Not that Kind of Proposal: A Novel

by Victoria Lavine

From the internationally bestselling author of Any Trope but You comes an enemies-to-lovers rom-com about a hopeless romantic wedding planner and the cynical divorce lawyer forced to help her plan her ex’s wedding.

Gracie Holland can plan the perfect Happily Ever After—unless it’s her own. After a soul-flattening breakup, she’s rebuilt her life planning weddings at Larkwood—an ivy-covered Rhode Island estate where she lives in the staff cottage (and only occasionally cries herself into a blanket burrito). But when her beloved boss passes away and leaves the estate to her grandson, Gracie suddenly finds herself pitted against a love-allergic divorce lawyer determined to sell Larkwood by summer’s end—even if it means crushing his grandmother’s legacy and everyone’s jobs beneath his polished wingtips.

As someone who cleans up romantic disasters for a living, Jude Larkwood has no intention of keeping the estate as a wedding venue, no matter how much he loved his Nana. Selling it is critical for reasons he can’t discuss, but there’s just one his Nana inexplicably left the guest cottage to the estate’s maddeningly romantic wedding planner, who has somehow turned his mind into her permanent residence.

So, when Gracie proposes that he help her plan her ex’s shotgun wedding to prove Larkwood is worth saving, he agrees—on one condition. If she fails to convince him by the big day, she’ll sell him her cottage

But as bickering and cake tastings turn into late-night confessions, Gracie and Jude find themselves breaking every vow not to fall for each other. After all, opposites may attract—but can a hopeless romantic and a professional cynic really say “I do” to their own love story?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Rom Com, Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 21, 2026

Reviews

[naz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒎𝒆, 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖?” 𝑯𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒘. “𝑴𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇.”

EXCUSE ME. I NEED SOMEONE TO SEDATE ME. BARK BARK BARK! lmao that's the most honest reaction you will get from me when talking about this book from now on.

The way that this book had everything I look for in a romance 😭💖 The vulnerability, the banter, the spice, the humor, and the chokehold quotes that take me out YES YES AND YES!!!! ✨

I never thought that a wedding planner and a divorce lawyer would make for an amazing combo, but they did! Gracie is a wedding planner at a venue that, after her boss passes away goes to her grandson a man who doesn't believe in love. I gotta say that the whole "let's make a deal" situation here was perfection 😮‍💨 The way you could see both of them crack their walls little by little throughout the book, and when they "pretended" to be newlyweds, I WAS GASPING. SO CUTE. 🥹💕

A moment to appreciate Jude he deserves his own paragraph because he was such a complex beautiful character. The way you start to slowly understand why he is the way he is and his way of thinking freaking perfection. I don't want to say he is a green flag.. maybe a yellow lmao but the yellow is because WE ARE HUMAN AND YOU WILL FALL ANYWAY FOR HIM. Gracie and Jude's chemistry from the very start when they meet is perfection and throughout the book gets better and better.

ALSO. The spice in this book hellzzz yaaaaaa 🥵🔥 Praise me all day and night for the foreseeable future. The way the romance is oozing out of the pages, from small gestures to legit praising and taking care of her in kink form... delicious 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

I do want to take a moment to say that the writing is so easy to read, visualize, and to freaking take IN! The topics are not all fluff this book has sensitive topics of grief, domestic abuse, and self-doubt. The plot is so much more than just love and romance. You see how Gracie grows from her shell and learns to see beyond just happily ever after. It is downright BEAUTIFUL 🥹

Anyway, 5/5 ⭐️ I am a Victoria Lavine FAN! Her writing moves me deep in my core.

FREAKING AMAZING, OKAY. 😭🙌

tropes
💜 enemies to lovers
💜 forced proximity
💜 rom-com with a sprinkle of mental health rep
💜 he falls first
💜 wedding planner x divorce lawyer

Thank you Atria and Netgalley for my eARC!

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 ꪆৎ ˚⋅ im so excited I loved her debut I can't wait how this one turns out!!

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book was the chemistry between Gracie and Jude. They clicked for me the second they met, so yaay, insta-love for me and this book!🥰

Gracie is a wedding planner, Jude a divorce lawyer, which is already a pretty great setup. On top of that, he’s planning to take away her job and home. So she should hate him. But he’s too nice to hate. And so hot!

It was very entertaining how much they were trying not to be attracted to each other 😈. He even tried to set her up with his best friend! (Not his best moment.) But obviously, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other, and some things were simply inevitable 😏

I loved their dynamic and their banter. I loved how crazy Jude was about Gracie and how special it was that he was crazy about someone 🥰 I also understand his decisions and the need for secrecy, even though it caused annoying drama.

The only thing that bothered me was that Jude had that arrogant wealth-entitlement vibe about him. I guess billionaires are just not my thing. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

Expected 21 Jul 26

[⊹₊⟡⋆Mandy Darling⊹₊⟡⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (but honestly… 6 stars if I could)

Not That Kind Of Proposal completely stole my heart. This was easily one of my favorite books of 2026 and definitely a top 5 contemporary romance for me. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down.

The emotional depth in this story absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. My heart is still in pieces and I am not even a little bit mad about it. The chemistry between the two main characters was electric, their banter was hilarious, and the meet-cute-turned-meet-ugly setup was pure perfection. Every interaction between them had me grinning like an idiot.

This book truly gives you the full emotional rollercoaster. You will be laughing, swooning, blushing, and crying… sometimes all in the same chapter. And the last 10%? RUDE. Absolutely emotionally devastating in the best way possible. Grab the tissues.

This was my first book by Victoria Lavine and she is now an instant favorite author. I will happily read anything this woman writes. If her name is on the cover, I’m reading it. No questions asked.

And can we please talk about Jude for a second? Because WOW. Absolute perfection. The standard has officially been raised to an unreasonable level. Lord, please let me meet a man like him. 🙏🏻

Huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gracie works as a wedding planner, but when her boss passes away, the estate where the weddings are held—and where she lives in a guest cottage—is inherited by his grandson, a divorce lawyer. The FMC could end up losing not only her job but also her home, but she's determined to change that.

I enjoyed the author's debut, so I didn't hesitate to request this book. It's a fairly enjoyable rom-com that touches on some heavier topics, but there were quite a few things that didn't work for me personally.

First, the FMC came across as immature. Who would agree to plan their ex’s wedding when it’s only two months away? At the beginning of the book, she clearly hadn't fully moved on yet. I was also expecting a more tension-filled romance with an enemies-to-lovers vibe—especially considering the characters' professions—but instead, this turned out to be an insta-love story, which isn't a trope I enjoy. I should also mention that I wasn't a fan of the whole situation involving Jude's friend.

That said, I'm sure many readers will love this book, but I expected more. I'll definitely be looking forward to the author's future releases!


Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Cece ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘺 𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰 𝘷𝘰𝘸 𝘪 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦”

3★
｛spoiler free﹜

💐˚˖𓍢💍˚.🎉

⌯⌲ 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: romance
⌯⌲ 𝐩𝐨𝐯: first person, present tense
⌯⌲ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: enemies to lovers, opposites attract, forced proximity

✽ ♡ ✽ 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ it had a fun premise
⤷ it was entertaining to read
⤷ great opening

✽ ♡ ✽ 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ how Gracie and Jude’s relationship was completely physical, it didn’t seem like there was any emotional attraction at all
⤷ Jude in general, he gives me the ick
⤷ how it wasn’t actual enemies to lovers, Jude falls completely head over heels barely a third the way through
⤷ the whole story works up to this wedding that they’re planning, but the actual wedding barely has any page time and is not described at all

✽ ♡ ✽ 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ Gracie, a wedding planner, is forced to work with Jude, a divorce lawyer, to plan a wedding in only 7 weeks while they’re both trying to convince the other of their plans for Jude's inherited estate

✽ ♡ ✽ 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ the story is set in a small town in Rhode Island. I really liked the descriptions of the local shops they visited, it made the story feel more homey

✽ ♡ ✽ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ✽ ♡ ✽
⤷ Gracie: ugh where do i even start? I thought she was a good fmc at the start but that was before i realized how irritatingly gullible she is
⤷ Jude: I hate him honestly. He seemed kind and genuine in some parts of the story, but in other parts he was completely obsessed with Gracie’s body and he told her that she was being a “good girl” twice which felt so icky to me
⤷ Henry: he was okay, i don’t understand how he’s still best friends with Jude though since they were so horrible to each other, kind of seemed like a toxic friendship
⤷ Sofia: i thought she was really sweet, but again don’t know how she can be best friends with Gracie

⌯⌲ 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 17/18 +

✽ ♡ ✽ 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 ✽ ♡ ✽

➔ 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: none

➔ 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: three descriptive open-door scenes (the last couple pages of chapter 25, and all of chapters 26, 30, and 36)

➔ 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞/𝐧𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲: very descriptive kissing, innuendo, lewd humor, talk of k*nks and fetishes, mention of toys, mention of a pole dancer

➔ 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠/𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬/𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: characters drink alcoholic beverages at the bar, fmc drinks a whole bottle of wine and is tipsy, drug related jokes and comments are made

➔ 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞: 2 p**sy, 7 cl*t, 105 f**k, 7 c*ck, 32 sh*t, 10 d*ck, 2 pr*ck, 11 a**hole, 25 a**, 26 hell, 14 godd*mn, 4 damn, 6 piss, 60 uses of the Lord’s name in vain

➔ 𝐥𝐠𝐛𝐭𝐪+ 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: a minor female side character has a wife

➔ 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: none

➔ 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜: mention of tarot card readings, hexes, and that the fmc and her best friend went through a witchy phase in college

➔ 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: domestic abuse (off-page but a big part of the plot), death, grief


💐˚˖𓍢💍˚.🎉

⌯⌲ 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 21-July-2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I’ve got to just say that this was my most exciting arc approval of the year! I really loved Any Trope But You, and I was so excited to see the announcement for Not That Kind of Proposal. I absolutely adore Victoria Lavine’s writing - her books are hilarious and heartwarming, while also deeply emotional and insightful. I knew from her debut novel that if she writes it, I will be buying it. And as much as I enjoyed Any Trope But You, I think Not That Kind of Proposal was even better!

This book just made me SO HAPPY - which is pretty wild when you consider that it begins with the funeral of one of the coolest grandmothers you’ll ever encounter. I would love to read an entire book about Agatha. She’s the fabulous old lady I think we all aspire to be one day - hysterical, wise, and absolutely iconic. So of course, her funeral was one of my favorite romcom scenes I’ve read in a while - and the perfect setting for Gracie and Jude’s meet cute/ meet disaster.

I really loved both Gracie and Jude. They’re both very fleshed out and multidimensional. I liked how we got to see both of their families, friendships, and lives outside of only what pertained to their relationship. But the relationship? Oh my gosh. The relationship was so passionate and captivating. At the beginning, I loved the chemistry and witty banter. Then, as they got to know - and fall for - each other, the tension was heart pounding and downright exquisite. We’re talking Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton level angst and yearning. And then… the emotions. The tears. My heart. Ugh. It was all just so beautifully written and handled with so much care.

I do need to specifically take moment to gush about Jude, the perfect romance mmc. I was sold on him from the second he pulled out that hat and feather boa. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that, with Jude, Victoria Lavine has basically redefined what my type is. I expect more from men now. My standards have been raised. Can I really pay a higher compliment to a romance novel than that? He’s not perfect, per se. He made a few choices I didn’t agree with (as did Gracie), and he can be grouchy and cynical - but he’s self aware, and he works hard to fix his mistakes. Not to mention, he’s the owner of a vicious cat that he adores. As a “devoted but under appreciated cat guardian” myself, I loved the demon fluff-ball representation.

There’s honestly so much more I’d love to rave about, but I think it’s best to save it for the next reader to discover on their own! I’ll just say that I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a really lovely romcom with both humor and depth. Please check it out as soon as you can! Not That Kind of Proposal is out July 21, 2026!

Thank you so much to the wonderful Victoria Lavine, Atria Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Not That Kind of Proposal in exchange for my honest review.

[Afton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and entertaining rom-com that balanced plenty of laughs with some surprisingly emotional moments. The rivals-to-lovers dynamic was set up perfectly, the tension was absolutely swoon-worthy, and the millionaire MMC was everything I wanted him to be.

The story started incredibly strong, though the pacing felt a little uneven through the middle and toward the end. Even so, the ending wrapped everything up beautifully and left me with a smile on my face and my heart happy.

If you're looking for a cute, feel-good romance with great chemistry and plenty of heart, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

[Soph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

⭐️4.25 Stars⭐️
This was my first book by Victoria Lavine, and I really enjoyed it!

It has all the classic romcom vibes, great banter, chemistry, and characters you can’t help but root for. Gracie is a total people pleaser who has to learn to stand up for herself, while Jude helps her find that strength. In return, she helps him open up emotionally, communicate his feelings, and allow himself to be loved.

They’re definitely not perfect, both have their own baggage, but the connection they build feels genuine and really lovely to watch unfold. The banter, tension, and emotional depth kept me hooked throughout.

The story also touches on heavier themes like family issues and both physical and emotional abuse, which add depth. At times it felt like a lot was going on alongside other plotlines though.

Overall, it’s a heartwarming and charming read with a lot of funny and emotional moments.

Perfect for fans of:
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Opposites attract
• Dislike to lovers
• Grumpy cat

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have needed a book like this for quite a while! Cute, fun, lower stakes, and full of romance. This style of romance book isn’t always my cup of tea but I inhaled this book within two days. (I just prefer a second chance or slow burn and this was a bit fast paced for me being only 320 pages!)

This felt pretty insta lovey to me but I think both characters rounded each other out pretty well and I enjoyed their connection. There were some dynamics between the FMC, MMC, and a friend that didn’t sit SUPER well with me but again, mostly preference. This book is for the romantics, the romance cynics, the ones looking for encouragement to set boundaries, and small moments of working through active grief. There's a lot of great things in this book! By the 60% point it was pretty spicy too tbh lol. Nothing crazy but definitely more than I anticipated going in. I also had to come back and edit this because I forgot to add how much I adored the banter. They were quick, funny, and a bit unserious at times but it made me smile a lot and that's ALWAYS a win for me!

I feel like this book wrapped up nicely in a neat little bow by the end for all involved. Buuuuuuut maybe could have done well with a smidge more depth to the characters connection? Or maybe less repetitiveness with the secret keeping and lack of trust/more connection building. I'm a bit conflicted. There were valid reasons for what was transpiring but I was left kind of grappling for answers and then smacked with all of them at once at the end. I think it's insinuated pretty well that there is no genuine malicious intent with the MMC but it drags for a bit.

Those were honestly my only personal issues other than some smaller things that didn’t work for my romance preferences but nothing that took away from my enjoyment of the story. Just a side note but there are definitely some sensitive topics discussed so I would also recommend checking CW’s.

Overall just some small personal preferences for me that didn't make this a slamming 5 star BUT i thoroughly enjoyed this read - and very quickly inhaled it lol. Thank you so much atria for this e-arc via netgalley! As always, all opinions are my own.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 .

Honestly, I was overdue for binge reading an arc the second I got it. I'm slumpy and needed something light, funny, and cute. I'm absolutely loving the banter here. Thank you atria for the e-arc! ♡

[michelle ✧]

I NEED THIS BOOK NOW!!!

[charisse ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

book 6 of my 24hr arc readathon!

gracie and jude stole my freaking heart! they were just soo cute together.. ugh!! full rtc!

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
omg i just got approved for one of my most anticipated releases??? goodbye-

[Anna (annareadit)]

rtc

Tropes:
— wedding planner & divorce lawyer
— grumpy & sunshine
— enemies & lovers
— he falls first
— enemies to lovers

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,75

[Jaclyn Brill · Rating 5 out of 5]

my thoughts
Omg first book I read by VL & definitely going to read her debut novel now. This book had such a nice balance between fun & flirty mixed with tons of emotions. Great banter & fyi had some spice. Perfect dual pov imo & enemies to lovers trope. Be sure to add to your tor coming in July 2026! Huge thank you to Gatriabooks for my physical & EARC!

[Jess Hilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one got me. It started off feeling like a fun, slightly chaotic rom-com, and then somewhere along the way it just kept deepening until I was fully emotionally invested and not okay about it. I was smiling, laughing, tearing up, and completely wrapped up in Gracie and Jude the entire time. 💛✨

Gracie was so easy to love. Watching her slowly realize she doesn’t have to carry everything or blame herself for things that were never hers to hold was such a beautiful arc. And Jude… you could feel how much he was holding back and why, even before everything was fully revealed. There was so much empathy built into both of them that you couldn’t help but root for them, even when they were struggling to get it right.

And yes, the third act breakup hurt, but it felt like it mattered. It pushed both of them to grow in a way that made the ending land exactly how it should. This was sweet, emotional, funny, and just so full of heart. One of those romances that gives you everything. Four and a half stars from me. 💫

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO GOOD. This was a pretty perfect dual POV, enemies to lovers romance. I love these characters so much. Gracie and Jude were such well-developed characters. They were each dealing with some deep family trauma, and I love the therapy representation. This book had some heavy themes, but it handled them in a way that fit the story and just made me more invested in the characters. I love that what drew them together was Jude's grandmother. It was interesting to see how they each dealt with their grief and found a connection through it without it being a trauma bond. The chemistry between Gracie and Jude was also so fun to read.

I didn't want to put this book down after I started, and I am excited to read more from Victoria Lavine!

Thank you to Atria, NetGalley, and the author, Victoria Lavine, for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this advanced copy.

4.25🌟
If I could describe this book in one word it would be lovely. It was sweet, swoon worthy, and the perfect springtime read. The setting was picturesque and transported me into the story. The writing throughout the novel had depth and beauty to it, with a ton of gorgeous metaphors. The humor was sharp and witty, and Jude and Gracie had great banter. Both characters well developed and I was rooting for the them the whole time. Some of the conflicts with side characters were resolved a little quickly—namely Gracie’s relationship with her mom and Jude’s relationship with Henry. They felt a bit rushed in my opinion. Gracie’s relationship with her best friend, however, was done very well. The romance itself was so sweet. It started to border on toxic towards the end, but I thought it was resolved appropriately. The story itself felt distinctly human, and it was easy to root for characters that felt so real! I really enjoyed this book, and I can’t wait to get a physical copy so that I can physically annotate all of the incredible quotes!

[jenna 💘✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75!

Thank you to Atria & NetGalley for the arc!

I have been so excited to read this one & I'm happy to say that I was anything but disappointed! Not That Kind of Proposal follows Gracie & Jude, strangers turned rivals turned lovers. A wedding planner vs. a divorce lawyer... that's all I really need to hear!!! (There is mention of abuse, it isn't graphic, but still want to note that just incase!take care of yourself!)

Gracie & Jude were soso lovely. Opposites in so many ways, but similar in others. I really enjoyed getting to peel back the layers of their characters!! Gracie's struggles with her family, feeling pushed aside, uncared for, and unwanted is something I think a lot of people will relate to. How that shaped her into who she is was handled so carefully, which I really appreciated! I also think a lot of people will resonate with her hopeful outlook on love, her desire for her own happily ever after. Jude's depth spanned farther than I expected and it was heartbreaking to learn about. His struggles with his family, the dark secrets he has kept for his entire life, and how that has played a role in his relationships truly hurt my heart for him. I just wanted to give both of them a big hug!!! All of that being said, their individual growths as characters throughout the story was so special to see! I loved getting to see their strength & watch them heal old wounds in different ways.

The romance!! I really loved Jude & Gracie's love story. The strangers to rivals to lovers pipeline was done so well. Especially because there was chemistry/attraction from their initial meeting that made their rivalry that much better. The tension, banter, and secret desire was sooo good!!! I loved seeing them fall in love, trust each other, and just be happy!!! Also... Ugh Jude was so hot guys I can't even lie. If you liked Lukas's care taking in Deep End, you'll love Jude!!!

I really loved this one & would definitely recommend adding it to your tbr!!!

[k · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prepare for your newest obsession! Not That Kind of Proposal will completely consume you and refuse to let go.

This book is absolute PERFECTION. 13/10. I truly have no notes. A top read OF THE YEAR. The banter is SO GOOD. The tension, the yearning… I’m just trying so hard to pick myself up from the ground right now because this book has me ON MY KNEES BEGGING FOR MORE.

Jude is top notch boyfriend material. Hot cat dad. Some fun kinks. Just the way he’s so obsessed with Gracie. MY HEART IS SCREAMING. I love when the MMC has a bit of trauma and just something deeper going on with them. We really get a bunch of emotion that really tugs at your heartstrings and begs you to keep reading.

Gracie is great. I’m never going to be able to stop gushing about this story. While she has her own issues and things holding her back, we really get to see her bloom and come into herself. It’s magical.

The chemistry between Jude and Gracie is ELECTRIC. I love the way these two were able to be there for each other in ways they didn’t know they needed. Ugh, just so good. The side characters. The side plots. Everything is just perfect. I’ll never shut up about this.

Thank you to Atria and the author for an advance copy of this book. Forever grateful!

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley, Atria books and Victoria Lavine for the early copy! I will gladly read all of this author’s books, I LOVE her work!


A perfect romance with steamy scenes AND plot. Tied together in the perfect little bow 🤭🎀 (IYKYK) I literally ate this all the way up and enjoyed every second!!


Victoria is the queen of slightly heated, witty banter that makes you kick your feet and giggle while hoping they get so annoyed with each other they kiss.

There is a more serious side plot of how some relationships can be preformed or appear differently to others but actually be entirely something else deeper inside. And that we may play them up in our minds and be unable to see the truth for what it is. Also excellent job side stepping a serious topic of domestic abuse and everyone having their own traumas that deserve to be heard and validated and just because someone’s trauma may be “worse” in some ways, everyone’s hurt is valid.

Check your TW’s before diving in!! 🤍🎀🥰🫦

[Sam Lue · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Sparkling Stars

Gracie Holland creates magic as a wedding planner. On her days off she can be found stowing away in a dreamy cottage, on the grounds of the fairytale venue. Her hideaway is rudely snatched away by the sudden death of the estate owner, and the subsequent arrival of Jude Larkwood. A man whose goal is to put Gracie out of business and kick her to the curb.

Not that Kind of Proposal stands as a true rom-com novel. The setting was exquisitely described, the characters were well-rounded, and the pacing was steady. I found it easy to sink into the story, and the author's quick quips kept me entertained.

Gracie, the wedding planner, and Jude, the divorce lawyer, naturally oppose each other, yet they are drawn together by the death of a shared loved one. Jude struggles to steer clear of Gracie, even after his best friend, Henry, takes an interest. The spice in this book had me raising my eyebrows in the best way. I appreciate the emotions this book was able to drag out of me.

A warm thanks to Victoria Lavine, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not at all shocked that I loved this book - I loved Lavine’s debut. I love the way she writes: it feels authentic and swoony. It’s easy to slide into cheesy and unrealistic but not here.

My god, Jude Larkwood. Immediately going on the book boyfriend list. Boy’s got some serious trauma to unpack and, instead of making it everyone’s problem, he breaks himself to spare others pain. I just want to give him a hug. Okay and maybe other things but mostly the hug.

And we’ve all been where Gracie is. Not quite a mid-life crisis but more of a realization that life hasn’t turned out how you thought it would and now what do you do. How do you continue to go on day after day?

I’m thankful for Agatha’s scheming.

Thank you to NetGalley, Victoria Lavine, and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna DiCiurcio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jude Larkwood is definitely in my top 10 romance book boyfriends. The yearning!!! This book was so cute, I mean she’s a wedding planner and he is a divorce lawyer?! The main tropes in book are enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and he falls harder. This book does have spicy scenes, I would say it was a 2/5 🌶️. The story was definitely a roller coaster but it was worth it in the end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Victoria Lavine for allowing me to read this book early!!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so much more than a romcom. There’s a much greater depth of emotion than I had anticipated. Both MCs have to learn to own their truths. And the spice is so hot - yowza!

[Steph (stephanie_isreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read, i enjoyed the romance and how heartfelt it was. The fmc and the mmc are rivals with the mmc being a divorce lawyer and the fmc being a wedding planner. Right off the bat I thought it was interesting how different both characters were especially on how they viewed things like relationships. This book is very sweet as we watch the mmcs fall in love with each other. I liked how at first they didn’t think they would be good for each other despite all the chemistry they had. The romance is very tender and i loved seeing the mcs views on love and how it impacted the relationship. There is a bit of spice with interesting side characters and great characters development. Overall a good read thanks to Atria Books for this arc.

[daisy]

rtc!

[destinysbookshelf331 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

Thank you to Atria Book and NetGalley for this ARC

Wow just Wow. Easily one of the best books in 2026. I love romance books that not only focus on the romance but dive deep into how the characters deal with topics and this book nailed it. Jude and Gracie really grew as character with and without each other.

This isn’t enemies to lovers but we should be enemies but can’t. They’re ideally enemies, Jude being a divorce lawyer and Gracie a wedding planner but can’t. We can’t forget to thank Agatha for that either.

For anyone looking for a good romcom in 2026, this is for you.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dreamy setting, enemies to lovers, dual POV, a great setup for a romcom. I read this story super quickly and was really invested in the characters. While I didn’t love the MMCs best friend as a conflict/potential love interest aspect, the rest of the book made up for it. It was nicely paced and a fast read!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[Nicole (literary_nics) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up a book about a wedding planner falling for a divorce lawyer and thought: cute premise. I put it down several hours later, emotionally compromised and talking to no one in particular about Jude Larkwood. This is not what I planned for my evening.

Gracie Holland has spent years making other people's love stories happen at Larkwood, an ivy-draped Rhode Island estate so gorgeous it practically has its own personality. When her beloved boss dies and leaves the property to her grandson Jude, a cynical, commitment-averse divorce lawyer who has professionally dedicated his life to watching love fall apart, Gracie suddenly finds herself facing the sale of the only home she's known. Her solution is completely unhinged and I respect it deeply: she proposes that Jude help her plan her ex's shotgun wedding to prove Larkwood is worth saving. It is a scheme that makes zero logical sense and perfect narrative sense, and what follows is bickering, a truly impressive number of cake tastings, late-night confessions, and two people conducting a masterclass in actively, desperately trying not to fall in love.

Here's the thing about Jude and Gracie: they should not work. He is a man who has professionally dedicated himself to the aftermath of love. She is a woman who has professionally dedicated herself to its beginning. Every scene they share has this crackle to it, the kind of banter where you can feel both of them choosing their words like weapons and then being quietly horrified when the other person parries perfectly. Victoria Lavine writes chemistry like it's something you earn, not just declare, and she earns every single inch of it here. By the time the late-night confessions arrive you've been softened up so thoroughly that you don't stand a chance. I didn't stand a chance. The slow burn is immaculate, the Larkwood setting does serious atmospheric heavy lifting, it feels like a place genuinely worth fighting for, which matters, but it's the dialogue that makes this book something special.

Trope Chaos Check
✨ Enemies to lovers (a divorce lawyer and a wedding planner sharing an estate, the universe was in its unhinged era)
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Opposites attract (professionally, ideologically, emotionally, all of it, simultaneously)
✨ Fighting for something worth saving, with feelings as very inconvenient collateral damage

★★★★★ Victoria Lavine said "what if I made the banter this good and also emotionally ruinous" and I will be sending her my therapy bill.

Thank you to Atria for the ARC, Jude Larkwood has taken up permanent residence in my brain and I have no intentions of filing for eviction.