Not That Kind of Proposal

by Victoria Lavine

Gracie Holland can plan the perfect Happily Ever After-unless it's her own. After a brutal breakup, she's rebuilt her life planning weddings at Larkwood-a fairytale estate where she lives in the staff cottage (and only occasionally cries into her Snuggie). But when her beloved boss passes away and leaves the estate to her grandson, Gracie is suddenly at the mercy of 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 shoes.

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 too difficult to discuss, but there's a his Nana inexplicably left the guest cottage to the estate's wedding planner, and Jude can't decide what's more Gracie's faith in love, or the way she suddenly occupies all his thoughts.

So when Gracie proposes a scheme to change his mind-by helping her plan a shotgun wedding to show why 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 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 Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Forced Proximity, Fiction, Rom Com

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published 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 took 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!!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5, romance)
Guys... this book was SO FUN! Total B.R.A.D. vibes in all the best ways!
The story is about a hopeless romantic wedding planner who lives in a cottage on an estate where she plans all the weddings, and the cynical, seriously hot divorce lawyer who just inherited the land and wants to sell it!! If he sells it, not only will she be out of a job, she’ll be out of a home!!!!!! So, she does the only logical thing, and that thing is to try to convince the skeptical smoke show to fall in love with love by roping him into planning her ex’s wedding with her!!
Just a fun, sexy romance that you’re going to gobble up with a spoon!!
In honor of our heroine’s occupation, this is best paired with a hunk of wedding cake (or just a hunk) and a glass of champagne!!
FYI: while this is a fun romance, there are some heavy themes (handled well, IMO), so check TWs!

[chan ☆]

the smut in this is surprisingly filthy for a book that is otherwise... tame? dare i say, a little boring? i need this author to try her hand at like romantasy or darker settings because i think she'd kill that.

[har · Rating 4 out of 5]

┆ ⤿ 💐 ⌗ started: july 21, finished: july 26

4 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹
⤿ mini arc review with no spoilers.

“gracie holland, there is no ceremony i wouldn't go through, no contract i wouldn't sign and now vow i wouldn't make to call you mine"

⋆.˚ ★— thank you to atria books, victoria lavine and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for a honest review!

──★ ˙💍 !! tropes
.ᐟ rivals to lovers
.ᐟ wedding planner x lawyer
.ᐟ forced proximity
.ᐟ he falls first and harder

summary:⋆˚࿔

not that kind of proposal follows optimistic wedding planner gracie holland as she clashes with cynical divorce lawyer jude larkwood over his late grandmother’s historic estate. while jude wants a clean sale of the property, gracie inherits the estate's guest cottage, setting off a high-stakes battle of wits. to prove the venue's worth, gracie bets jude she can successfully coordinate her ex-boyfriend's shotgun wedding on-site, unaware that Jude's hidden motive for the sale is to fund a domestic violence safehouse.

thoughts:⋆˚࿔

this was my first book by victoria, and i have to say, i absolutely loved it! i loved the banter, the way it touched on real-world issues, and how realistic the entire story felt.

gracie was such a relatable character, especially because she never stopped believing that everyone deserves a happy ending, even after everything she'd been through. her optimism never felt naive—it was hopeful, and i really admired that about her.

i'll admit, jude annoyed me at first. he came across as cold and frustrating, but the more we learned about his past and why he was so determined to sell larkwood, the more my opinion of him changed. understanding the pain behind his decisions made him such a heartwarming character, and watching him slowly let his walls down was one of my favorite parts of the book.

──★ ˙🌅 !! my playlist

.ᐟ you are in love – taylor swift
.ᐟ i like me better – lauv
.ᐟ from the start – laufey
.ᐟ call it what you want – taylor swift
.ᐟ best part – daniel caesar & h.e.r.
.ᐟ every summertime – niki
.ᐟ so easy (to fall in love) – olivia dean
.ᐟ this will be (an everlasting love) – natalie cole
.ᐟ glue song – beabadoobee
.ᐟ until i found you – stephen sanchez
.ᐟ you've got the love – florence + the machine
.ᐟ daylight – taylor swift

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not that Kind of Proposal is a swoony romance full of heart and heat. The story follows Gracie, a wedding planner who unexpectedly loses her boss and dear friend, and Jude, a cynical divorce lawyer who is all too happy to hide behind his charm. When Jude announces he’s closing his late nana’s beloved wedding business, Gracie convinces him to help her plan one last wedding in the hope that he changes his mind. This was such a sweet and swoony read from beginning to end. I loved Jude and Gracie’s banter and how their relationship unfolded so slowly into something more. The two were so good for each other, and it was lovely to see them melt and be vulnerable enough to come together. Not to mention the obvious connection between them, they had off the charts chemistry and that definitely bled over into all the luscious steam. Aside from the romance, I appreciated how the more delicate and emotional topics balanced everything out and were handled with such care. Every page of this book was absolutely filled with heartfelt charm, tender emotion, and just the perfect dash of steam that kept me swooning from start to finish.

~Many thanks to Atria for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Gentrified ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I grew up drinking out of the water hose, and this review does reflect my personality, so it’s important to know that before hand.
But boy this was a book on how to behave correctly in terms of consent, dialogue, discussions. Any real and raw human emotion was completely cleaned up to digestible little squeaky clean portions for safe consumption.

The romance arc though, was fantastic. Objectively, it was really well done. I just didn’t particularly like everything else.

The premise:

Gracie, 30, is a wedding planner who lives and works on an estate. Jude, also around 30 and a divorce lawyer, inherits the estate and wants to sell it. Except he can’t, because Gracie was given the guest cottage she lives in.

So Gracie convinces him to give her eight weeks to change his mind about selling. If she fails, he gets the cottage.

Wedding planner vs. divorce lawyer. Fun, right?

Except… no.

Gracie’s actual career was in design, so why was she so hellbent on keeping an estate running as a wedding venue she didn’t even own? It felt contrived from the start. Sure, there were vendors and other people depending on the venue, but come on. I never really bought into the premise.

And that was the problem with a lot of the book for me.

Then there was Henry, Jude’s best friend, who felt primarily like a plot device designed to manufacture drama and he nearly became my second DNF.

Henry asks Gracie out early on, and she accepts. She feels absolutely no chemistry with him, but she does with Jude. The night before her date with Henry, Gracie and Jude share a kiss.

And suddenly we’re in middle school. 🤦‍♀️

These people are in their 30s! Gracie barely knows Henry, but somehow everyone needs to discuss the situation, process their feelings, communicate openly and probably form a talking circle.

That was the drama.

Gracie also came across as entitled and self-important to me. She seemed to believe that everyone in her life owed her their secrets, and I found her character development pretty weak.

Jude was… fine. Meh, really.

And then we get his pseudo cleaned up BDSM kink, which came completely out of left field. He was into “caretaking “He liked doing her nails and washing her hair.

Second DNF thought. 🗡️⚔️

And look, I am all for consent. Obviously. But I also assume two adults have agency unless the story gives me a reason not to. The constant “Can I kiss you?” and “Do you still want this?” started feeling less like romantic tension and more like a relationship therapy session.

It’s just too therapy speak-y for me. It takes me right out of the romance.

Despite not particularly liking the characters or believing much of the plot, I actually thought Jude and Gracie’s romantic arc was very well done. I genuinely cannot explain how the romance worked for me when almost everything surrounding it didn’t.

What should have been better:

The character development. All of it.

The relationships between the characters, other than Jude and Gracie, needed so much more depth. Henry, Gracie’s mother, Jude’s mother, there were opportunities everywhere.
Calvin and Brooke was another missed opportunity for emotional impact.

And I wish the story had been braver.
There was an enormous trigger warning with this book and I was brazing myself for chapter 24, and it was so tame. I actually went back to see if I missed anything. Have we completely jumped the shark with trigger warnings?

What could have been real heartbreak became a series of conversations about how to have the conversation about the heartbreak.
Everything was carefully sanitized, explained and emotionally processed.

It felt afraid to offend anyone, and in trying so hard to make everything safe and emotionally correct, the book became… mid. It is either that or it’s completely condescending to the reader.

There were no bold choices.

Should you read it?

Maybe. If you’re here for the romance and banter, absolutely give it a shot.

But if you’re looking for messy characters, depth, and actual drama, emotional devastation and people making spectacularly bad decisions?

This is probably not your book.

Chance of divorce: 20%

I don’t see how Jude survives her sanctimonious manner.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not that Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine
Contemporary romance.
Gracie Holland is a wedding planner. She loves the organization, the planning and making sure the couple has the perfect day. When her boss and company owner passes away, Gracie is on the verge of losing her carefully curated vendors, her own job and even her cute little cottage on the owner’s estate.

Jude Lakewood inherited the Lakewood estate from his grandmother. As a divorce lawyer, he’s seen too many marriages fall apart. He’s selling the estate.
Gracie has one more big wedding. She wants to show Jude how important all the little details are in hope of changing his mind on selling.
Spending time together at a cake testing, listening to a band and other activities does bring them within kissing distance, but is it enough to convince him of a hea?

Deep hidden issues and secrets make this story less of a comedy and more feelings, self analysis and drama. Gracie is so sweet and generous, truly wanting to help everyone. Jude had depths we only slowly get to learn.

Emotional romance therapy. Heartwarming and delightful.
4.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

[Dab · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎉Happy Publication Day!🎉


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

[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.

[Anila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.25⭐️

The female lead Gracie was so likeable and easily relatable. She was a people pleaser with a heart of gold. She has had a lot of setbacks and hardships thrown her way, but she remains positive and hard working. She wasn’t perfect by any means but I very much enjoyed her outlook on life. I also couldn’t get enough of the chemistry between Gracie and Jude. There was an instant spark when they first meet and it never goes away even when they realize they are on opposing sides when it comes to the estate.

The reason I couldn’t rate it higher is because there is some OM drama. It is mostly described and we don’t even get to see how certain moments played out which made the whole situation even more annoying. The author didn’t give a very full picture of the situation and I had to go back to make sure I didn’t completely miss chapters. It was very weird. Jude and Gracie also handled everything so poorly and the fact that Henry is Jude’s best friend made it all the more messy and uncomfortable. It really didn’t need to be in the book imo.

All in all, this book started off really strong but the second half felt like a completely different story and was honestly a letdown.

[⊹₊⟡⋆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.

[AboutEstelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOW CAN HE BE SO HOT AND RESPECTFUL 🫣🔥
C’était vraiment très chouette, sauf la crizette ( as usual 🫠). Moi aussi j’aimerais beaucoup qu’une lettre écrite par ma grand-mère sauve toute ma vie, mais bon les chéris, avouez quand même que c’était un peu abusé ?
Et puis Henry et Sofia pas sûre que vous soyez vraiment leur bestie….

[Lauren Self · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT THAT KIND OF PROPOSAL by @victorialavinewrites
📖 book review • out 07.21.26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

thank you @atriabooks for my gifted ARC! #atriapartner

I’m actually obsessed with the way Victoria writes. Her sense of humor is TOP TIER and I could have read fifty more chapters!! Within the first three chapters, I had already gone through the entire wheel of emotions and was working on the stages of grief. What a rollercoaster! Jude Larkwood stole my heart, broke it a little 😒 but patched it up wholly. Gracie might be one of my favorite FMCs ever written - I loved everything about her! to sum it up.. READ THIS BOOK!

Gracie is a wedding planner, lives in a cottage at the wedding venue, but is met with circumstances that could cause her to lose both the cottage and the business. The man behind it all: Jude Larkwood. Her boss’s grandson, grumpy and reserved, but a different side of him starts to come out the more he’s around Gracie.

Ugh my heart. I adored this book. Highly recommend!

[kaz ruby 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅ · Rating 5 out of 5]

JUDE, the man that you are!!! I LOVED this book so much!!! This was so tender AND HOT (learned new things about myself hehehe), I enjoyed this book very much!!!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

hehehe my god guys!!! this book was so freakin’ good I just went back through my highlights & I was giggly and flushing all over again!! divorce lawyer x wedding planner, hate to love, silly spicy perfection!!

[fromthestudyof · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay this one took me by surprise

based on the premise I thought I would enjoy it, but I wasn’t expecting to like it this much!!

The characters endeared themselves to me more and more as the story went on & I couldn’t put the book down

This is much more than the usual “doe eyed romantic” & “the cynic” - which is what I was initially worried about

things to know:
- wedding planner x divorce lawyer
- she works for his grandma
- dual pov
- he only does one night stands x she’s a relationship girl
- some forced proximity & pretending to be a couple
- he’s nasty (complimentary)

[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 made so many comments about her body that made me feel icky
⤷ 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, a side character is pregnant before marriage but gets married not too long after

➔ 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.

[Alex Z (azeebooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggle to review this one because I really loved the writing and banter, but there were so many points to the plot that I hated. It's weird because for the first 40% I was obsessed and thought this would be a new fave author. But.... once the main characters got together too it became weirdly possessive (he literally said he wanted to put diamond chains on her neck and wrist so everyone knew she was his) and I got the ick.

The subplot with Henry was also so unnecessary, there was enough going on without it and it really didn't make me like any of the characters more. It was so weird to me like, these characters who bonded over the death of a loved one and have amazing witty banter - don't really offer much else. I guess I'm in the minority of people that this book just really didn't work for.

[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

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.Victoria Lavine is now indisputably one of my favourite contemporary romance authors. I thought I loved Any Trope But You, but I think I loved this even more. Not only does Victoria Lavine absolutely nail the humour, romance and spice(!!) that makes her books unputdownable and so much fun to read, but her careful handling of the heavier themes and emotional journeys of her characters, is so incredibly impactful and touching. Jude and Gracie felt like two fully-fleshed out, flawed, but lovable people, with their own distinct personalities, priorities and pain. You can't help but desperately hope to see them succeed, as individuals and as a the perfect-for-each-other fictional couple you see come to life together on page. I adored them and this story and cannot wait to devour everything this author writes in future.

[Katie (katieeatsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

07/13/2026-07/18/2026

Thank you so much atria for the gifted physical proof of “Not That Kind of Proposal” by Victoria Lavine 💍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming July 21st, 2026)

From the get go the banter was insane!! 💜

I mean I couldn’t get enough of these two fighting 😂
From friends to enemies to friends to lovers to enemies to lovers galore!! 👏🏻

Seriously I wish this one was 1000+ pages long because I could not get enough! 🥹

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

•THE REVIEW•
I fell in love with Victoria’s writing when I read Any Trope But You last year. The banter and chemistry between her characters is unmatched.

When you have a grumpy divorce lawyer and a sunshine wedding planner… you know it’s going to be good. June and Gracie.. man oh man. I LOVED them!

The narrators for this book also did an amazing job at making you feel allll the things. Highly recommend it!

If you’re looking for a romance that will have you giggling and kicking your feet, definitely pick this one up!

•THE PLAYLIST•
(The full playlist is a mix between the authors playlist and my own! Please take a look at hers, too!)
-Zombie Lady by Damiano David
-Late Night Talking by Harry Styles
-I Think I Like You by The Band Camino
-this is how you fall in love by Jeremy Zucker, Chelsea Cutler
-Daylight by Taylor Swift

[Jen Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria Lavine has officially hit MUST READ status for me! After reading and loving Any Trope but You last year, I couldn’t wait to dive into Not That Kind of Proposal, and it completely delivered. If you love quirky characters, sharp banter, and a good old-fashioned sunshine-meets-cynic dynamic, this one needs to be at the top of your TBR.

The story follows Gracie, an impossibly optimistic wedding planner living in a cozy guest cottage at a dreamy Rhode Island estate. When her boss passes away, the property gets left to her grandson, Jude—an ultra-practical, cynical divorce lawyer who wants to sell the place by the end of the summer. To save her home and job, Gracie strikes a deal: she gets two months to change his mind while planning a high-stakes wedding (which just so happens to be for her ex!). In return, she drags Jude into a full-blown crash course in love.

Between the late-night confessions, chaotic cake tastings, and forced proximity, watching these two clash and fall for each other is just pure fun! Victoria Lavine has such a knack for crafting unique storylines with so much heart and humor. It’s light, romantic, and so easy to devour. Another absolute winner from an author I'll now auto-buy every single time!

[Allie | booked.with.allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 3🌶️
Welp, I’ve got a new favorite! This was everything I could have wanted from an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract romance. Gracie and Jude were utterly perfect and their banter made my heart race every single time! I could not get enough!!

I truly appreciated the depth of this story. Both characters had their own traumas to overcome and I feel like their struggles were handled in the perfect way.

Just like with ATBY, I couldn’t get enough of Lavine’s writing. Her words had me laughing out loud every few pages. There’s just something so unique about how she puts words on paper!

I truly loved every moment and cannot wait for whatever comes next!

(TW: mentions of DV, no descriptions on page.)

Thank you Atria Books for an advanced copy!

[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.

[Luisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

there's no way i've read the same book as everyone else

[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!

[Kaari Guelsdorf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5. Okay this is false advertising. Enemies for .02 seconds might I add. Also the way this man is just legitimately not real. Lowkey this girl a fucking bitch too like you gonna guilt trip him into not telling you shit and whole time the man is genuinely like Jesus reincarnated and lending everyone a helping hand? Also confused by the kinks. So like I don’t think hair was a kink but it was brought up twice where I was like 🫪 also i think his “kink” could just be qualified as unconditional love and wanting to take care of people he loves. Anyways this shit was lowkey cringe. Digestible but had to sit with some parts before I could continue. Like YES GENIUS!!!! Let’s make the FMC a hopeless romantic wedding planner OBSESSED with zombie movies!!!! God she’s quirky as fuck!!! And BROKE!!!!!!!!!! Triple threat baby!!!! The MMC had tattoos tho so I mean that was great. But I would actually LOVE to see a lawyer that has tattoos and is hot? I’m sorry but that’s not true and doesn’t exist. Would love to be proved wrong tho😍😍😍😍😍 I am going through a break up gang so this is a bit more cynical than usual but fuck this one was cringe. Not the worst I will say but it was bad.

[✨Julie✨]

I’m honestly not really in the mood for this, but Libby says it’s next. 😅 Hoping it will pull me in!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read. The premise immediately grabbed me—a wedding planner falling for a divorce attorney is the kind of opposites attract setup that practically writes itself—and Victoria Lavine absolutely delivers. Gracie and Jude couldn’t be more different, but their witty banter, constant teasing, and undeniable chemistry made every scene together entertaining. Even when they were driving each other crazy, it was obvious they were perfect for one another.

I also loved that beneath the humor and romance was a story with real emotional depth. For a while, the one thing Gracie and Jude truly had in common was the loss of someone they both loved, and that shared grief became the foundation for a deeper connection. The mental health representation felt authentic, and I appreciated how the story balanced heavier moments with plenty of swoony romance and laugh out loud interactions.

The writing was strong, the romance was definitely on the steamier side, and the chemistry between these two never felt forced. Watching them slowly work through everything standing in their way made their happily ever after feel completely earned. If you’re looking for a romance that’s funny, sexy, heartfelt, and full of opposites attract energy, this is an easy one to recommend.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

* Opposites attract romances
* Enemies to lovers with witty banter
* Wedding planner × divorce attorney pairings
* Forced proximity
* Strong chemistry and steamy romance
* Grief and healing woven into the love story
* Mental health representation
* Romantic comedies with both heart and humor