият приятел на Раян, когото тя смята за надут, дразнещ и прекалено самоуверен. Двамата се договарят да пазят в тайна общия си план за двойно предложение и да работят заедно… въпреки че в миналото са имали напрегната, недоизказана история помежду си.
Присила беше персонаж, който веднага ме спечели – силна, чувствителна и лоялна. Тя беше винаги готова да подкрепя хората около себе си, дори когато самата тя изпитваше трудности. Имаше нещо много вдъхновяващо в начина, по който се впусна в новото си начинание, рискувайки и влагайки сърцето си изцяло. Оливър пък беше от онези мъжки персонажи, които не просто обичат – те обичат тихо, с действия, без нужда от признание. Неговата загриженост за Присила беше очевидна от самото начало, въпреки опитите му да изглежда невъзмутим. И макар тя упорито да твърдеше, че го „мрази“, между тях имаше химия, която не можеше да бъде пренебрегната.
Много ми хареса цялата динамика около организацията на двойното предложение – беше едновременно романтично и весело. Сцените в хижата, моментите на съпротива и сближаване, преструвките около фалшивата им връзка – всичко това създаде усещането за лек романтичен филм от началото на 2000-те, който просто те кара да се усмихваш. Особено много ми хареса и приятелството между Присила и Тина – искрено, топло и неподправено, като истинско сестринство.
И все пак, трябва да призная, че романтичната линия между Присила и Оливър ми се стори малко повърхностна. Имаше страхотни моменти между тях, пълни с напрежение и закачки, но сякаш липсваха онези по-дълбоки разговори, в които героите да се отворят един пред друг истински. Миналото им беше споменато, но не беше достатъчно развито, а конфликтът, свързан с думата „обсебващ“ и тяхната кратка история отпреди година, заслужаваше повече време и емоционално разгърната развръзка. Присила така и не успя напълно да изрази защо се е почувствала наранена, а самото сближаване между тях премина твърде бързо от „фалшиви гаджета“ към „влюбени“.
Въпреки това, историята ми донесе точно това, от което имах нужда в момента – лекота, чар и романтика. Стилът на Маркети е приятен, диалозите са остроумни, героите – симпатични. А краят оставя усещането за топлина и усмивка. Това е книга, която не се опитва да бъде драматична или дълбока – тя просто иска да ти подари няколко часа чисто удоволствие. Ако харесвате фалшиви връзки, закачки между врагове, романтика с малко хаос и много сърце, The Proposal Project със сигурност ще ви хареса.
След Hate Mail, която също ми беше забавна, тази книга затвърди мнението ми, че Donna Marchetti знае как да пише истории, които се четат леко, усмихват те и ти напомнят, че понякога най-неочакваните планове водят до най-хубавите развръзки.
May 26, 2025
3.75★
I read Hate Mail a while ago, and quite enjoyed it, so I was really excited to receive this eARC. It had the same things I enjoyed about Hate Mail: easy to read, great writing style, humour, and likeable characters.
Oliver — he was a sweetheart. Even though Priscilla was adamant in “hating” him, he still looked out for her, wanted to spend time with her, was a little bit cocky, but he was really just smitten with Priscilla, and was hurt by her rejection of him when they first met. I loved how even though he said it was to help their case with their fake dating plot, he initiated kisses just because he wanted to kiss her. I could tell from the very first moment he liked her.
Priscilla — Man, I am so glad she didn’t end up working for Malcom. He was an ass who was condescending and overly-flirty. He didn’t take a hint and was so full of himself. I’m proud Priscilla decided to open her own business, and it worked in her favour, and I’m happy that Tina gave her that push. I loved the relationship between Priscilla and Tina, it felt like a genuine sisterhood where they both loved each other unconditionally.
The Romance — this is where I was a bit underwhelmed. We got a lot of Oliver and Priscilla working together to plan the joint proposal, and we got scenes of them acting out their fake-dating plot, but we don’t actually see any emotional or romantic development between them. It’s like we’re expected to trust that they know each other from when they were previously friends for one week, a whole year ago. They don’t really learn anything new about each other or have any deep conversations. I would have loved to see Priscilla have a deep conversation where she explains, in her point of view, how Oliver hurt her and why. I wanted her to express why him using the word “obsessive” was so hurtful to her. There was A LOT of miscommunication that probably could have been avoided.
However, I did really enjoy their banter and the few cute moments they did have. I could really see them being a believable couple if only there was more development. It felt like it went from frenemies-friends-I love you very quickly, with no in between.
Overall though, I did enjoy this and it was an entertaining, quick read. It was funny, sweet, and had good romantic moments.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I read Hate Mail a while ago, and quite enjoyed it, so I was really excited to receive this eARC. It had the same things I enjoyed about Hate Mail: easy to read, great writing style, humour, and likeable characters.
Oliver — he was a sweetheart. Even though Priscilla was adamant in “hating” him, he still looked out for her, wanted to spend time with her, was a little bit cocky, but he was really just smitten with Priscilla, and was hurt by her rejection of him when they first met. I loved how even though he said it was to help their case with their fake dating plot, he initiated kisses just because he wanted to kiss her. I could tell from the very first moment he liked her.
Priscilla — Man, I am so glad she didn’t end up working for Malcom. He was an ass who was condescending and overly-flirty. He didn’t take a hint and was so full of himself. I’m proud Priscilla decided to open her own business, and it worked in her favour, and I’m happy that Tina gave her that push. I loved the relationship between Priscilla and Tina, it felt like a genuine sisterhood where they both loved each other unconditionally.
The Romance — this is where I was a bit underwhelmed. We got a lot of Oliver and Priscilla working together to plan the joint proposal, and we got scenes of them acting out their fake-dating plot, but we don’t actually see any emotional or romantic development between them. It’s like we’re expected to trust that they know each other from when they were previously friends for one week, a whole year ago. They don’t really learn anything new about each other or have any deep conversations. I would have loved to see Priscilla have a deep conversation where she explains, in her point of view, how Oliver hurt her and why. I wanted her to express why him using the word “obsessive” was so hurtful to her. There was A LOT of miscommunication that probably could have been avoided.
However, I did really enjoy their banter and the few cute moments they did have. I could really see them being a believable couple if only there was more development. It felt like it went from frenemies-friends-I love you very quickly, with no in between.
Overall though, I did enjoy this and it was an entertaining, quick read. It was funny, sweet, and had good romantic moments.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, and Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
June 5, 2025
this was atrocious …
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this copy.
Before reading, I was sure I was going to like this book. But after just a few chapters I realized I was completely wrong. And I feel bad that I didn’t enjoy it, but I just can’t.
The premise is interesting and sounds fun, but the story is a whole mess. My main problems were the characters. All of them.
Priscilla, the FMC, is SO childish. I actually couldn’t believe she’s in her 30s (I’m guessing, because their age isn’t stated a single time). The book opens with her arguing with her boss over a… tape dispenser? After she just got fired. Like, what? And why would her boss know that she wants it just because it’s shaped like a heel shoe? What kind of conversation is that?
I don’t wanna spoil too much, but she not only childish, but also extremely selfish. When she tries to get Oliver to stop Ryan from proposing she sounds like a toddler having a tantrum. And don’t get me started on the miscommunication between her and Oliver. Oh my God, grow up!
Priscilla’s best friend, Tina is not a good friend, I’m sorry. What do you mean she openly discuss Priscilla’s sex life in front of Ryan and Oliver, like ??? And the text messages she sent? I couldn’t stand it.
Oliver, well, he’s… there. I honestly don’t care about him? The single POV didn’t help. All his actions felt forced and there was a lot of telling instead of showing.
All in all, everything was just annoying. Also, the idea of a double proposal sounds fun in theory, but fireworks? A flash mob? What is that ???? How old are we?
There were also a couple of plot holes that were probably just thrown there to check some trope boxes because they were mentioned and never explained (the note book ?????).
I ended up skimming most of it, especially the end, because it got really boring and I just wanted it to finish.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this copy.
Before reading, I was sure I was going to like this book. But after just a few chapters I realized I was completely wrong. And I feel bad that I didn’t enjoy it, but I just can’t.
The premise is interesting and sounds fun, but the story is a whole mess. My main problems were the characters. All of them.
Priscilla, the FMC, is SO childish. I actually couldn’t believe she’s in her 30s (I’m guessing, because their age isn’t stated a single time). The book opens with her arguing with her boss over a… tape dispenser? After she just got fired. Like, what? And why would her boss know that she wants it just because it’s shaped like a heel shoe? What kind of conversation is that?
I don’t wanna spoil too much, but she not only childish, but also extremely selfish. When she tries to get Oliver to stop Ryan from proposing she sounds like a toddler having a tantrum. And don’t get me started on the miscommunication between her and Oliver. Oh my God, grow up!
Priscilla’s best friend, Tina is not a good friend, I’m sorry. What do you mean she openly discuss Priscilla’s sex life in front of Ryan and Oliver, like ??? And the text messages she sent? I couldn’t stand it.
Oliver, well, he’s… there. I honestly don’t care about him? The single POV didn’t help. All his actions felt forced and there was a lot of telling instead of showing.
All in all, everything was just annoying. Also, the idea of a double proposal sounds fun in theory, but fireworks? A flash mob? What is that ???? How old are we?
There were also a couple of plot holes that were probably just thrown there to check some trope boxes because they were mentioned and never explained (the note book ?????).
I ended up skimming most of it, especially the end, because it got really boring and I just wanted it to finish.
April 20, 2025
If you want a lighthearted, fluffy and quick read with ALL the tropes, then this is a book for you. I read it in about 3 hours while lounging in the sun, and I kept wishing I were on a beach somewhere, because it would be the perfect vacation read.
After she's fired from her job, Priscilla is persuaded by her best friend Tina to start up her own even-planning business. And Tina wants to be her first official client, given that she's decided she wants to propose to her boyfriend Ryan. Little do they know that Ryan is planning a proposal of his own and has asked his best friend Oliver to help him out. Priscilla and Oliver agree to head up a joint proposal project so that everything will (hopefully) go smoothly and so that both of their best friends will have a proposal they won't forget.
There's only one problem: they can't stand each other so having to spend all this time together is going to be a real hardship.
I ended up liking this a lot more than I suspected I would after the first couple of chapters. The writing isn't my favourite style, but I liked Priscilla and Oliver quite a bit. It becomes quite clear very early on that their mutual animosity is actually more of a one-sided affair as Priscilla thinks Oliver dislikes her right back. But of course the fact that they don't get along is all based on a misunderstanding.
If I had a dollar for every conflict in a romance book that could be solved by having one conversation, I'd be pretty rich.
Now, normally I don't like the huge miscommunication thing at all. And don't get me wrong, I didn't like it any better here (there's a lot of assumptions being made, constantly, that could be fixed by just opening up and talking but hey), but I did tolerate it better than I usually would. Maybe because everything was so predictable and I was in the mood for predictability.
The characters are also one-dimensional and they make questionable choices and don't seem to have any notion of personal boundaries. Their age is never mentioned (or any other background stuff, for that matter) but they behave like teenagers most of the time, which was a weird choice.
On the good side, though, this is blissfully low on drama and I am always appreciative of that. So, if you don't expect this to be anything more than just a standard, brainless, early 2000s romcom, you'll be fine.
Oh, this also needs another good read-through by an editor. But given that I read an ARC, I am more forgiving of this and hoping some things that didn't entirely make sense might still get cut.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
After she's fired from her job, Priscilla is persuaded by her best friend Tina to start up her own even-planning business. And Tina wants to be her first official client, given that she's decided she wants to propose to her boyfriend Ryan. Little do they know that Ryan is planning a proposal of his own and has asked his best friend Oliver to help him out. Priscilla and Oliver agree to head up a joint proposal project so that everything will (hopefully) go smoothly and so that both of their best friends will have a proposal they won't forget.
There's only one problem: they can't stand each other so having to spend all this time together is going to be a real hardship.
I ended up liking this a lot more than I suspected I would after the first couple of chapters. The writing isn't my favourite style, but I liked Priscilla and Oliver quite a bit. It becomes quite clear very early on that their mutual animosity is actually more of a one-sided affair as Priscilla thinks Oliver dislikes her right back. But of course the fact that they don't get along is all based on a misunderstanding.
If I had a dollar for every conflict in a romance book that could be solved by having one conversation, I'd be pretty rich.
Now, normally I don't like the huge miscommunication thing at all. And don't get me wrong, I didn't like it any better here (there's a lot of assumptions being made, constantly, that could be fixed by just opening up and talking but hey), but I did tolerate it better than I usually would. Maybe because everything was so predictable and I was in the mood for predictability.
The characters are also one-dimensional and they make questionable choices and don't seem to have any notion of personal boundaries. Their age is never mentioned (or any other background stuff, for that matter) but they behave like teenagers most of the time, which was a weird choice.
On the good side, though, this is blissfully low on drama and I am always appreciative of that. So, if you don't expect this to be anything more than just a standard, brainless, early 2000s romcom, you'll be fine.
Oh, this also needs another good read-through by an editor. But given that I read an ARC, I am more forgiving of this and hoping some things that didn't entirely make sense might still get cut.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Want to read
February 13, 2025THE COVER IS STUNNING!!!
July 13, 2025
depois de hate mail, acho que acabei colocando muita expectativa nesse aqui e confesso que me decepcionei um pouco. todos os pontos da trama parecem receber menos profundidade em comparação com o outro. a ideia é boa e tem potencial, com a competição entre dois melhores amigos dos melhores amigos, um plano de fake dating e muito clima de comédia romântica, mas a execução acabou ficando um pouco rasa.
senti ambos os casais meio sem química, e até a amizade entre eles parecia um pouco passiva agressiva, principalmente entre a tina e a priscilla. o romance se apoia bastante no trope de miscommunication e num insta love que não me convenceu tanto. a gente passa o livro inteiro acompanhando a dinâmica deles, mas termina sem saber nada muito concreto sobre quem são essas pessoas de verdade.
mesmo assim, não foi uma leitura desagradável. tem cenas engraçadas, ritmo rápido e uma vibe leve que pode funcionar super bem dependendo do momento de quem lê. é bobinho no melhor dos sentidos, com aquele tom de filme de sessão da tarde que às vezes é tudo que a gente precisa. ideal pra sair de uma ressaca literária ou só curtir um fim de semana preguiçoso.
senti ambos os casais meio sem química, e até a amizade entre eles parecia um pouco passiva agressiva, principalmente entre a tina e a priscilla. o romance se apoia bastante no trope de miscommunication e num insta love que não me convenceu tanto. a gente passa o livro inteiro acompanhando a dinâmica deles, mas termina sem saber nada muito concreto sobre quem são essas pessoas de verdade.
mesmo assim, não foi uma leitura desagradável. tem cenas engraçadas, ritmo rápido e uma vibe leve que pode funcionar super bem dependendo do momento de quem lê. é bobinho no melhor dos sentidos, com aquele tom de filme de sessão da tarde que às vezes é tudo que a gente precisa. ideal pra sair de uma ressaca literária ou só curtir um fim de semana preguiçoso.
June 18, 2025
I flew through this book. What a fantastic summer read. I love the fake dating trope so this was perfect for me.
The characters are fun, relatable and likable. I enjoyed the history between Pricilla and Oliver as it added depth to their relationship, it would have been weird if they didn't really know each other well before this. It's feel-good, 2000s rom-com vibes are in full force, bordering on cheesy in parts but keeping it just that side of the line that it's enjoyable. They had great chemistry, even if they let a bit of miscommunication get the better of them at times.
The whole plot of planning the proposal made for an enjoyable read, and the getaway to the cabin was great fun. Perfect blend of sweet and funny.
This is such a bridgeable book and I devoured it, almost in one sitting. It's light hearted, fluffy and entertaining.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cute, rom com summer read! And I will be checking out more of this authors books after this.
Thank you to One More Chapter for this advanced copy.
The characters are fun, relatable and likable. I enjoyed the history between Pricilla and Oliver as it added depth to their relationship, it would have been weird if they didn't really know each other well before this. It's feel-good, 2000s rom-com vibes are in full force, bordering on cheesy in parts but keeping it just that side of the line that it's enjoyable. They had great chemistry, even if they let a bit of miscommunication get the better of them at times.
The whole plot of planning the proposal made for an enjoyable read, and the getaway to the cabin was great fun. Perfect blend of sweet and funny.
This is such a bridgeable book and I devoured it, almost in one sitting. It's light hearted, fluffy and entertaining.
I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a cute, rom com summer read! And I will be checking out more of this authors books after this.
Thank you to One More Chapter for this advanced copy.
June 11, 2025
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!
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!
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