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A Proposal to Die For
A fast-paced, witty, and delightful new mystery about a marriage proposal planner whose biggest job yet is threatened by a dead body (or two).
Jessamine Bricker loves a plan. Contingency plans and pros-and-cons lists are her love language, and because of that, her proposal planning business is thriving. But with rent costs rising at her office building, Jess jumps at the chance to plan a proposal between her snobby high school classmate, Diana, and her very wealthy boyfriend, Trenton Tillard…the Fourth.
Roped into joining Diana’s ”pre-bridal” retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort, Jess hopes to fade into the background, get some work done, and maybe find some time to unwind. Their first day is anything but Diana is furious about the mountain spa’s lack of cell phone reception, the couple next door argues constantly, and Jess swears she just saw a drug deal go down. To top it all off, she’s warned to stay out of the woods by the gruff and sexy chef, Dean Osbourne. Is this a retreat or a horror movie?
As Jess tries to do her job while placating the bride-to-be and her increasingly over-the-top demands, she spends more and more time with the resort owners, finding herself much more in tune with the laid-back Osbourne family than her social climbing “boss.” Between a meditation garden-related drowning and Jess’s discovery of a body in a sauna, it's clear that deadly secrets abound at the Golden Ash. Now it’s up to Jess to unravel the mysteries here in the mountains—before all her plans are cancelled…permanently.
Jessamine Bricker loves a plan. Contingency plans and pros-and-cons lists are her love language, and because of that, her proposal planning business is thriving. But with rent costs rising at her office building, Jess jumps at the chance to plan a proposal between her snobby high school classmate, Diana, and her very wealthy boyfriend, Trenton Tillard…the Fourth.
Roped into joining Diana’s ”pre-bridal” retreat at the exclusive Golden Ash resort, Jess hopes to fade into the background, get some work done, and maybe find some time to unwind. Their first day is anything but Diana is furious about the mountain spa’s lack of cell phone reception, the couple next door argues constantly, and Jess swears she just saw a drug deal go down. To top it all off, she’s warned to stay out of the woods by the gruff and sexy chef, Dean Osbourne. Is this a retreat or a horror movie?
As Jess tries to do her job while placating the bride-to-be and her increasingly over-the-top demands, she spends more and more time with the resort owners, finding herself much more in tune with the laid-back Osbourne family than her social climbing “boss.” Between a meditation garden-related drowning and Jess’s discovery of a body in a sauna, it's clear that deadly secrets abound at the Golden Ash. Now it’s up to Jess to unravel the mysteries here in the mountains—before all her plans are cancelled…permanently.
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First published April 8, 2025
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About the author
Molly Harper
61 books8,161 followersMolly Harper is the author of more than 40 romance titles including the Half-Moon Hollow series, the Mystic Bayou, the Starfall Point series, and her first murder mystery, A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR. She lives in Michigan with her family. For more information, go to www.mollyharper.com.
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December 29, 2025This is Molly Harper at her finest! I loved how witty, fast-paced and fun this book was (as fun as murder can be). While not the core of the story, the romance is sweet while also not playing into any damsel-in-distress moments that can get tiresome. The mystery had plenty of twists and turns, and finding out the why and how even more than the who was very satisfying. Even the characters that were meant to be despicable still proved interesting and multifaceted and provided great fodder for Harper’s witty and biting commentary. If you like Molly Harper’s other books, but don’t think crime is your jam-I promise you, this will still be a book you’ll love and want to add to your TBR ASAP.
March 31, 2025
˚ ༘♡ pre-read:
╰┈➤ received an arc march 13th, 2025
received this arc and a romance mystery soundsss soooooo good rn! excited for this one
⋆˚࿔ a proposal to die for review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 3 stars!
this story features a proposal planner who gets involved with a murder at a spa retreat with her client and her large friend group. I really liked the premise but the first about 40-50% of the book is hard to get into. I feel like i was thrown into this story and group of people with no real context. I constantly found myself getting lost in all the names and positions I needed to try to remember.
I didn't really care much about the bride and her toxic friendships but things did begin to really pick up once we were introduced to the MMC chef and the murder takes place. Once we were more involved in the mystery I definitely began to enjoy it more! I had fun following all the clues and think the book ended relatively well! Overall, a very slow start but fun once you get into the story and murder!
Thank you to Berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagram!
╰┈➤ received an arc march 13th, 2025
received this arc and a romance mystery soundsss soooooo good rn! excited for this one
⋆˚࿔ a proposal to die for review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
┆ ⤿ 💌 3 stars!
this story features a proposal planner who gets involved with a murder at a spa retreat with her client and her large friend group. I really liked the premise but the first about 40-50% of the book is hard to get into. I feel like i was thrown into this story and group of people with no real context. I constantly found myself getting lost in all the names and positions I needed to try to remember.
I didn't really care much about the bride and her toxic friendships but things did begin to really pick up once we were introduced to the MMC chef and the murder takes place. Once we were more involved in the mystery I definitely began to enjoy it more! I had fun following all the clues and think the book ended relatively well! Overall, a very slow start but fun once you get into the story and murder!
Thank you to Berkley for an arc in exchange for an honest review! <3
｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ
⤿ follow me on instagram!
May 10, 2025
**Many thanks to Berkley and Molly Harper for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
Who needs to come up with a heartfelt, creative, and one of a kind proposal on your OWN...when you can have someone plan the ULTIMATE unforgettable experience FOR you?
😏
For Jessamine Bricker, this is just another day at the office. She loves all of the tiny details and special flourishes, and of course the grand gestures that are part and parcel of the perfect proposal. She's helped several brides and grooms to be figure out JUST the right words, look, setting, and spectacle to make their proposals truly one of a kind. But when her next potential client turns out to be a snob from high school that she'd rather leave in the yearbook, Jessamine bristles at the idea of HELPING her former foe, Diana. The rotten apple has only continued her descent into Lifestyles of the Rich and HEINOUS territory with her current wealthy beau, Trenton Tillard the Fourth. (Insert the eye rolls here) With her rent coming due soon and the promise of a hefty paycheck, Jessamine feels she has no choice but to grit her teeth and join the couple to be at a fancy retreat to make Diana's lofty (and selfish) dreams come true.
When she arrives, however, Jessamine is met with so much more than she bargained for...and the Golden Ash Resort is home not just to luxurious saunas and world-class dining...but appears to also be a hotbed of criminal activity. Jessamine gets very distracted by hunky chef Dean Osbourne, but is shocked to hear him give her warnings about the dangers of the forest on property. All of these fears are realized, however, when the bodies begin to start piling up - first in the meditation pool, and later, in the sauna...and our protagonist finds herself square in the middle of the mystery. Can she keep the demanding bride-to-be at bay...AND keep herself safe? Or were the instincts that told her to stay far away from the bullies of her past actually a warning...one that she has chosen to heed just a BIT too late?
After some time to reflect on this one and why it just didn't click for me, I think I've figured it out. Have you ever been looking at a menu with a dish you've never tried but one that SOUNDS intriguing, even if you've never considered having those flavors together before? Perhaps it's chocolate chicken mole...and you figure, "Well, I like chicken. I like chocolate. This was dreamed up by a CHEF who understands flavor profiles, and who probably has a pretty decent palate...so sure, why not!"
But then you actually take a BITE of the dish when it arrives...and you wish you had NO knowledge of what chicken and chocolate taste like together because you cannot UN-TASTE it...and you're worried it might have driven you away from both chicken AND chocolate...forever?
THAT was this book.
At first, I was intrigued and pretty excited for this genre mashup. The story actually starts with one of the murders, and I figured we were going to get more of a straight cozy with a tinge of romance. Granted, not my favorite genre by a long shot, but it sounded fun and like a bit of a 'locked room' romp with a solid mystery at its core. After this exciting opening though, we dove deep into territory I wish we hadn't - we spent LOTS of time with the obnoxious, self-centered, and acerbic Diana and her expectations for the PERFECT proposal...and I'm pretty sure I felt even more miserable than Jessamine. So much of the first 30% of the book is built up around this, in fact, that it seemed like maybe I had hallucinated the part about the murder that lead the book off...and I was a bit confused, but hopeful that this was just world building that would make sense eventually.
...And I am STILL waiting for it to all make sense.
When Jessamine gets to the resort, everything snowballs from there...and the book loses focus entirely. As much time as we spent on Devious Diana before we spend essentially moving this plot to the back burner entirely. Not only do we have to watch Jessamine become ingratiated in trying to solve murders, there is a LOVE STORY plot line too, just to muddy the waters even further. I had no idea why this was even necessary...it seemed at that point that the entire premise of the book was just designed to give Jessamine somewhere to GO where these murders could take place...and I had a hard time not only focusing, but staying invested. I also felt like she willingly threw herself to the wolves for no reason at all, and being obsequious to Diana had ZERO payoff for Jessamine. All it did was sort of reinforce the bully-victim dynamic...and WHY as a grown adult would she VOLUNTARILY do this...? 🤷♀️
I know I was supposed to be determined to figure out the identity of the killer and this SHOULD have led to somewhat of an exciting climax by the time the final chapters rolled around. But with such a cast of unlikable characters (honestly, I was hardly even sold on Jessamine...so that says enough right there!) it really didn't MATTER who the killer was, and I don't recall being overly impressed with how the big reveals played out. To cap it off, there's a requisite cheesy Hallmark ending that you can probably predict based on the synopsis and the title alone - it's just THAT expected. Although this certainly has the potential to become a series, I think even Jessamine herself wouldn't be too disappointed for Harper to keep this as a 'one and done.'
And while I won't reveal whether Trenton's proposal ever lived up to Diana's lofty expectations, I did come to one solid conclusion: I'm not sure that I'll EVER be willing to try chicken and chocolate. 🍗🍫
😉
3 stars, rounded up from 2.5
Who needs to come up with a heartfelt, creative, and one of a kind proposal on your OWN...when you can have someone plan the ULTIMATE unforgettable experience FOR you?
😏
For Jessamine Bricker, this is just another day at the office. She loves all of the tiny details and special flourishes, and of course the grand gestures that are part and parcel of the perfect proposal. She's helped several brides and grooms to be figure out JUST the right words, look, setting, and spectacle to make their proposals truly one of a kind. But when her next potential client turns out to be a snob from high school that she'd rather leave in the yearbook, Jessamine bristles at the idea of HELPING her former foe, Diana. The rotten apple has only continued her descent into Lifestyles of the Rich and HEINOUS territory with her current wealthy beau, Trenton Tillard the Fourth. (Insert the eye rolls here) With her rent coming due soon and the promise of a hefty paycheck, Jessamine feels she has no choice but to grit her teeth and join the couple to be at a fancy retreat to make Diana's lofty (and selfish) dreams come true.
When she arrives, however, Jessamine is met with so much more than she bargained for...and the Golden Ash Resort is home not just to luxurious saunas and world-class dining...but appears to also be a hotbed of criminal activity. Jessamine gets very distracted by hunky chef Dean Osbourne, but is shocked to hear him give her warnings about the dangers of the forest on property. All of these fears are realized, however, when the bodies begin to start piling up - first in the meditation pool, and later, in the sauna...and our protagonist finds herself square in the middle of the mystery. Can she keep the demanding bride-to-be at bay...AND keep herself safe? Or were the instincts that told her to stay far away from the bullies of her past actually a warning...one that she has chosen to heed just a BIT too late?
After some time to reflect on this one and why it just didn't click for me, I think I've figured it out. Have you ever been looking at a menu with a dish you've never tried but one that SOUNDS intriguing, even if you've never considered having those flavors together before? Perhaps it's chocolate chicken mole...and you figure, "Well, I like chicken. I like chocolate. This was dreamed up by a CHEF who understands flavor profiles, and who probably has a pretty decent palate...so sure, why not!"
But then you actually take a BITE of the dish when it arrives...and you wish you had NO knowledge of what chicken and chocolate taste like together because you cannot UN-TASTE it...and you're worried it might have driven you away from both chicken AND chocolate...forever?
THAT was this book.
At first, I was intrigued and pretty excited for this genre mashup. The story actually starts with one of the murders, and I figured we were going to get more of a straight cozy with a tinge of romance. Granted, not my favorite genre by a long shot, but it sounded fun and like a bit of a 'locked room' romp with a solid mystery at its core. After this exciting opening though, we dove deep into territory I wish we hadn't - we spent LOTS of time with the obnoxious, self-centered, and acerbic Diana and her expectations for the PERFECT proposal...and I'm pretty sure I felt even more miserable than Jessamine. So much of the first 30% of the book is built up around this, in fact, that it seemed like maybe I had hallucinated the part about the murder that lead the book off...and I was a bit confused, but hopeful that this was just world building that would make sense eventually.
...And I am STILL waiting for it to all make sense.
When Jessamine gets to the resort, everything snowballs from there...and the book loses focus entirely. As much time as we spent on Devious Diana before we spend essentially moving this plot to the back burner entirely. Not only do we have to watch Jessamine become ingratiated in trying to solve murders, there is a LOVE STORY plot line too, just to muddy the waters even further. I had no idea why this was even necessary...it seemed at that point that the entire premise of the book was just designed to give Jessamine somewhere to GO where these murders could take place...and I had a hard time not only focusing, but staying invested. I also felt like she willingly threw herself to the wolves for no reason at all, and being obsequious to Diana had ZERO payoff for Jessamine. All it did was sort of reinforce the bully-victim dynamic...and WHY as a grown adult would she VOLUNTARILY do this...? 🤷♀️
I know I was supposed to be determined to figure out the identity of the killer and this SHOULD have led to somewhat of an exciting climax by the time the final chapters rolled around. But with such a cast of unlikable characters (honestly, I was hardly even sold on Jessamine...so that says enough right there!) it really didn't MATTER who the killer was, and I don't recall being overly impressed with how the big reveals played out. To cap it off, there's a requisite cheesy Hallmark ending that you can probably predict based on the synopsis and the title alone - it's just THAT expected. Although this certainly has the potential to become a series, I think even Jessamine herself wouldn't be too disappointed for Harper to keep this as a 'one and done.'
And while I won't reveal whether Trenton's proposal ever lived up to Diana's lofty expectations, I did come to one solid conclusion: I'm not sure that I'll EVER be willing to try chicken and chocolate. 🍗🍫
😉
3 stars, rounded up from 2.5
March 26, 2025
4⭐️
what a fun book with a clever premise! i really enjoyed molly harper's witty writing style and how fast-paced this book felt. i was in the mood for something digestible to read with a fun twist and this book did the trick. i enjoyed the romance sub-plot and how charming all of the characters were. all of the chaos that our lead jess finds herself in after agreeing to help her high school rival, diana, in pulling together a top-notch wedding. that is, until jess finds a dead body in the spa. the mystery aspect of "a proposal to die for" was very fun and unique!
i really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of molly harper's books. thank you berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC. all opinions are my own.
what a fun book with a clever premise! i really enjoyed molly harper's witty writing style and how fast-paced this book felt. i was in the mood for something digestible to read with a fun twist and this book did the trick. i enjoyed the romance sub-plot and how charming all of the characters were. all of the chaos that our lead jess finds herself in after agreeing to help her high school rival, diana, in pulling together a top-notch wedding. that is, until jess finds a dead body in the spa. the mystery aspect of "a proposal to die for" was very fun and unique!
i really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of molly harper's books. thank you berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC. all opinions are my own.
April 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a cozy mystery with a dash of romance. Jess has been hired to orchestrate the proposal of Trenton to future bridezilla Diana. But she keeps stumbling onto dead bodies and drama. She was such a relatable character and I was right there wanting to wring the necks of her insufferable clients and their company. Also can we talk about how swoon worthy Dean is! I really hope this turns into a series. I would love to see more of Dean’s relatives.
This was a cozy mystery with a dash of romance. Jess has been hired to orchestrate the proposal of Trenton to future bridezilla Diana. But she keeps stumbling onto dead bodies and drama. She was such a relatable character and I was right there wanting to wring the necks of her insufferable clients and their company. Also can we talk about how swoon worthy Dean is! I really hope this turns into a series. I would love to see more of Dean’s relatives.
June 1, 2025
I am an unabashed Molly Harper fan. It started for me with Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs, featuring Jane Jameson, a children's librarian who accidentally becomes a vampire and who has a highly amusing inner dialogue. I continued on with more books set in the same town, Half Moon Hollow, then moved on to her Starfall Point series, witchy fantasy combined with romance. So, I was game to try this new offering, having enjoyed those books a lot.
This is a departure from those paranormal romances. It's a murder mystery with a romantic subplot. I found the writing style to be recognizably Harper's. The main character, Jess Bricker, has a very similar voice to the women from previous books, which suits me, as I enjoy Harper's humour. I appreciated that Jess didn't set out to become an investigator—she just kept stumbling across information (and bodies). I also liked that the romance was so low key. Jess has, after all, just met the Osbourne family that runs the resort where she has ended up with the client from hell. She is, in fact, getting to know all of them, not just Dean, a much more realistic situation than many mystery/romance hybrids out there.
Jess spends a fair amount of time convincing herself that she needs the big payday at the end of this gig, orchestrating the proposal for one of the mean girls that she went to school with. She had more determination than I would have in similar circumstances. Her attention to detail while setting up perfect proposals makes her an excellent mystery solver. She notices things.
Although I won't reveal the ending, it was more complex than I anticipated. I liked that I was caught flat footed, having no suspicions about who was guilty. If Ms. Harper writes more mysteries, I'll be ready to read them.
This is a departure from those paranormal romances. It's a murder mystery with a romantic subplot. I found the writing style to be recognizably Harper's. The main character, Jess Bricker, has a very similar voice to the women from previous books, which suits me, as I enjoy Harper's humour. I appreciated that Jess didn't set out to become an investigator—she just kept stumbling across information (and bodies). I also liked that the romance was so low key. Jess has, after all, just met the Osbourne family that runs the resort where she has ended up with the client from hell. She is, in fact, getting to know all of them, not just Dean, a much more realistic situation than many mystery/romance hybrids out there.
Jess spends a fair amount of time convincing herself that she needs the big payday at the end of this gig, orchestrating the proposal for one of the mean girls that she went to school with. She had more determination than I would have in similar circumstances. Her attention to detail while setting up perfect proposals makes her an excellent mystery solver. She notices things.
Although I won't reveal the ending, it was more complex than I anticipated. I liked that I was caught flat footed, having no suspicions about who was guilty. If Ms. Harper writes more mysteries, I'll be ready to read them.
July 26, 2025
3.25 🌟
Mood/ Seasonal Reading: spring or summer
This fell flat for me. I was really excited for it didn’t live up to my expectations. Having just gotten engaged I thought it was the perfect next read for me. However, I struggled immensely to get into it. I almost quit at the 20% mark due to nasty characters, a consulates plot, no murder yet, and a soft main character. I decided to continue. While I am glad I finished it I can’t say it got that much better.
It did manage to eventually catch me enough that I could push through the story. I found it had far too many subplots that even though you knew they were connected it felt like we never got enough time on each one to make them worth while. I enjoyed Jess’s growing connections but the author introduced so many characters that in order to get to know some others for lost for long periods of time.
I’ll also add that as someone with an unfortunate trucker mouth even I found the use of language often unnecessary. It just didn’t fit the vibe of the book. This read like a cozy until an F bomb dropped out of no where. I also found the writing to be repetitive, a tad childish, and in need of some editing.
It was okay. I think it could’ve been great. I’ll read more from the author because I always value too many ideas over too little.
Mood/ Seasonal Reading: spring or summer
This fell flat for me. I was really excited for it didn’t live up to my expectations. Having just gotten engaged I thought it was the perfect next read for me. However, I struggled immensely to get into it. I almost quit at the 20% mark due to nasty characters, a consulates plot, no murder yet, and a soft main character. I decided to continue. While I am glad I finished it I can’t say it got that much better.
It did manage to eventually catch me enough that I could push through the story. I found it had far too many subplots that even though you knew they were connected it felt like we never got enough time on each one to make them worth while. I enjoyed Jess’s growing connections but the author introduced so many characters that in order to get to know some others for lost for long periods of time.
I’ll also add that as someone with an unfortunate trucker mouth even I found the use of language often unnecessary. It just didn’t fit the vibe of the book. This read like a cozy until an F bomb dropped out of no where. I also found the writing to be repetitive, a tad childish, and in need of some editing.
It was okay. I think it could’ve been great. I’ll read more from the author because I always value too many ideas over too little.
January 9, 2026
✦⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆✦
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★
Omg it was so boring. The writing was painfully monotone from start to finish, with no sense of tension or momentum to keep things moving. The twist had zero impact because there was no buildup at all (lack of a good buildup). Everything felt super shallow, like none of the characters or themes were explored beyond the surface. There was so much dialogue that went absolutely nowhere, just pages of talking that didn’t add to the plot or develop the characters. It felt flat, forgettable, and like a huge waste of time.
✧｡･ﾟﾟ･☾ Review ☾･ﾟﾟ･｡✧
★★
Omg it was so boring. The writing was painfully monotone from start to finish, with no sense of tension or momentum to keep things moving. The twist had zero impact because there was no buildup at all (lack of a good buildup). Everything felt super shallow, like none of the characters or themes were explored beyond the surface. There was so much dialogue that went absolutely nowhere, just pages of talking that didn’t add to the plot or develop the characters. It felt flat, forgettable, and like a huge waste of time.
April 19, 2025
Story 4 stars. Narration 5 stars
A new book by Molly Harper is just about always a treat for me and this was no exception. It’s a murder mystery with a side of romance.
Jess runs an ultimate marriage proposal business. A woman she went to school with hires her to plan her boyfriend’s proposal after he botched his first attempt. Doesn’t matter that she was one of those mean girls that Jess never liked. So she goes on a week long trip to the ultimate spa. While there she becomes friends with the owners of the place and becomes even closer to the grumpy chef. Meanwhile bodies are turning up. Jess is right in the middle of everything, including the crosshairs of the murderer.
I guess this would be considered a cozy mystery of sorts. Or maybe not. I’m not sure what constitutes cozy these days. There’s no smut or sex between the chef and Jess but maybe implied at some point. A member of the bridal group at the spa is cheating off the page. There is some bad language. Shows how few cozy books I read now. But, I did enjoy the story although I thought it was a bit too long at times. I liked the main character a lot and the chef ended up a really good guy although the romance was really quick, I thought. The mystery was good, one that I didn’t figure out until a little while before Jess did-the whodunnit part anyway. All in all, a good read with a fun epilogue. Amanda Ronconi’s narration as always was stellar. Recommended!
A new book by Molly Harper is just about always a treat for me and this was no exception. It’s a murder mystery with a side of romance.
Jess runs an ultimate marriage proposal business. A woman she went to school with hires her to plan her boyfriend’s proposal after he botched his first attempt. Doesn’t matter that she was one of those mean girls that Jess never liked. So she goes on a week long trip to the ultimate spa. While there she becomes friends with the owners of the place and becomes even closer to the grumpy chef. Meanwhile bodies are turning up. Jess is right in the middle of everything, including the crosshairs of the murderer.
I guess this would be considered a cozy mystery of sorts. Or maybe not. I’m not sure what constitutes cozy these days. There’s no smut or sex between the chef and Jess but maybe implied at some point. A member of the bridal group at the spa is cheating off the page. There is some bad language. Shows how few cozy books I read now. But, I did enjoy the story although I thought it was a bit too long at times. I liked the main character a lot and the chef ended up a really good guy although the romance was really quick, I thought. The mystery was good, one that I didn’t figure out until a little while before Jess did-the whodunnit part anyway. All in all, a good read with a fun epilogue. Amanda Ronconi’s narration as always was stellar. Recommended!
April 2, 2025
Thank you so much to Berkley for the #gifted E-ARC and PRH Audio for the #gifted ALC! 🫶🏻 #PRHaudiopartner
This book was seriously so much fun! The whit, the murder mystery, the hilarious back and forth banter, everything about it kept me on the edge of my seat!
Jess’s character was so intriguing but at the same time relatable. The way her and the spa’s chef Dean hit it off immediately was done to perfection. I love books that add a bit of romance into the mystery! I feel like it’s such a great way to break up the head scratching parts of the story.
Most of these characters are absolutely insufferable, which makes them perfect for who they’re portraying! They’re supposed to make you roll your eyes and annoyed because then you feel exactly how Jess feels throughout the entire encounter. 🤣
I really loved the side plot about Dean and his past lover. It was such a unique way to tie the whole story together. This was such a great “who done it” murder mystery! I couldn’t have asked for anything more! The creepy remote spa atmosphere really tied everything together to give you that perfect thriller vibe!
I had the honor of being able to read the ebook and listen to the audiobook. The narrator did such a wonderful job. The different accents and pronunciation with each character made it very clear who was who when listening. She really brought the entire story to life!
I would recommend to all my book besties who love murder mystery’s that keep you on the edge of your seat with a tad bit of romance sprinkled in!
This book was seriously so much fun! The whit, the murder mystery, the hilarious back and forth banter, everything about it kept me on the edge of my seat!
Jess’s character was so intriguing but at the same time relatable. The way her and the spa’s chef Dean hit it off immediately was done to perfection. I love books that add a bit of romance into the mystery! I feel like it’s such a great way to break up the head scratching parts of the story.
Most of these characters are absolutely insufferable, which makes them perfect for who they’re portraying! They’re supposed to make you roll your eyes and annoyed because then you feel exactly how Jess feels throughout the entire encounter. 🤣
I really loved the side plot about Dean and his past lover. It was such a unique way to tie the whole story together. This was such a great “who done it” murder mystery! I couldn’t have asked for anything more! The creepy remote spa atmosphere really tied everything together to give you that perfect thriller vibe!
I had the honor of being able to read the ebook and listen to the audiobook. The narrator did such a wonderful job. The different accents and pronunciation with each character made it very clear who was who when listening. She really brought the entire story to life!
I would recommend to all my book besties who love murder mystery’s that keep you on the edge of your seat with a tad bit of romance sprinkled in!
April 1, 2025
Jess runs a proposal planning business and when she has the opportunity to work with a snobby but wealthy client, she jumps on it. When she's roped into the pre-bridal retreat, she's hoping she can fade into the background, but it's anything but relaxing as dead bodies start turning up.
This premise sounded unique and interesting -- a bit of mystery and romance at a remote retreat, but this book dragged for me. There are so many characters to keep straight (and most are terrible people in toxic relationships) so the story was hard to get into. The last third picked up a bit as there was some romance with Jess and the chef and the murder started to unfold, but it took way too long to get there.
Overall not one I'd widely recommend -- I probably shouldn't have finished for how uninvested I was in the story.
Thanks Berkley for the gifted copy; all opinions are my own.
This premise sounded unique and interesting -- a bit of mystery and romance at a remote retreat, but this book dragged for me. There are so many characters to keep straight (and most are terrible people in toxic relationships) so the story was hard to get into. The last third picked up a bit as there was some romance with Jess and the chef and the murder started to unfold, but it took way too long to get there.
Overall not one I'd widely recommend -- I probably shouldn't have finished for how uninvested I was in the story.
Thanks Berkley for the gifted copy; all opinions are my own.
April 4, 2025
This book has an interesting premise of Jess (a proposal planner) getting roped into attending a week long retreat at an exclusive resort in the mountains with Diana (the soon to be bride to be), Aubrey (Diana's wedding planner), and Kiki (Diana’s bridesmaid/cousin) while she tries to plan Diana’s re-proposal because of course the first one wasn’t good enough for her. Jess was a better professional than me because no way would I have been able to hold my tongue with those girls. This book was such a chaotic ride and had quite a bit going on, but honestly it just worked and I flew through it.
Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the eARC
Thank you to Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the eARC
April 4, 2025
I’m such a huge fan of the authors brand of humor and wit, she’s absolutely delightful and this one was adorable. The large cast of quirky characters was not only entertaining, it made it fun to guess whodunnit and I loved trying to solve the murders alongside Jessamine. The narrator was engaging and captured the southern charm perfectly!
March 18, 2025
This book was such a ride! A Proposal to Die For delivers the perfect mix of thriller vibes and a romance that had me absolutely melting. The love story was so freaking sweet. I was rooting for them the whole time.
And Jess? She felt so real, like someone you’d grab coffee with and immediately start ranting about life’s chaos. Meanwhile, everyone around her was absolutely insufferable in the best, most entertaining way. I wanted to scream at them, but also, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Molly Harper nailed the balance between tension, twists, and just enough swoon to keep me fully obsessed. If you love a thriller with a strong romantic thread, add this to your TBR immediately!
Thank you to Molly, Loren with PRH, and NetGalley for the ARC 🥰
And Jess? She felt so real, like someone you’d grab coffee with and immediately start ranting about life’s chaos. Meanwhile, everyone around her was absolutely insufferable in the best, most entertaining way. I wanted to scream at them, but also, I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Molly Harper nailed the balance between tension, twists, and just enough swoon to keep me fully obsessed. If you love a thriller with a strong romantic thread, add this to your TBR immediately!
Thank you to Molly, Loren with PRH, and NetGalley for the ARC 🥰
April 8, 2025
✨Book Review✨
This was such a fun read! While yes this is a ☠️ mystery the dialogue in this had me laughing out loud. I flew through this book!
Jess is a proposal planner and loves a good plan or two! With costs rising Jess is looking for that big job! *Enters Chat* Diana her snobby classmate from high school who needs Jess to plan her reproposal from her boyfriend. They embark on a pre-bridal remote retreat where everything goes wrong.
Such a witty and fast paced story that also includes a sprinkle of romance 👀 Absolutely enjoyed!
Thank you @berkleypub for the gifted ebook.
This was such a fun read! While yes this is a ☠️ mystery the dialogue in this had me laughing out loud. I flew through this book!
Jess is a proposal planner and loves a good plan or two! With costs rising Jess is looking for that big job! *Enters Chat* Diana her snobby classmate from high school who needs Jess to plan her reproposal from her boyfriend. They embark on a pre-bridal remote retreat where everything goes wrong.
Such a witty and fast paced story that also includes a sprinkle of romance 👀 Absolutely enjoyed!
Thank you @berkleypub for the gifted ebook.
December 2, 2025
April 11, 2025 - Review:
3.5/5
This was a fun cozy mystery with a bit of closed-door romance sprinkled in (featuring a hot chef!).
Set primarily at an exclusive spa resort, Jess is stuck trying to plan a proposal for the most delusional and self-centered client, Diana. Thankfully, the staff at this family-operated resort are super friendly, which makes her time dealing with Diana and Aubrey's (Diana's wedding planner) toxicity a bit more tolerable... that is, until she stumbles across a dead body.
This story and its cast of characters were entertaining and chaotic. Everyone's a bit crazy and strange (which is to say, everyone is a suspect).
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
*** #37 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Two books with the same title (1) ***
April 8, 2025 - Pre-Review:
Happy publication day!
I'm halfway through this book and it's a pretty entertaining and cozy mystery so far!
____________________________________
If you like the following, then you might enjoy A Proposal to Die For or vice-versa:
3.5/5
This was a fun cozy mystery with a bit of closed-door romance sprinkled in (featuring a hot chef!).
Set primarily at an exclusive spa resort, Jess is stuck trying to plan a proposal for the most delusional and self-centered client, Diana. Thankfully, the staff at this family-operated resort are super friendly, which makes her time dealing with Diana and Aubrey's (Diana's wedding planner) toxicity a bit more tolerable... that is, until she stumbles across a dead body.
This story and its cast of characters were entertaining and chaotic. Everyone's a bit crazy and strange (which is to say, everyone is a suspect).
**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
*** #37 of my 2025 Popsugar Reading Challenge - Two books with the same title (1) ***
April 8, 2025 - Pre-Review:
Happy publication day!
I'm halfway through this book and it's a pretty entertaining and cozy mystery so far!
____________________________________
If you like the following, then you might enjoy A Proposal to Die For or vice-versa:
April 10, 2025
This was not good. It was just kinda lacking in everything. Like all the characters were pretty boring and I feel like there were too many plots to keep track off that it failed in being a well rounded book. I didn’t believe in Jess and Dean’s relationship because literally why did they like each other??? They literally didn’t spend any time together. So like when I got to the epilogue, I just didn’t really see those qualities Dean had written about Jess. I also didn’t feel like she spent enough time with the Osbournes to like any of them. Or maybe they were all just very bland too. Idk I was disappointed by this convoluted book with a lacking romance to boot.
July 5, 2025
It was a slow and uneventful plot. Didn’t enjoy it much.
April 25, 2025
3.5 Stars
Jessamine Bricker organizes unique proposals, and her business is doing well. However, her apartment along with its office space is about to be sold and rent in Nashville could put her under. So, when Diana, an acquaintance from high school, wants to hire her so that her boyfriend, Trenton Tillard the Fourth, can get his proposal right she reluctantly agrees. Jess would rather have said no since Diana was part of the mean-girl crowd, but it could give her the money she needs to buy the building.
Trenton decides he wants a destination proposal and so they head up to the Golden Ash, a remote Appalachia spa. The place is beautiful and luxurious with private villas and spa treatments, but Diana and her wedding planner are less than desirable company. Diana is a lot of drama and then to add to Jess’s troubles, she discovers one of the guests dead on the property. Was it an accident or murder? Is Jess or her party in danger?
Jess sets about doing some amateur sleuthing while tending to Diana’s never-ending drama. Along the way she makes friends with the Osbournes, the family that runs the spa. Jess ends up running into Dean Osbourne, the brilliant but prickly chef over and over.
A Proposal to Die For was an entertaining cozy mystery with Molly Harper’s signature fun shenanigans, but I was a little frustrated with Jess in parts. I wish she would’ve stood up for herself with Diana more, taken less risks and been less dense in the end. Still, things wrap up satisfyingly and there was even a bit of romance that made me smile.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Jessamine Bricker organizes unique proposals, and her business is doing well. However, her apartment along with its office space is about to be sold and rent in Nashville could put her under. So, when Diana, an acquaintance from high school, wants to hire her so that her boyfriend, Trenton Tillard the Fourth, can get his proposal right she reluctantly agrees. Jess would rather have said no since Diana was part of the mean-girl crowd, but it could give her the money she needs to buy the building.
Trenton decides he wants a destination proposal and so they head up to the Golden Ash, a remote Appalachia spa. The place is beautiful and luxurious with private villas and spa treatments, but Diana and her wedding planner are less than desirable company. Diana is a lot of drama and then to add to Jess’s troubles, she discovers one of the guests dead on the property. Was it an accident or murder? Is Jess or her party in danger?
Jess sets about doing some amateur sleuthing while tending to Diana’s never-ending drama. Along the way she makes friends with the Osbournes, the family that runs the spa. Jess ends up running into Dean Osbourne, the brilliant but prickly chef over and over.
A Proposal to Die For was an entertaining cozy mystery with Molly Harper’s signature fun shenanigans, but I was a little frustrated with Jess in parts. I wish she would’ve stood up for herself with Diana more, taken less risks and been less dense in the end. Still, things wrap up satisfyingly and there was even a bit of romance that made me smile.
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
May 10, 2025
Man I really did not enjoy this. Everything was underdeveloped and weird, like how the characters spoke to each other or how the scenes progressed. I really don’t know how to describe it. I almost DNFed about a million times and should’ve, considering how predictable the ending was. The romance was the most underdeveloped part; I didn’t believe any of it or see any progression for them throughout the book. Just really not great.
July 4, 2025
With the amount of cackling, smirking, scoffing, snickering etc I would NOT classify this as a cozy mystery whatsoever.
Honestly what adults talk like the way these characters in this book do?? They act like they are in their early twenties, make incredibly questionable decisions and the "banter" was making my eyes twitch.
I have worked in customer service jobs so I understand the complaining to other co-workers about issues but this was almost an ungodly amount of gossip. The whole "omg I can't believe you made me confess" line made me roll my eyes.
Scooby Doo did it better.
Honestly what adults talk like the way these characters in this book do?? They act like they are in their early twenties, make incredibly questionable decisions and the "banter" was making my eyes twitch.
I have worked in customer service jobs so I understand the complaining to other co-workers about issues but this was almost an ungodly amount of gossip. The whole "omg I can't believe you made me confess" line made me roll my eyes.
Scooby Doo did it better.
April 25, 2025
Everything was so unrealistic and weird? Like not even the plot itself but like… the way the characters interacted with each other?
July 24, 2025
2.7/5. My expectations for this book were low. There were times I enjoyed the story, however, overall I wasn’t on the edge of my seat while reading.
June 2, 2025
Thank to Netgalley and publishers for allowing me access to this eARC. All opinions and words are my own.
Jess, a proposal planner made to fix a botched proposal at a secluded spa in the mountains. Ambitious and determined, but when she encounters not one body, but two.. will she finish the proposal in time?
Molly Harper is a good time, and this time was no different.
The grammatical errors drove me batty, the book seriously needs to be edited. Even so, I thought the book was fun.
There was a serious error though that I did indeed notice... the Will-oh-wisps part, and even Jeremy.. all that happened before they showed up.. yet the story later on was set up in a way where it seemed like it happened when they were there when in fact they were not.
The reasoning behind it all was just so ludicrous but honestly... considering both families, I'm really not surprised.
The romance between Jess and Dean did seem to be a little fast imo and sudden. Dean having gone through trauma, suddenly breaks out of his shell for her and her alone. 🤷🏼♀️
I know all this makes it seem like I didn't like it, but I actually did. I had a great time and had some laughs. I recommend to anyone who likes a murder mystery where you honestly couldn't figure out who did it.
P.S Diana can eat a big bowl of dicks. FR.
Jess, a proposal planner made to fix a botched proposal at a secluded spa in the mountains. Ambitious and determined, but when she encounters not one body, but two.. will she finish the proposal in time?
Molly Harper is a good time, and this time was no different.
The grammatical errors drove me batty, the book seriously needs to be edited. Even so, I thought the book was fun.
There was a serious error though that I did indeed notice... the Will-oh-wisps part, and even Jeremy.. all that happened before they showed up.. yet the story later on was set up in a way where it seemed like it happened when they were there when in fact they were not.
The reasoning behind it all was just so ludicrous but honestly... considering both families, I'm really not surprised.
The romance between Jess and Dean did seem to be a little fast imo and sudden. Dean having gone through trauma, suddenly breaks out of his shell for her and her alone. 🤷🏼♀️
I know all this makes it seem like I didn't like it, but I actually did. I had a great time and had some laughs. I recommend to anyone who likes a murder mystery where you honestly couldn't figure out who did it.
P.S Diana can eat a big bowl of dicks. FR.
May 14, 2025
4 1/2
I can’t think of too many things in the book world that I love more than quirky characters. Maybe that’s because they tend to be more human and more like people I would normally hang out with. Which leads me to always being delighted when Molly Harper introduces us to a new world and her trademark quirky characters.
In A Proposal to Die For Jessamine is a marriage proposal planner (Is there such a thing? Of course, there is! 🤨) who specializes in creating memorable, one-of-a-kind proposals. When old school mate Diana’s proposal isn’t up to picture-worthy influencer status, she highjacks Jess, dangles a huge sum of money before her that could allow Jess to secure her future, and drags her to an exclusive mountain spa where a proper proposal could conceivably occur. Murder, some mayhem, and a romance with a sexy, seemingly grumpy, chef ensue.
Harper fills A Proposal to Die For with lots of humor and witty banter while also giving the reader a mystery with turns so twisty that the “bad guy” isn’t immediately obvious, which is exactly what you want in a mystery! While Diana and her influencer status can be a pill, she’s a necessary foil to the earthy, good-humored Jess.
The Osborne family reminds me a bit of the McCready family from one of my favorite Harper series, Southern Eclectic (which I still need to re-read because: *feels* (sigh)) with their multi-generational quirky family and unique way of getting things done while their feet never leave the earth. On that note, I hope that we get to see more of the Osbornes in future books.
If you’re looking for a cozy, funny mystery that’s slightly off-beat, here you go.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy.
I can’t think of too many things in the book world that I love more than quirky characters. Maybe that’s because they tend to be more human and more like people I would normally hang out with. Which leads me to always being delighted when Molly Harper introduces us to a new world and her trademark quirky characters.
In A Proposal to Die For Jessamine is a marriage proposal planner (Is there such a thing? Of course, there is! 🤨) who specializes in creating memorable, one-of-a-kind proposals. When old school mate Diana’s proposal isn’t up to picture-worthy influencer status, she highjacks Jess, dangles a huge sum of money before her that could allow Jess to secure her future, and drags her to an exclusive mountain spa where a proper proposal could conceivably occur. Murder, some mayhem, and a romance with a sexy, seemingly grumpy, chef ensue.
Harper fills A Proposal to Die For with lots of humor and witty banter while also giving the reader a mystery with turns so twisty that the “bad guy” isn’t immediately obvious, which is exactly what you want in a mystery! While Diana and her influencer status can be a pill, she’s a necessary foil to the earthy, good-humored Jess.
The Osborne family reminds me a bit of the McCready family from one of my favorite Harper series, Southern Eclectic (which I still need to re-read because: *feels* (sigh)) with their multi-generational quirky family and unique way of getting things done while their feet never leave the earth. On that note, I hope that we get to see more of the Osbornes in future books.
If you’re looking for a cozy, funny mystery that’s slightly off-beat, here you go.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy.
May 14, 2025
3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I gave this entertaining little thriller three stars
SUMMARY
Jess is a proposal planner. I guess that is a thing. She helped men who are going to propose create something unique, beautiful and different. Most of her clients were at least tolerable, until Diana!
An old frienemy me from high school, Diana searched Jess down and demanded that Jess help her (very wealthy) soon-to-be fiancé redo what she thought it was a very lackluster and not very postable proposal.
A couple days later Jess finds herself at a remote mountain resort with Diana being introduced as one of her bridesmaids and “best friends since high school!” Low-key Jess is still scratching her head trying to figure out how it all happened when she comes across a dead man in a pond at the resort. Of course Diana does not think this is a good enough reason to put off the proposal and they stay. Jess can’t help herself, she starts asking questions and trying to figure out how this man ended up dead in the fountain in this beautiful exclusive mountain resort.
WHAT I LOVED 🥰
This was definitely an entertaining read. It would make a good beach book. The characters are outrageously entertaining. Jess is exceptionally likable. I love the setting. It definitely makes me want to go to the mountains.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE 😏
This just felt a little formulaic. It was entertaining a light and certainly fun, but there wasn’t much to it and it felt just a little too tied up in a bow at the end.
OVERALL
If you are looking for something to take to the beach or read on the plane this summer and you want something lightweight and fun and pretty entertaining, this is your book!
I gave this entertaining little thriller three stars
SUMMARY
Jess is a proposal planner. I guess that is a thing. She helped men who are going to propose create something unique, beautiful and different. Most of her clients were at least tolerable, until Diana!
An old frienemy me from high school, Diana searched Jess down and demanded that Jess help her (very wealthy) soon-to-be fiancé redo what she thought it was a very lackluster and not very postable proposal.
A couple days later Jess finds herself at a remote mountain resort with Diana being introduced as one of her bridesmaids and “best friends since high school!” Low-key Jess is still scratching her head trying to figure out how it all happened when she comes across a dead man in a pond at the resort. Of course Diana does not think this is a good enough reason to put off the proposal and they stay. Jess can’t help herself, she starts asking questions and trying to figure out how this man ended up dead in the fountain in this beautiful exclusive mountain resort.
WHAT I LOVED 🥰
This was definitely an entertaining read. It would make a good beach book. The characters are outrageously entertaining. Jess is exceptionally likable. I love the setting. It definitely makes me want to go to the mountains.
WHAT I DIDN’T LOVE 😏
This just felt a little formulaic. It was entertaining a light and certainly fun, but there wasn’t much to it and it felt just a little too tied up in a bow at the end.
OVERALL
If you are looking for something to take to the beach or read on the plane this summer and you want something lightweight and fun and pretty entertaining, this is your book!
August 1, 2025
This was a decent enough book. The mystery was twisty enough that although I suspected the killer early on, I wasn't certain until near the end.
I thought it a bit strange that the Osbornes adopted Jess into their close-knit circle so quickly and so easily, and the romance between Jess and Dean was a little bit insta love.
The ending of the story seemed to drag out a bit, but the epilogue was incredibly cute.
I thought it a bit strange that the Osbornes adopted Jess into their close-knit circle so quickly and so easily, and the romance between Jess and Dean was a little bit insta love.
The ending of the story seemed to drag out a bit, but the epilogue was incredibly cute.
May 19, 2025
This book is more of an adult mystery book not cozy mystery. It's labeled cozy but truly didn't feel cozy. It had way too much language to be considered a cozy mystery. As for the romance it was clean, only kisses.
This book had so many twists, I was so shocked when they revealed who the killer was I never once suspected it.
This book had so many twists, I was so shocked when they revealed who the killer was I never once suspected it.
November 12, 2025
Molly Harper is one of my favorite authors, and anytime someone asks for a recommendation, she is the first one I think of. This was an amazing book.
As someone who has read about a million and one cozy mysteries, I would not put this in that genre, though. This is more romance/fiction with a mystery on the side. The romance and engagement fiasco are the main plot. The mystery is the subplot. I understand to the cozy readers that may sound strange, having the mystery as the subplot, but I promise, it works out. Unless you don't like romance in your mystery novels, I really think you will love this. Just saying that there isn't the normal thing of the 'police aren't doing their jobs, I am going to solve the murder'. It is amazing. Just want to let the cozy readers know ahead of time, though.
Definitely would recommend this and any book by Molly Harper.
As someone who has read about a million and one cozy mysteries, I would not put this in that genre, though. This is more romance/fiction with a mystery on the side. The romance and engagement fiasco are the main plot. The mystery is the subplot. I understand to the cozy readers that may sound strange, having the mystery as the subplot, but I promise, it works out. Unless you don't like romance in your mystery novels, I really think you will love this. Just saying that there isn't the normal thing of the 'police aren't doing their jobs, I am going to solve the murder'. It is amazing. Just want to let the cozy readers know ahead of time, though.
Definitely would recommend this and any book by Molly Harper.
December 9, 2025
Nope. I didn't feel any romance between Dean and Jess. Did they ever talk? Do they know each other??
Then the murders.. I was trying to hype myself up and think of who the murderer could be but honestly.. I couldn't be bothered. The story didn't make me try to solve this murder. It all felt very random/obvious.
Jess was SO unprofessional wtf. The whole story dumping and complaining about the client to EVERYONE. People she didn't know. To Kiki (the... sister? Cousin? I don't even know).
Then the murders.. I was trying to hype myself up and think of who the murderer could be but honestly.. I couldn't be bothered. The story didn't make me try to solve this murder. It all felt very random/obvious.
Jess was SO unprofessional wtf. The whole story dumping and complaining about the client to EVERYONE. People she didn't know. To Kiki (the... sister? Cousin? I don't even know).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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