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The Probation Period: an Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience Romance
Lily Thompson has checked every box her parents put in front of her. The plan was to survive law school, then drop the she wants to be a fashion designer. Then they announce she is marrying a man she does not remember. Her solution? Leverage the forced cohabitation to buy time. When the wedding rolls around, she will have a choice to make—and it will be hers.
Banner Lee has spent the last eight years running from his family’s expectations. He would keep running, except his brother is still back there taking the heat. Agreeing to the marriage is supposed to be a sacrifice—his freedom for his sibling’s peace. Then he learns his fiancée is the whirlwind of a girl who never left his mind. Suddenly it does not feel like a sacrifice at all.
Forced to share a condo three months before the wedding, they realize the probation period is not about learning to coexist. It is about having nowhere to hide—from each other, or from themselves.
Lily is running toward something.
Banner is running from something.
They have ninety days to figure out which direction actually leads home.
Neither expected that home would look like the one person who refuses to let them fake their way through it.
Banner Lee has spent the last eight years running from his family’s expectations. He would keep running, except his brother is still back there taking the heat. Agreeing to the marriage is supposed to be a sacrifice—his freedom for his sibling’s peace. Then he learns his fiancée is the whirlwind of a girl who never left his mind. Suddenly it does not feel like a sacrifice at all.
Forced to share a condo three months before the wedding, they realize the probation period is not about learning to coexist. It is about having nowhere to hide—from each other, or from themselves.
Lily is running toward something.
Banner is running from something.
They have ninety days to figure out which direction actually leads home.
Neither expected that home would look like the one person who refuses to let them fake their way through it.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Zara Monzel
2 books30 followersZara Monzel grew up watching action and thriller movies and secretly pining for fictional characters in her bedroom. Never quite a hopeless romantic, she now writes heartwarming romance for fellow skeptics and dreamers alike. When she’s not writing, she can be found curled up in bed with her shark plushie, binging true crime podcasts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
July 6, 2026
3.75🌟, 2.5🌶️
I went into this one because the tropes sounded exactly like something I’d love, and for the most part, it really delivered.
An arranged marriage, childhood crush, mutual pining, and two people carrying the weight of family expectations made for an emotional and heartfelt story. While it didn’t completely wow me, I still found myself genuinely invested in Lily and Banner’s journey.
More than the romance, I loved how Lily and Banner became a safe place for each other. Watching Lily slowly find the courage to choose her own dreams, while Banner quietly supported her every step of the way, was easily my favorite part of the book. Their relationship felt warm and comforting, and the themes of healing, self-worth, and breaking away from impossible expectations gave the story a lot of heart. I just wished some of the miscommunication and repetitive self-doubt had been toned down, as it occasionally slowed the pacing for me.
Even with those small frustrations, this was still a touching and satisfying read that left me with a smile. The emotional moments landed well, the family dynamics added depth, and I really enjoyed seeing Lily and Banner grow into people who finally chose themselves.
If you enjoy character-driven romances with plenty of heart and supportive relationships, this is definitely worth picking up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Zara Monzel and Happily Booked PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
I went into this one because the tropes sounded exactly like something I’d love, and for the most part, it really delivered.
An arranged marriage, childhood crush, mutual pining, and two people carrying the weight of family expectations made for an emotional and heartfelt story. While it didn’t completely wow me, I still found myself genuinely invested in Lily and Banner’s journey.
More than the romance, I loved how Lily and Banner became a safe place for each other. Watching Lily slowly find the courage to choose her own dreams, while Banner quietly supported her every step of the way, was easily my favorite part of the book. Their relationship felt warm and comforting, and the themes of healing, self-worth, and breaking away from impossible expectations gave the story a lot of heart. I just wished some of the miscommunication and repetitive self-doubt had been toned down, as it occasionally slowed the pacing for me.
Even with those small frustrations, this was still a touching and satisfying read that left me with a smile. The emotional moments landed well, the family dynamics added depth, and I really enjoyed seeing Lily and Banner grow into people who finally chose themselves.
If you enjoy character-driven romances with plenty of heart and supportive relationships, this is definitely worth picking up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Zara Monzel and Happily Booked PR for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
July 6, 2026
4,5⭐
Follow your dreams, if you don't know which they are yet, that's okay. And never give up. Keep going, you are doing well.
That's what I thought this book was telling me the entire time while reading it, it is one of those I enjoyed (and suffered through) the most this year.
The dedication itself is already beautiful: "For everyone who's ever been afraid to disappoint someone. You're allowed to want what you want"
Doesn't that make you want to read it already?
Lily has spent her entire life living exactly as her parents want, without a single objection, preparing to be a lawyer on their firm, even when her true dream is to become a fashion designer.
And then, she receives some news: she is about to get married and will spend a few months with her future husband to adjust before the wedding. At first, it seem like a horrible idea, a marriage of convenience, but later she considers using the time to work in her designs and try to make her dream come true.
Her future husband is the eldest son of another lawyer's family, Banner, someone she supposedly knew as a child but has not memory of, even when he does of her. He is the family's black sheep, who left because he refused to follow the path his parents had laid out for him; he, too, is agreeing to this for his own especific reasons, like helping his brother, Asher.
"She was playing her own game, and that energy was precisely why he'd always noticed her"
I really liked both main characters and saw parts of myself in both of them, which I think makes the story resonate more deeply. I enjoyed a lot the banter between them from the start, and they just ended being such a cute couple, even with their imperfections and insecurities.
I think that throughout the book, both of them underwent significant growth, both personally, between them and in their relationship with their families, while making me reflect about it too.
For much of the story, I suffered along with them and simply wanted to hug them and tell them everything would be okay. I also laughed with them, and even cried once, which surprised me a lot because I was not expecting to.
The only issue I have with the story is that, at a certain point, they could have just talked things out with each other earlier and spared themselves, and me, a whole lot of unnecessary suffering.
Banner is simply the perfect man even with his imperfections and yes, that makes sense. I loved how he takes care of Lily, how he is always looking out for the people who matter to him, how he recognizes his flaws and accepts them, even when it's hard and takes a while, and comes up with a new plan to move forward. How he falls but gets back up again, just like Lily does. How they never stop fighting for their dreams.
"And then there was Banner, who looked at her like she was someone worth noticing. Who did notice her" 🥺
"He saw her, the real her, the one she kept hidden from everyone else"
I think all the characters, even the ones I dislike at first, and even those I still don't fully like at the end of the book, have their own redeption arc, kind of, and something to be learnt from them.
When I think about this book, many ideas come to my mind, is not just a lovely romance, it is a call to follow your dreams, to find yourself, to believe that you can do it, to do things even if with fear, to stop living according to what others want and instead seek your path, figuring out what you truly want in your life and what you don't and act in consecuence. It also makes you realize that sometimes it's okay to pause, reflect on what you're doing and wether you want it to continue that way; that you don't always have to keep running; and that it is fine to change the course, or to change yourself, when the person you used to be, or act as, no longer fits who you are.
"She was preparing for a future she didn't even want. Because the people who were supposed to support her had trained her to conform instead of live."
"but the truth was they didn't see her at all-just the version of her she'd invented for their satisfaction because she loved them unconditionally and they didn't."
It perfectly captures how the scenarios we play out in our heads are often far worse than what actually happens, and how second chances are deserved sometimes because that person made something to show they earned it, to show they changed.
Finally, because I could go on for quite a while, when it comes to Lily and what Banner tells her about her as a young girl, I see her inner child still there, a spark that none of us should ever let go out. Maybe that is me already going crazy, but if it was the idea, I loved it.
Some other sentences I loved, because I really marked a lot:
-"Scared of failing, of not being good enough. Scared of wanting something -someone- this much, and not having it in the end."
-"Trusting someone wasn't just about telling them the good parts. It was about letting them see the rest of it -the fear, the uncertainty, the things you weren't proud of- and trusting them to stay anyways."
-"She cried for the years she'd spent pretending. For the sketches she'd hidden in drawers. For the girl who'd walked out of her own birthday party because she didn't know how to be what everyone wanted."
-"You have nothing to worry about (...) He looks just like how you look when you're with me"
So, just to end, when are we getting a book about Asher? That guy deserves the best in the world.
Thanks to the author, Zara Monzel, and to Happily Booked ARC for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Follow your dreams, if you don't know which they are yet, that's okay. And never give up. Keep going, you are doing well.
That's what I thought this book was telling me the entire time while reading it, it is one of those I enjoyed (and suffered through) the most this year.
The dedication itself is already beautiful: "For everyone who's ever been afraid to disappoint someone. You're allowed to want what you want"
Doesn't that make you want to read it already?
Lily has spent her entire life living exactly as her parents want, without a single objection, preparing to be a lawyer on their firm, even when her true dream is to become a fashion designer.
And then, she receives some news: she is about to get married and will spend a few months with her future husband to adjust before the wedding. At first, it seem like a horrible idea, a marriage of convenience, but later she considers using the time to work in her designs and try to make her dream come true.
Her future husband is the eldest son of another lawyer's family, Banner, someone she supposedly knew as a child but has not memory of, even when he does of her. He is the family's black sheep, who left because he refused to follow the path his parents had laid out for him; he, too, is agreeing to this for his own especific reasons, like helping his brother, Asher.
"She was playing her own game, and that energy was precisely why he'd always noticed her"
I really liked both main characters and saw parts of myself in both of them, which I think makes the story resonate more deeply. I enjoyed a lot the banter between them from the start, and they just ended being such a cute couple, even with their imperfections and insecurities.
I think that throughout the book, both of them underwent significant growth, both personally, between them and in their relationship with their families, while making me reflect about it too.
For much of the story, I suffered along with them and simply wanted to hug them and tell them everything would be okay. I also laughed with them, and even cried once, which surprised me a lot because I was not expecting to.
The only issue I have with the story is that, at a certain point, they could have just talked things out with each other earlier and spared themselves, and me, a whole lot of unnecessary suffering.
Banner is simply the perfect man even with his imperfections and yes, that makes sense. I loved how he takes care of Lily, how he is always looking out for the people who matter to him, how he recognizes his flaws and accepts them, even when it's hard and takes a while, and comes up with a new plan to move forward. How he falls but gets back up again, just like Lily does. How they never stop fighting for their dreams.
"And then there was Banner, who looked at her like she was someone worth noticing. Who did notice her" 🥺
"He saw her, the real her, the one she kept hidden from everyone else"
I think all the characters, even the ones I dislike at first, and even those I still don't fully like at the end of the book, have their own redeption arc, kind of, and something to be learnt from them.
When I think about this book, many ideas come to my mind, is not just a lovely romance, it is a call to follow your dreams, to find yourself, to believe that you can do it, to do things even if with fear, to stop living according to what others want and instead seek your path, figuring out what you truly want in your life and what you don't and act in consecuence. It also makes you realize that sometimes it's okay to pause, reflect on what you're doing and wether you want it to continue that way; that you don't always have to keep running; and that it is fine to change the course, or to change yourself, when the person you used to be, or act as, no longer fits who you are.
"She was preparing for a future she didn't even want. Because the people who were supposed to support her had trained her to conform instead of live."
"but the truth was they didn't see her at all-just the version of her she'd invented for their satisfaction because she loved them unconditionally and they didn't."
It perfectly captures how the scenarios we play out in our heads are often far worse than what actually happens, and how second chances are deserved sometimes because that person made something to show they earned it, to show they changed.
Finally, because I could go on for quite a while, when it comes to Lily and what Banner tells her about her as a young girl, I see her inner child still there, a spark that none of us should ever let go out. Maybe that is me already going crazy, but if it was the idea, I loved it.
Some other sentences I loved, because I really marked a lot:
-"Scared of failing, of not being good enough. Scared of wanting something -someone- this much, and not having it in the end."
-"Trusting someone wasn't just about telling them the good parts. It was about letting them see the rest of it -the fear, the uncertainty, the things you weren't proud of- and trusting them to stay anyways."
-"She cried for the years she'd spent pretending. For the sketches she'd hidden in drawers. For the girl who'd walked out of her own birthday party because she didn't know how to be what everyone wanted."
-"You have nothing to worry about (...) He looks just like how you look when you're with me"
So, just to end, when are we getting a book about Asher? That guy deserves the best in the world.
Thanks to the author, Zara Monzel, and to Happily Booked ARC for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
June 30, 2026
In order for the Thompsons and the Lees to successfully merge their two law firms, Lily, the eldest Thompson daughter, is expected to marry Banner, the eldest Lee son. The problem? Becoming a lawyer was never Lily's dream, so she tries to buy herself some time before telling her parents she doesn't want the future they've planned for her. Banner, meanwhile, has spent years running from his family's expectations and is suddenly forced to face the consequences of his choices.
I'm a little conflicted about this story. Unfortunately, it took me quite a while to finish because it never fully grabbed my attention. The condition that the eldest children had to marry in order for the merger to happen also felt a bit strange to me, especially since Banner isn't even a lawyer. It just didn't feel entirely believable. The book could also have benefited from another round of proofreading, although that's a fairly minor issue in my opinion. We're all human, and a few spelling mistakes aren't the end of the world.
That said, I really liked both main characters. I found Lily's struggle with the pressure to be the perfect daughter and fulfill her parents' dreams very relatable. Banner's complicated relationship with his parents also resonated with me. Their chemistry was evident from the start, especially because Banner has been quietly in love with Lily ever since they were children. Watching the way he cared for her and consistently put her first was genuinely heartwarming. Everyone deserves a Banner in their life.
If you're looking for an arranged marriage romance filled with mutual pining, childhood feelings, and two idiots in love, this book might be right up your alley.
I'm a little conflicted about this story. Unfortunately, it took me quite a while to finish because it never fully grabbed my attention. The condition that the eldest children had to marry in order for the merger to happen also felt a bit strange to me, especially since Banner isn't even a lawyer. It just didn't feel entirely believable. The book could also have benefited from another round of proofreading, although that's a fairly minor issue in my opinion. We're all human, and a few spelling mistakes aren't the end of the world.
That said, I really liked both main characters. I found Lily's struggle with the pressure to be the perfect daughter and fulfill her parents' dreams very relatable. Banner's complicated relationship with his parents also resonated with me. Their chemistry was evident from the start, especially because Banner has been quietly in love with Lily ever since they were children. Watching the way he cared for her and consistently put her first was genuinely heartwarming. Everyone deserves a Banner in their life.
If you're looking for an arranged marriage romance filled with mutual pining, childhood feelings, and two idiots in love, this book might be right up your alley.
June 30, 2026
Thank you to Zara Monzel and Happily Booked ARC for giving me access to The Probation Period
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Rating : 3 ⭐
This was a nice quick read, I enjoyed the banter between Banner and Liliana (Lily) a lot and they were such a sweat couple. If there's one thing I love in books it's arranged marriage trope and this book delivered that exactly.
"He saw her, the real her, the one she kept hidden. No man had ever knelt in front of her the way he had last night and told her she was already who she was trying to become."
Lily had all her future planned for her, her parents always expected her to become a lawyer and to take over their family's firm without knowing that she was hiding her real interests. She never told them that she only wanted to be a fashion designer, that being creative and going into the fashion industry was what she wanted since she picked up the pen for the first time. She never felt like she could express her love for her passion with all the pressure that her parents put for her. She gets a lot of character development throughout the book where she starts stopping pretending to be okay with not prioritizing herself and taking things into her hands. I was so proud of her when she went after what she loved and stopped letting fear interfere in her choices.
"I love you. This isn't how I wanted to say it. But I can't hold it back anymore. I've always loved you. Since we were kids, watching you from my window. You were the only positive thing in my life."
Banner is like the other side of the same coin that Lily is from. They both had their demonds but his were also something that kept him from being who he really wanted to be and to have more confidence in himself. After moving out of his family's house at 18, he started working a lot until he finally found a job as a mechanic. As someone who came from a family with money, it was hard to live up to the expectations and that's the reason he moved out and went no contact with his family. He felt pressured to be someone he didn't want to. Even after all those years, he found himself back at the family house to get married to a girl that he knew since they were kid. The merger meant a lot to his family and the guilt made him choose to go through this arranged marriage with Lily, the girl that was the highlight of his childhood that had no memory of him.
Throughout this book, both characters had a lot of work to do to understand their worth and to get more confident in themselves. As I said at first, there was a lot of character development. I still felt a little bit detached to the characters at some point. I think that feeling came from the way a few things felt a little bit fillers to the story and not really necessary. The vocabolary was good but there is development to be made and one things I wanted to see more was the way they expressed their love for each other. They went through so much misunderstanding that I was reading and felt like if they just talked once, none of these chapters filled with the feeling of not wanting to talk to the other becaus they thought it was the best do was a bit frustrating.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Rating : 3 ⭐
This was a nice quick read, I enjoyed the banter between Banner and Liliana (Lily) a lot and they were such a sweat couple. If there's one thing I love in books it's arranged marriage trope and this book delivered that exactly.
"He saw her, the real her, the one she kept hidden. No man had ever knelt in front of her the way he had last night and told her she was already who she was trying to become."
Lily had all her future planned for her, her parents always expected her to become a lawyer and to take over their family's firm without knowing that she was hiding her real interests. She never told them that she only wanted to be a fashion designer, that being creative and going into the fashion industry was what she wanted since she picked up the pen for the first time. She never felt like she could express her love for her passion with all the pressure that her parents put for her. She gets a lot of character development throughout the book where she starts stopping pretending to be okay with not prioritizing herself and taking things into her hands. I was so proud of her when she went after what she loved and stopped letting fear interfere in her choices.
"I love you. This isn't how I wanted to say it. But I can't hold it back anymore. I've always loved you. Since we were kids, watching you from my window. You were the only positive thing in my life."
Banner is like the other side of the same coin that Lily is from. They both had their demonds but his were also something that kept him from being who he really wanted to be and to have more confidence in himself. After moving out of his family's house at 18, he started working a lot until he finally found a job as a mechanic. As someone who came from a family with money, it was hard to live up to the expectations and that's the reason he moved out and went no contact with his family. He felt pressured to be someone he didn't want to. Even after all those years, he found himself back at the family house to get married to a girl that he knew since they were kid. The merger meant a lot to his family and the guilt made him choose to go through this arranged marriage with Lily, the girl that was the highlight of his childhood that had no memory of him.
Throughout this book, both characters had a lot of work to do to understand their worth and to get more confident in themselves. As I said at first, there was a lot of character development. I still felt a little bit detached to the characters at some point. I think that feeling came from the way a few things felt a little bit fillers to the story and not really necessary. The vocabolary was good but there is development to be made and one things I wanted to see more was the way they expressed their love for each other. They went through so much misunderstanding that I was reading and felt like if they just talked once, none of these chapters filled with the feeling of not wanting to talk to the other becaus they thought it was the best do was a bit frustrating.
June 30, 2026
This was my first introduction to this author but now I have to go back and read her previous book. The Probation Period was such a good read and brought so much depth and feelings.
Lily is expected to go to law school by her parents, she’s spent years doing the right thing, everything she’s been told. However, she wants to be a fashion designer and by convincing her parents to a three month break, she winds up getting an internship at a fashion house. More importantly, her parents have arranged a marriage for her, to the eldest son of their old next door neighbours, Banner Lee. The union will solidify a merger of law firms.
Banner is the black sheep, he left the family behind to avoid joining the firm and became a mechanic. He agrees to the marriage for two reasons, to ease the pressure on his younger brother who has now got the company weight (and their fathers expectations) weighing on him, and because he’s always had a crush on Lily.
Banner and Lily were such a great couple. Wary of each other at first, they soon realise that they can be themselves when they are alone together, they can also support each other through the charade of the engagement and various public functions. Banner takes care of Lily, making sure she eats regularly and helping her find the inner strength to go against her parents wishes of a life of law. Lily sees Banner, not as a failure like his father does, but as someone who is strong and confident to stand up for what he wants and she draws from that strength.
The family dynamics in this were also very in depth and the theme of loyalty is explored in many aspects, what it truly means.
Lily is expected to go to law school by her parents, she’s spent years doing the right thing, everything she’s been told. However, she wants to be a fashion designer and by convincing her parents to a three month break, she winds up getting an internship at a fashion house. More importantly, her parents have arranged a marriage for her, to the eldest son of their old next door neighbours, Banner Lee. The union will solidify a merger of law firms.
Banner is the black sheep, he left the family behind to avoid joining the firm and became a mechanic. He agrees to the marriage for two reasons, to ease the pressure on his younger brother who has now got the company weight (and their fathers expectations) weighing on him, and because he’s always had a crush on Lily.
Banner and Lily were such a great couple. Wary of each other at first, they soon realise that they can be themselves when they are alone together, they can also support each other through the charade of the engagement and various public functions. Banner takes care of Lily, making sure she eats regularly and helping her find the inner strength to go against her parents wishes of a life of law. Lily sees Banner, not as a failure like his father does, but as someone who is strong and confident to stand up for what he wants and she draws from that strength.
The family dynamics in this were also very in depth and the theme of loyalty is explored in many aspects, what it truly means.
July 3, 2026
Loved reading Banner and Lily’s pining and emotional vulnerability in this contemporary romance.
📃 Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience
👗 Fashion Designer FMC
🔧 Gray Cat MMC
📃 Idiots in Love
👗 Mutual Pining
🔧 Childhood Crush: He Falls First (and Harder)
📃 No Third-Act Breakup
👗 ADHD Rep
🔧 Open Door Spice
📃 Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience
👗 Fashion Designer FMC
🔧 Gray Cat MMC
📃 Idiots in Love
👗 Mutual Pining
🔧 Childhood Crush: He Falls First (and Harder)
📃 No Third-Act Breakup
👗 ADHD Rep
🔧 Open Door Spice
July 7, 2026
Stars : 4.5
Spice:🌶️🌶️
This book is about Lily and Banner, both of whom are dealing with insecurities and trying to live up to their parents' expectations. Things change when their parents set them on a journey of arranged marriage to bring both families together. This definitely throws off Lily’s plan: she wants to be a fashion designer, not want to be in law anymore, but now has to cohabit with a stranger and, in three months, be married to this stranger. Banner, on the other hand, has been in love with Lily since they were younger, and even though he doesn’t want to return to his family, he might take it all on for his childhood crush.
Thank you, Zara Monzel, and Happily Booked for letting me read this arc early. I saw this on threads and was immediately intrigued by the cover and the tropes presented!
I am truly grateful to have read an early release of the book. I went into this truly and completely blind, and fell in love with Banner and Lily sooooo much. I had so much fun reading their story. From the very beginning, the book had me sitting and immersing myself in the lives of both the main characters and my favorite side characters (Asher, Mike, and Gwen). I was highlighting so many quotes and truly felt connected to these characters, as I am an only child. I, too, could understand Lily, her tribulations, and work towards being her own person and letting her be herself. I am also currently working on myself, so seeing these characters overcome their situation together and learn from it made me sooo proud. I loved that Banner could cook and really took care of Lily and vice versa. This story represents what a healthy relationship looks like, and even when your partner is only giving 20%, the other can fill in the gap and be that support. I liked that, even in a healthy relationship where they respect each other, this conversation in the story shows them still dealing with insecurities and misunderstandings. It became frustrating to see them do it.
Still, Zara did a great job of depicting a complex situation and having the audience be in those moments with them. It was even better because it was presented in dual pov, which gave me a great understanding of both sides and why they are struggling to communicate. I think something evident in this story is why these characters felt real: these doubts and fears don’t just go away; taking those small steps every day, and having a great support system, is what keeps that muscle memory. I think that Zara Monzel wrote that well about the ups and downs we see the main characters face leading up to the wedding, as they navigate their feelings and wants for their lives. I just really sat for the whole thing. I am not a big contemporary girl, and I only have a handful of authors I am sat for in this genre. So, Zara Monzel has definitely gotten herself a fan. I can’t wait to see more of what she writes. I truly have no notes, and this was a fun read!!!
What to expect in this book:
📃 Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience
👗 Fashion Designer FMC
🔧 Gray Cat MMC
📃 Idiots in Love
👗 Mutual Pining
🔧 Childhood Crush: He Falls First (and Harder)
📃 No Third-Act Breakup
👗 ADHD Rep
🔧 Open Door Spice
Spice:🌶️🌶️
This book is about Lily and Banner, both of whom are dealing with insecurities and trying to live up to their parents' expectations. Things change when their parents set them on a journey of arranged marriage to bring both families together. This definitely throws off Lily’s plan: she wants to be a fashion designer, not want to be in law anymore, but now has to cohabit with a stranger and, in three months, be married to this stranger. Banner, on the other hand, has been in love with Lily since they were younger, and even though he doesn’t want to return to his family, he might take it all on for his childhood crush.
Thank you, Zara Monzel, and Happily Booked for letting me read this arc early. I saw this on threads and was immediately intrigued by the cover and the tropes presented!
I am truly grateful to have read an early release of the book. I went into this truly and completely blind, and fell in love with Banner and Lily sooooo much. I had so much fun reading their story. From the very beginning, the book had me sitting and immersing myself in the lives of both the main characters and my favorite side characters (Asher, Mike, and Gwen). I was highlighting so many quotes and truly felt connected to these characters, as I am an only child. I, too, could understand Lily, her tribulations, and work towards being her own person and letting her be herself. I am also currently working on myself, so seeing these characters overcome their situation together and learn from it made me sooo proud. I loved that Banner could cook and really took care of Lily and vice versa. This story represents what a healthy relationship looks like, and even when your partner is only giving 20%, the other can fill in the gap and be that support. I liked that, even in a healthy relationship where they respect each other, this conversation in the story shows them still dealing with insecurities and misunderstandings. It became frustrating to see them do it.
Still, Zara did a great job of depicting a complex situation and having the audience be in those moments with them. It was even better because it was presented in dual pov, which gave me a great understanding of both sides and why they are struggling to communicate. I think something evident in this story is why these characters felt real: these doubts and fears don’t just go away; taking those small steps every day, and having a great support system, is what keeps that muscle memory. I think that Zara Monzel wrote that well about the ups and downs we see the main characters face leading up to the wedding, as they navigate their feelings and wants for their lives. I just really sat for the whole thing. I am not a big contemporary girl, and I only have a handful of authors I am sat for in this genre. So, Zara Monzel has definitely gotten herself a fan. I can’t wait to see more of what she writes. I truly have no notes, and this was a fun read!!!
What to expect in this book:
📃 Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience
👗 Fashion Designer FMC
🔧 Gray Cat MMC
📃 Idiots in Love
👗 Mutual Pining
🔧 Childhood Crush: He Falls First (and Harder)
📃 No Third-Act Breakup
👗 ADHD Rep
🔧 Open Door Spice
July 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The arranged marriage in Zara Monzel’s The Probation Period hits differently in this book. Maybe it was due to the family expectations both MCs are dealing with? Maybe it’s the fact that there’s always been a spark between them? For whatever reason, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. I have never read anything by Zara, but quickly fell in love with her writing style, story telling ability, and the way she brought our MCs together. One an over achiever, the other a black sheep; yet they find solace in each other as family expectations loom overhead.
Our over achieving FMC, Lily, has curated her life around her family’s expectations of her. Her dreams have constantly fallen to the wayside, but they have never been forgotten. She wants to be a fashion designer, not a lawyer, but has never found the courage to tell her family. So when a marriage is arranged between her parents and another law firm to help merge the two firms, she does what she always does. She agrees and puts her wants on the back burner. The more time she spends with her fiance, the more she begins to realize how much she has given up. Lily reminds me of myself, the oldest daughter who struggled with saying no to family. Watching her learn to put herself first was emotional, as I remembered my journey to do the same.
Banner had no qualms about rejecting his family’s expectations of him. Walking away when he was 18, he is only returning to help his brother have some pressure removed from him. When he agrees to the arranged marriage he does it with a secret. His new fiance is someone he has known for sometime and has always had a crush on. Banner is sweet, protective, and hard to not swoon for as you get to know him. He creates a safe place for Lily to truly explore her dreams and gives her encouragement where she’s never received any. Lily does the same for him, creates a safe place where he can be honest with her and himself.
Zara captured what family expectations can do to a person perfectly. Our two MCs are opposite sides of a coin, but have gone through the same hardship, just walked different paths. When they finally start being honest with each other and themselves, you begin to see them grow in a beautiful way. The importance of family is never lost, but a family not letting you grow and dream isn’t good either. As their arranged marriage turns into so much more, seeing their true selves not having to hide anymore was beautiful.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🗝️Arranged Marriage
💖Forced Proximity
🗝️Fashion Designer FMC
💖Black Sheep MMC
🗝️Mutual Pining
💖He Falls First/Harder
🗝️Childhood Crush to More
💖ADHD Rep
The arranged marriage in Zara Monzel’s The Probation Period hits differently in this book. Maybe it was due to the family expectations both MCs are dealing with? Maybe it’s the fact that there’s always been a spark between them? For whatever reason, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. I have never read anything by Zara, but quickly fell in love with her writing style, story telling ability, and the way she brought our MCs together. One an over achiever, the other a black sheep; yet they find solace in each other as family expectations loom overhead.
Our over achieving FMC, Lily, has curated her life around her family’s expectations of her. Her dreams have constantly fallen to the wayside, but they have never been forgotten. She wants to be a fashion designer, not a lawyer, but has never found the courage to tell her family. So when a marriage is arranged between her parents and another law firm to help merge the two firms, she does what she always does. She agrees and puts her wants on the back burner. The more time she spends with her fiance, the more she begins to realize how much she has given up. Lily reminds me of myself, the oldest daughter who struggled with saying no to family. Watching her learn to put herself first was emotional, as I remembered my journey to do the same.
Banner had no qualms about rejecting his family’s expectations of him. Walking away when he was 18, he is only returning to help his brother have some pressure removed from him. When he agrees to the arranged marriage he does it with a secret. His new fiance is someone he has known for sometime and has always had a crush on. Banner is sweet, protective, and hard to not swoon for as you get to know him. He creates a safe place for Lily to truly explore her dreams and gives her encouragement where she’s never received any. Lily does the same for him, creates a safe place where he can be honest with her and himself.
Zara captured what family expectations can do to a person perfectly. Our two MCs are opposite sides of a coin, but have gone through the same hardship, just walked different paths. When they finally start being honest with each other and themselves, you begin to see them grow in a beautiful way. The importance of family is never lost, but a family not letting you grow and dream isn’t good either. As their arranged marriage turns into so much more, seeing their true selves not having to hide anymore was beautiful.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🗝️Arranged Marriage
💖Forced Proximity
🗝️Fashion Designer FMC
💖Black Sheep MMC
🗝️Mutual Pining
💖He Falls First/Harder
🗝️Childhood Crush to More
💖ADHD Rep
July 14, 2026
4.5 stars
I don't think I've ever seen myself so clearly in fictional characters before.
From the very beginning, I found myself connecting with both main characters in ways I wasn't expecting. Lily's people pleasing tendencies and fear of disappointing people felt painfully familiar, while Banner's guilt over leaving his younger sibling behind after escaping an unhealthy environment struck a different, but still personal, chord. I saw pieces of myself in both of them, but Lily's journey especially felt healing.
Watching Lily untangle years of unhealthy patterns was healing because she didn't just wake up one day changed. She fell back into old habits, questioned herself, made mistakes, and had moments where progress felt impossible. But she kept trying. That resonated with me on such a personal level because healing isn't linear. It's messy, it's imperfect, and sometimes it feels like you're taking more steps backward than forward. Seeing that portrayed so honestly made me feel incredibly seen.
Their romance followed a similar journey. Banner and Lily spend most of the book taking one step forward and two steps back, making this a slow burn that truly earns the title. Every time I thought they had finally figured things out, life reminded them they still had more growing to do. But it never felt like unnecessary drama or a forced third act breakup. Their setbacks felt natural because they were still learning how to heal individually before they could fully heal together.
I also loved all of the different relationship dynamics throughout the story. The family relationships, sibling bond, and friendships all felt unique and added so much depth to the characters. It made the world feel incredibly lived in and real.
My only real qualm was the length. As someone who happily reads chonky fantasy books, I don't mind a long story, but this one felt a little longer than it needed to be in places.
Overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up. It gave me a romance to root for, characters I deeply connected with, and a reminder that healing isn't about getting it right the first time. Healing is about having the courage to keep trying. That's a message I'll be carrying with me long after I turned the final page.
I don't think I've ever seen myself so clearly in fictional characters before.
From the very beginning, I found myself connecting with both main characters in ways I wasn't expecting. Lily's people pleasing tendencies and fear of disappointing people felt painfully familiar, while Banner's guilt over leaving his younger sibling behind after escaping an unhealthy environment struck a different, but still personal, chord. I saw pieces of myself in both of them, but Lily's journey especially felt healing.
Watching Lily untangle years of unhealthy patterns was healing because she didn't just wake up one day changed. She fell back into old habits, questioned herself, made mistakes, and had moments where progress felt impossible. But she kept trying. That resonated with me on such a personal level because healing isn't linear. It's messy, it's imperfect, and sometimes it feels like you're taking more steps backward than forward. Seeing that portrayed so honestly made me feel incredibly seen.
Their romance followed a similar journey. Banner and Lily spend most of the book taking one step forward and two steps back, making this a slow burn that truly earns the title. Every time I thought they had finally figured things out, life reminded them they still had more growing to do. But it never felt like unnecessary drama or a forced third act breakup. Their setbacks felt natural because they were still learning how to heal individually before they could fully heal together.
I also loved all of the different relationship dynamics throughout the story. The family relationships, sibling bond, and friendships all felt unique and added so much depth to the characters. It made the world feel incredibly lived in and real.
My only real qualm was the length. As someone who happily reads chonky fantasy books, I don't mind a long story, but this one felt a little longer than it needed to be in places.
Overall, I'm so glad I picked this one up. It gave me a romance to root for, characters I deeply connected with, and a reminder that healing isn't about getting it right the first time. Healing is about having the courage to keep trying. That's a message I'll be carrying with me long after I turned the final page.
July 7, 2026
The Probation Period by Zara Monzel is the second book I've read by this author, and it was such a cute arranged-marriage romance featuring a childhood crush, neighbors-to-lovers vibes, and two main characters burdened by the weight of family expectations.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, though I do think some sections could have been shortened. At times, the book felt longer than necessary, and the pacing occasionally dragged. One of my favorite aspects of the story was the connection between Lily and Banner. Their bond was rooted in the shared trauma of difficult family dynamics and the pressure of not living up to expectations. Neither of them wanted the future their families envisioned for them. Lily dreams of becoming a fashion designer, while Banner is happiest working as a mechanic rather than pursuing a career in law.
Lily and Banner were incredibly in sync with one another and quickly became each other's safe place. I loved how they encouraged one another to stand up for what they truly wanted and consistently offered unwavering support. Their relationship felt genuine, caring, and built on mutual understanding.
That said, the miscommunication and constant overthinking became a bit frustrating at times. While it added conflict to the story, there were moments when it felt excessive. I did enjoy seeing how both characters eventually reconnected with their families, though I wish so much time hadn't passed before they finally communicated openly with each other.
One aspect that left me confused was the merger at the center of the arranged marriage. Since neither Lily nor Banner intended to become attorneys, I wasn't entirely sure why their marriage was so important to the deal, and that point didn't feel fully explained by the end of the book.
Despite those issues, The Probation Period was a sweet, heartwarming read about finding the courage to stand up for yourself, choosing a path that makes you happy, and surrounding yourself with people who support and believe in you.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, though I do think some sections could have been shortened. At times, the book felt longer than necessary, and the pacing occasionally dragged. One of my favorite aspects of the story was the connection between Lily and Banner. Their bond was rooted in the shared trauma of difficult family dynamics and the pressure of not living up to expectations. Neither of them wanted the future their families envisioned for them. Lily dreams of becoming a fashion designer, while Banner is happiest working as a mechanic rather than pursuing a career in law.
Lily and Banner were incredibly in sync with one another and quickly became each other's safe place. I loved how they encouraged one another to stand up for what they truly wanted and consistently offered unwavering support. Their relationship felt genuine, caring, and built on mutual understanding.
That said, the miscommunication and constant overthinking became a bit frustrating at times. While it added conflict to the story, there were moments when it felt excessive. I did enjoy seeing how both characters eventually reconnected with their families, though I wish so much time hadn't passed before they finally communicated openly with each other.
One aspect that left me confused was the merger at the center of the arranged marriage. Since neither Lily nor Banner intended to become attorneys, I wasn't entirely sure why their marriage was so important to the deal, and that point didn't feel fully explained by the end of the book.
Despite those issues, The Probation Period was a sweet, heartwarming read about finding the courage to stand up for yourself, choosing a path that makes you happy, and surrounding yourself with people who support and believe in you.
Review of advance copy received from Author
rating
4.5/5
spice
2/5
If you are looking for a book with past trauma and healing with an MMC who cooks for her and a childhood crush, then this is the book for you. The probation period by Zara Monzel is an interconnected standalone; you don't need to read the other books for this one, but it is recommended, as parts of book 1 may be spoiled. Firstly, I would like to thank Zara Monzel for giving me this arc for my review. Importantly, this book may contain triggering content, so please check the content warnings before reading.
This book really explored the fear of disappointment and the pressure of trying to be the perfect image that everyone wants you to be. I loved how it can leak into other parts of your life, such as your love life and change you as a person to the point you become a shell of yourself. This was written so well, especially with the tropes. The character growth and healing were done really well. Both main characters had gone through things, and you see how they both heal each other while going through their struggles. Over time, they came together to work together, and you could see their true nature/ spark show.
Banner and Lily's relationship may have been arranged from the start, but deep down, you could see that they had truly fallen for each other from their first time meeting, and this was just a push for them to meet. Their relationship felt very real, and there were many ups and downs while also showing how sometimes it is not 50/50; some days might be 30/70 or 60/40. I do have to say I love a man who cleans and cooks for his partner, especially when Lilly would come home, and he would cook for her. These two did bring out the best in each other and were so cute together. I hope you all pick up this book and read it on release day. Happy reading.
4.5/5
spice
2/5
If you are looking for a book with past trauma and healing with an MMC who cooks for her and a childhood crush, then this is the book for you. The probation period by Zara Monzel is an interconnected standalone; you don't need to read the other books for this one, but it is recommended, as parts of book 1 may be spoiled. Firstly, I would like to thank Zara Monzel for giving me this arc for my review. Importantly, this book may contain triggering content, so please check the content warnings before reading.
This book really explored the fear of disappointment and the pressure of trying to be the perfect image that everyone wants you to be. I loved how it can leak into other parts of your life, such as your love life and change you as a person to the point you become a shell of yourself. This was written so well, especially with the tropes. The character growth and healing were done really well. Both main characters had gone through things, and you see how they both heal each other while going through their struggles. Over time, they came together to work together, and you could see their true nature/ spark show.
Banner and Lily's relationship may have been arranged from the start, but deep down, you could see that they had truly fallen for each other from their first time meeting, and this was just a push for them to meet. Their relationship felt very real, and there were many ups and downs while also showing how sometimes it is not 50/50; some days might be 30/70 or 60/40. I do have to say I love a man who cleans and cooks for his partner, especially when Lilly would come home, and he would cook for her. These two did bring out the best in each other and were so cute together. I hope you all pick up this book and read it on release day. Happy reading.
Review of advance copy
I knew from the dedication that reading this was gonna hit close to home for me. The Probation Period is a beautifully written story that will pull on heartstrings. I love reading arranged marriage romances, but this was so much more than that. There are elements that people can relate to in reading this that makes it more meaningful, at least for me did it as I needed tissues on standby as I read this.
The character growth and development in this was phenomenal. Lily and Banner both come from families with high expectations and want to do anything to meet them, even if that means sacrificing themselves. Although the arranged marriage was for business purposes, these two were able to find comfort and support with each other. Reading about their relationship was extremely heartwarming. I really appreciated seeing their relationship go through the ups and downs, making them seem like a real, authentic couple. Lily and Banner have wounds that run so deep and I just wanted them to have the best. They’re really perfect for each other as they helped each other find the courage to start their own path, despite the fear of uncertainty and taking a road less traveled.
Reading this made me extremely emotional. Lily and Banner’s struggles are so relatable, and the way Zara Monzel depicted them made it so close to home. The need to overachieve, be perfect, feeling not enough, and scared of failure are common things written in books, but here it’s written in a genuine way. It really highlights the journey of finding yourself in an empowering way.
I highly recommend The Probation Period if you want a beautifully written marriage of convenience story! If you’re an emotional reader like me, you’ll definitely enjoy it. Thank you Zara Monzel and Happily Booked PR for giving me a chance to be a part of this ARC Team!
The character growth and development in this was phenomenal. Lily and Banner both come from families with high expectations and want to do anything to meet them, even if that means sacrificing themselves. Although the arranged marriage was for business purposes, these two were able to find comfort and support with each other. Reading about their relationship was extremely heartwarming. I really appreciated seeing their relationship go through the ups and downs, making them seem like a real, authentic couple. Lily and Banner have wounds that run so deep and I just wanted them to have the best. They’re really perfect for each other as they helped each other find the courage to start their own path, despite the fear of uncertainty and taking a road less traveled.
Reading this made me extremely emotional. Lily and Banner’s struggles are so relatable, and the way Zara Monzel depicted them made it so close to home. The need to overachieve, be perfect, feeling not enough, and scared of failure are common things written in books, but here it’s written in a genuine way. It really highlights the journey of finding yourself in an empowering way.
I highly recommend The Probation Period if you want a beautifully written marriage of convenience story! If you’re an emotional reader like me, you’ll definitely enjoy it. Thank you Zara Monzel and Happily Booked PR for giving me a chance to be a part of this ARC Team!
July 1, 2026
ARC Review
🔧Big Stick Energy 👗
Written by: @authorzaramonzel
⭐ Overall: 3.5/5
📖 Plot: 3.5/5
👥 Character Development: 3.5/5
⏩ Pace: 3/5
🌎 World Building: 3.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 1.5/5
First—thank you @authorzaramonzel and @happilybookedpr for the ARC ahead of its release date! 👗
I really wanted to love Lily and Banner's story because the premise immediately hooked me. An arranged marriage, forced cohabitation, childhood crush, and mutual pining? Sign me up.
The strongest part of the book for me was Banner. He consistently showed Lily that he saw her, supported her dreams, and wanted her to feel valued. I also appreciated the family dynamic and how the story explored the weight of parental expectations versus following the life you actually want. That emotional thread hit close to home and was easily my favorite aspect of the novel.
Where the story lost me was in the execution. I found myself wishing both Lily and Banner would communicate more openly instead of continually getting in their own way. Banner's tendency to see himself as unworthy and constantly play the martyr became repetitive, making it difficult for me to stay invested in their journey.
The ending wrapped everything up a little too neatly for my taste. While I appreciated the happily-ever-after, the resolutions felt a bit too convenient and lacked the emotional payoff I was hoping for after everything the characters had been through.
Overall, if you enjoy marriage-of-convenience romances with mutual pining, supportive heroes, and low-angst relationship drama, this may still be worth checking out.
Tropes:
📃 Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience
👗 Fashion Designer FMC
🔧 Gray Cat MMC
📃 Idiots in Love
👗 Mutual Pining
🔧 Childhood Crush: He Falls First (and Harder)
📃 No Third-Act Breakup
👗 ADHD Rep
🔧 Open Door Spice
🔧Big Stick Energy 👗
Written by: @authorzaramonzel
⭐ Overall: 3.5/5
📖 Plot: 3.5/5
👥 Character Development: 3.5/5
⏩ Pace: 3/5
🌎 World Building: 3.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 1.5/5
First—thank you @authorzaramonzel and @happilybookedpr for the ARC ahead of its release date! 👗
I really wanted to love Lily and Banner's story because the premise immediately hooked me. An arranged marriage, forced cohabitation, childhood crush, and mutual pining? Sign me up.
The strongest part of the book for me was Banner. He consistently showed Lily that he saw her, supported her dreams, and wanted her to feel valued. I also appreciated the family dynamic and how the story explored the weight of parental expectations versus following the life you actually want. That emotional thread hit close to home and was easily my favorite aspect of the novel.
Where the story lost me was in the execution. I found myself wishing both Lily and Banner would communicate more openly instead of continually getting in their own way. Banner's tendency to see himself as unworthy and constantly play the martyr became repetitive, making it difficult for me to stay invested in their journey.
The ending wrapped everything up a little too neatly for my taste. While I appreciated the happily-ever-after, the resolutions felt a bit too convenient and lacked the emotional payoff I was hoping for after everything the characters had been through.
Overall, if you enjoy marriage-of-convenience romances with mutual pining, supportive heroes, and low-angst relationship drama, this may still be worth checking out.
Tropes:
📃 Arranged Marriage turned Marriage of Convenience
👗 Fashion Designer FMC
🔧 Gray Cat MMC
📃 Idiots in Love
👗 Mutual Pining
🔧 Childhood Crush: He Falls First (and Harder)
📃 No Third-Act Breakup
👗 ADHD Rep
🔧 Open Door Spice
July 7, 2026
“So let them be annoyed if they want to be. You’re allowed to be a person who loses track of time sometimes.”
“Is that what you had to learn? That you were allowed to be late?”
A chuckle slipped out. “I learnt that I was allowed to be a person. To make mistakes. But I had to leave to even start learning that lesson. You’re figuring it out without walking away, and I’m with you every step of the way.”
I enjoyed this book so much!! The dedication, the pining, Lily and Banner's banter and sweet moments, watching them help support eachother through their struggles; they were everything!! I related to both of them so much at times, especially with dealing with family expectations. Their relationship was so sweet and loving, and I loved seeing their relationship progress throughout the book. This is such a great read for the romance, but also to help push others to chase their dreams and do things in their life for them, rather than for others. I will say there were some heavy topics at times, so please check the tws!
Thank you SO much to the author, @authorzaramonzel & @happilybookedpr for the ARC! 🫶🏻 All thoughts are my own :)
👗 Gray Cat MMC x Fashion Designer FMC
👗 Forced Proximity
👗 ADHD Rep
👗 He Falls First
👗 Arranged Marriage
👗 NO Third Act Breakup
⚖️ Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ Spice (If Any): 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⚖️ Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🩹 tws: emotionally absent & controlling parents, cancer diagnosis of supporting character & parent, anxiety & panic descriptions, sexually explicit content, dicussion of divorce, bullying of a side character (not on page)
🧡 Like my review? Follow me on my Bookstagram to see more of my reviews & bookish content 🧡
“Is that what you had to learn? That you were allowed to be late?”
A chuckle slipped out. “I learnt that I was allowed to be a person. To make mistakes. But I had to leave to even start learning that lesson. You’re figuring it out without walking away, and I’m with you every step of the way.”
I enjoyed this book so much!! The dedication, the pining, Lily and Banner's banter and sweet moments, watching them help support eachother through their struggles; they were everything!! I related to both of them so much at times, especially with dealing with family expectations. Their relationship was so sweet and loving, and I loved seeing their relationship progress throughout the book. This is such a great read for the romance, but also to help push others to chase their dreams and do things in their life for them, rather than for others. I will say there were some heavy topics at times, so please check the tws!
Thank you SO much to the author, @authorzaramonzel & @happilybookedpr for the ARC! 🫶🏻 All thoughts are my own :)
👗 Gray Cat MMC x Fashion Designer FMC
👗 Forced Proximity
👗 ADHD Rep
👗 He Falls First
👗 Arranged Marriage
👗 NO Third Act Breakup
⚖️ Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ World Building: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
⚖️ Spice (If Any): 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
⚖️ Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🩹 tws: emotionally absent & controlling parents, cancer diagnosis of supporting character & parent, anxiety & panic descriptions, sexually explicit content, dicussion of divorce, bullying of a side character (not on page)
🧡 Like my review? Follow me on my Bookstagram to see more of my reviews & bookish content 🧡
Review of advance copy
4 ⭐️
In the Probation Period, Lily is the ultimate chronic overachiever. She’s spent her whole life checking boxes to please her parents: good grades, law school, and an expected slot at the family firm. Banner is the ultimate black sheep. He walked away from his family at 18 to build a life on his own terms, approval be damned.
When their families arrange a marriage to merge their respective firms, both Lily and Banner agree, but there are a few major catches: Banner has actually always liked Lily. She is the only reason he agreed to this setup. Lily is hiding a massive secret from everyone and plans to use this engagement as a ticking clock to finally pursue something she actually loves.
As they're forced into each other’s orbit, they start letting their guards down. They get to know the versions of themselves they’ve never been allowed to be, finding a level of comfort and support they never got from their own families. Naturally, fake feelings turn very real. Add in a healthy dose of family drama, and they’re forced to decide if they're going to keep living for their parents or finally choose their own happiness.
I absolutely loved watching them evolve from acquaintances to genuine friends, and then to something more. Underneath all the heavy family expectations, they share the same core values and just want to be people they can be proud of. They truly show up for each other and help one another heal.
I had such a good time with this one! If you love a marriage of convenience, acquaintances-to-lovers, pushing back against family drama, and a solid journey of self-discovery, you definitely need to add this to your TBR.
Thank you Zara and Happily Booked PR for an advanced reader copy of The Probation Period (publishing June 30, 2026).
In the Probation Period, Lily is the ultimate chronic overachiever. She’s spent her whole life checking boxes to please her parents: good grades, law school, and an expected slot at the family firm. Banner is the ultimate black sheep. He walked away from his family at 18 to build a life on his own terms, approval be damned.
When their families arrange a marriage to merge their respective firms, both Lily and Banner agree, but there are a few major catches: Banner has actually always liked Lily. She is the only reason he agreed to this setup. Lily is hiding a massive secret from everyone and plans to use this engagement as a ticking clock to finally pursue something she actually loves.
As they're forced into each other’s orbit, they start letting their guards down. They get to know the versions of themselves they’ve never been allowed to be, finding a level of comfort and support they never got from their own families. Naturally, fake feelings turn very real. Add in a healthy dose of family drama, and they’re forced to decide if they're going to keep living for their parents or finally choose their own happiness.
I absolutely loved watching them evolve from acquaintances to genuine friends, and then to something more. Underneath all the heavy family expectations, they share the same core values and just want to be people they can be proud of. They truly show up for each other and help one another heal.
I had such a good time with this one! If you love a marriage of convenience, acquaintances-to-lovers, pushing back against family drama, and a solid journey of self-discovery, you definitely need to add this to your TBR.
Thank you Zara and Happily Booked PR for an advanced reader copy of The Probation Period (publishing June 30, 2026).
July 6, 2026
"You taught me how to stop running, ...How to want something, and how to stay even though I’m scared.I didn't know I was capable of any of that until you. I love you.”
"She had a job she loved to do.
She had a man waiting for her at home.
She had everything she needed."
thank you to the author and @happilybookedpr for this arc.
My rating: 3.25 ⭐️
Lily Thompson (FMC) who is a law graduate, has lived all her life pleasing her parents an
d Banner Lee (MMC), the estranged son who ran away to chase his own dreams. They both
somehow end up together in an arranged marriage turned marriage of convenience by their parents. It's a story about how they overcome and break free from the expectations set by their parents while navigating their relationship.
This one was a decent read for me.
I loved how understanding and patient Banner was, and one of my favorite microtropes in this book was how he always cooks for her🤌❤️ Their scenes in the kitchen were wholesome.
And this book also shows the struggles of being a people pleaser and not being able to stand up for yourself through Lily's character. It shows how the conditioning of your brain from a very young age leaves lasting impacts as you grow older. And how you find yourself second guessing every decision to avoid disappointing your loved ones. So that felt real and relatable.
Their relationship arc was realistic too..the way they got to know each other gradually :)
and I loved how they respected each other's personal space.
But I felt the execution of the plot could have been done way better. I also found myself losing interest because of the repetitive way it got dragged on, which made it a bit hard to get attached to the characters.
P.S all thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
"She had a job she loved to do.
She had a man waiting for her at home.
She had everything she needed."
thank you to the author and @happilybookedpr for this arc.
My rating: 3.25 ⭐️
Lily Thompson (FMC) who is a law graduate, has lived all her life pleasing her parents an
d Banner Lee (MMC), the estranged son who ran away to chase his own dreams. They both
somehow end up together in an arranged marriage turned marriage of convenience by their parents. It's a story about how they overcome and break free from the expectations set by their parents while navigating their relationship.
This one was a decent read for me.
I loved how understanding and patient Banner was, and one of my favorite microtropes in this book was how he always cooks for her🤌❤️ Their scenes in the kitchen were wholesome.
And this book also shows the struggles of being a people pleaser and not being able to stand up for yourself through Lily's character. It shows how the conditioning of your brain from a very young age leaves lasting impacts as you grow older. And how you find yourself second guessing every decision to avoid disappointing your loved ones. So that felt real and relatable.
Their relationship arc was realistic too..the way they got to know each other gradually :)
and I loved how they respected each other's personal space.
But I felt the execution of the plot could have been done way better. I also found myself losing interest because of the repetitive way it got dragged on, which made it a bit hard to get attached to the characters.
P.S all thoughts expressed in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy
3⭐️
If you relate to people-pleaser tendencies, but have a dream of your own you really want to chase, except this wasn’t the dream your parents had for you… this might be a good pick.
Lily had to break through whatever vision her parents had for her in life, to pursue what called to her. This was deeply relatable, and I wanted to see her walk her own path and decide her own future.
The dedication really, really encompassed who this book was written for: ”For everyone who’s ever been afraid to disappoint someone. You’re allowed to want what you want.”
Banner had his fair share of battles as well. As both faced things that were buried deep within them, they grew from acquaintances to friends, to lovers— the fake relationship turned real. Perhaps there’s nothing more bonding than being able to be real with each other when the whole world expects them to play a certain role neither desired to take on.
He also took such good care of Lily. ”Running yourself into the ground for your dream isn’t actually that much better than running yourself into the ground for someone else’s” — oh my god?
I’m not going to lie, I had many instances I was bored through this book, and the frustration didn’t make things any better. But I do appreciate the realness of their struggles, and how they found comfort in each other, and coming to face things as one. It wasn’t exactly the book for me but I’d still recommend this if you’re intrigued after seeing the tropes and what to expect.
Thank you Happily Booked PR and Zara for this ARC!
If you relate to people-pleaser tendencies, but have a dream of your own you really want to chase, except this wasn’t the dream your parents had for you… this might be a good pick.
Lily had to break through whatever vision her parents had for her in life, to pursue what called to her. This was deeply relatable, and I wanted to see her walk her own path and decide her own future.
The dedication really, really encompassed who this book was written for: ”For everyone who’s ever been afraid to disappoint someone. You’re allowed to want what you want.”
Banner had his fair share of battles as well. As both faced things that were buried deep within them, they grew from acquaintances to friends, to lovers— the fake relationship turned real. Perhaps there’s nothing more bonding than being able to be real with each other when the whole world expects them to play a certain role neither desired to take on.
He also took such good care of Lily. ”Running yourself into the ground for your dream isn’t actually that much better than running yourself into the ground for someone else’s” — oh my god?
I’m not going to lie, I had many instances I was bored through this book, and the frustration didn’t make things any better. But I do appreciate the realness of their struggles, and how they found comfort in each other, and coming to face things as one. It wasn’t exactly the book for me but I’d still recommend this if you’re intrigued after seeing the tropes and what to expect.
Thank you Happily Booked PR and Zara for this ARC!
July 11, 2026
Um wow this was an amazing romance! From start to finish, I was hooked and did not want to put this book down! The Probation Period is an arranged marriage romance, where the FMC doesn't know the MMC at all, and he just remembers her from their childhood. The romance really felt real as I was reading this, as there was no instalove and the story takes place over a few months as they transition from strangers to two people with crushes who happen to live together to lovers.
And while I loved the sweet romance, their personal struggles really made the story shine. Our FMC has spent her entire life trying to be someone she isn't for her parents, and we get to see her inner struggles as she finally decides to take control of her life and make it her own. She doesn't magically gain her dream job, and we get to see how she does her best to make her dreams come true while planning a wedding and falling in love. And our MMC has struggles of his own, because while he has distanced himself from his family and now works as a mechanic, he wants to support his younger brother who never got the chance to leave. I really appreciated the parallels between the main characters, like two sides of the same coin, which enabled Zara Monzel to share both of their stories alongside the romance without any element detracting from another.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary romance, trust me you will be rooting for the characters and begging them to finally get together!
I purchased my own paperback, but was originally sent an eARC thanks to Zara and Happily Booked PR
And while I loved the sweet romance, their personal struggles really made the story shine. Our FMC has spent her entire life trying to be someone she isn't for her parents, and we get to see her inner struggles as she finally decides to take control of her life and make it her own. She doesn't magically gain her dream job, and we get to see how she does her best to make her dreams come true while planning a wedding and falling in love. And our MMC has struggles of his own, because while he has distanced himself from his family and now works as a mechanic, he wants to support his younger brother who never got the chance to leave. I really appreciated the parallels between the main characters, like two sides of the same coin, which enabled Zara Monzel to share both of their stories alongside the romance without any element detracting from another.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves contemporary romance, trust me you will be rooting for the characters and begging them to finally get together!
I purchased my own paperback, but was originally sent an eARC thanks to Zara and Happily Booked PR
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Probation Period is about Lily, the perpetual
Overachiever to a fault. She is the “perfect daughter” getting into and through law school with perfect grades, and wanting to always please her parents she hides a massive secret. Not wanting to go through with it.
She re meets Banner who has never forgotten about her. He tried to leave his family and all the ties that come with being a Lee.
When a merger needs to happen between the families Lily and Banner step up. Lily, because she’s a people pleaser and Banner, because Lily said yes.
As their engagement forces them to cohabitate, they start to learn more about each other and who they are individually. The slow burn of their relationship really pulled me in. It was as never forced and just flowed naturally between the two. The way in which each of these characters develops throughout the book is so genuine. They each give each other space and grace.
Banner and Lily only want to be someone they can be proud of and I think they truly find it with the help of each other, even with all the family drama they endure throughout the story.
This was a beautifully written story and I would recommend it to anyone whose favorite tropes are friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, and finding yourself.
Beyond grateful to Happily Booked PR and Zara for the Advanced Reader Copy. This book will be published on June 30th, 2026.
Happy reading!
Overachiever to a fault. She is the “perfect daughter” getting into and through law school with perfect grades, and wanting to always please her parents she hides a massive secret. Not wanting to go through with it.
She re meets Banner who has never forgotten about her. He tried to leave his family and all the ties that come with being a Lee.
When a merger needs to happen between the families Lily and Banner step up. Lily, because she’s a people pleaser and Banner, because Lily said yes.
As their engagement forces them to cohabitate, they start to learn more about each other and who they are individually. The slow burn of their relationship really pulled me in. It was as never forced and just flowed naturally between the two. The way in which each of these characters develops throughout the book is so genuine. They each give each other space and grace.
Banner and Lily only want to be someone they can be proud of and I think they truly find it with the help of each other, even with all the family drama they endure throughout the story.
This was a beautifully written story and I would recommend it to anyone whose favorite tropes are friends to lovers, marriage of convenience, and finding yourself.
Beyond grateful to Happily Booked PR and Zara for the Advanced Reader Copy. This book will be published on June 30th, 2026.
Happy reading!
Review of advance copy received from Auteur
3.5 ⭐
📖 Lilly, a chronic people pleaser and overachiever, has agreed to an arranged marriage.
Banner, even though estranged from his family, has agreed to the arranged marriage as well.
This marriage is a business deal to secure the merger and future of two companies and families.
Banner and Lilly will tie the knot in three months and have live together in the meantime. Learning to be together and to be themselves as well. They help each other through healing their wounds, into becoming more themselves... All while falling for each other.
🤓 The idea of marrying two people for a business arrangement puzzled me but I went with it.
The fact that Banner had a crush on Lilly when they were kids and they were 5 years apart (he's older) irked me a bit. I chose to view it as admiration rather than a full on crush because otherwise, it would have given me the ick.
I almost DNF but the complexity of Banner's inner/emotional landscape made me keep reading. I'm glad. It was a good story. With depth.
💕 I applaud the descriptions of ADHD tendencies and moments. It was really well done!
I really appreciated the emotional depth and the healing the characters go through. That's what I love about reading love stories 🫶
📚 Tropes: arranged marriage, forced proximity, ADHD + anxiety rep, complex family dynamics, emotional healing.
🌶️ Spice: open door with 3+ scenes/chapters, slightly kinky.
📖 Lilly, a chronic people pleaser and overachiever, has agreed to an arranged marriage.
Banner, even though estranged from his family, has agreed to the arranged marriage as well.
This marriage is a business deal to secure the merger and future of two companies and families.
Banner and Lilly will tie the knot in three months and have live together in the meantime. Learning to be together and to be themselves as well. They help each other through healing their wounds, into becoming more themselves... All while falling for each other.
🤓 The idea of marrying two people for a business arrangement puzzled me but I went with it.
The fact that Banner had a crush on Lilly when they were kids and they were 5 years apart (he's older) irked me a bit. I chose to view it as admiration rather than a full on crush because otherwise, it would have given me the ick.
I almost DNF but the complexity of Banner's inner/emotional landscape made me keep reading. I'm glad. It was a good story. With depth.
💕 I applaud the descriptions of ADHD tendencies and moments. It was really well done!
I really appreciated the emotional depth and the healing the characters go through. That's what I love about reading love stories 🫶
📚 Tropes: arranged marriage, forced proximity, ADHD + anxiety rep, complex family dynamics, emotional healing.
🌶️ Spice: open door with 3+ scenes/chapters, slightly kinky.
July 3, 2026
“Never Want This Probation To End!”
The Probabtion Period by Zara Monzel was a true trial-and-error of a relationship. FMC Lily is set to take the bar and continue on in her family’s firm; but she’s hiding a secret. MMC Banner is the black sheep of the family but as the eldest son, the only one who can keep his family’s law firm stable. Without their knowledge, Lily & Banner’s families arrange a marriage of the two, to stabilize and merge the two law firms. Lily, looking for time to pursue her secret and Banner, looking to help his overworked brother Asher, both agree to the proposal. When I started this book, I expected the usual, “we don’t like each other” to “we’re in love”. And, while something along those lines happens in the story-it does not follow the stereotypical plot. This book addresses real emotions that occur in a high pressure situation. Both characters are faulty humans-which as a reader, I loved. Seeing their flaws, how they managed/mismanaged them and grew, was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Monzel really captures the awkwardness of the individual’s struggles and how both are wrestling with their relationship’s inception. Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t too heavy, it just has more honesty in its emotions than you usually get in a romance. I highly recommend this story for all the real feels in a sweet romance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Probabtion Period by Zara Monzel was a true trial-and-error of a relationship. FMC Lily is set to take the bar and continue on in her family’s firm; but she’s hiding a secret. MMC Banner is the black sheep of the family but as the eldest son, the only one who can keep his family’s law firm stable. Without their knowledge, Lily & Banner’s families arrange a marriage of the two, to stabilize and merge the two law firms. Lily, looking for time to pursue her secret and Banner, looking to help his overworked brother Asher, both agree to the proposal. When I started this book, I expected the usual, “we don’t like each other” to “we’re in love”. And, while something along those lines happens in the story-it does not follow the stereotypical plot. This book addresses real emotions that occur in a high pressure situation. Both characters are faulty humans-which as a reader, I loved. Seeing their flaws, how they managed/mismanaged them and grew, was one of my favorite aspects of this book. Monzel really captures the awkwardness of the individual’s struggles and how both are wrestling with their relationship’s inception. Don’t get me wrong, this book isn’t too heavy, it just has more honesty in its emotions than you usually get in a romance. I highly recommend this story for all the real feels in a sweet romance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2026
I couldn't tell you the last book that I smiled that much through. The Probation Period by Zara Momzel is a contemporary romance that's sweet, emotional, and beautiful.
A heartfelt story of two strangers agreeing to an arranged marriage for the benefit of everyone but themselves. Then, finding the courage to find their own happiness with the help and support of each other.
The characters were written so completely I felt as though I was reading about a friends life. The challenges and experiences the main characters. Banner and Lily, faced, were realistic and relatable. Their emtions were written in such a way I found myself smiling when the characters were smiling, laughing when they were laughing, and tearing up when they were crying. The pace was perfect, and the plot and character development were balanced. Lily was a planner, Banner wasn't. An opposites attraction that got sweet and spicier as the story went on. They took a chance on each other, and it paid off. "Trusting someone wasn't just about telling them the good parts. It was about letting them see the rest of it- the fear, the uncertainty, the things you weren't proud of- and trusting them to stay anyway."
I smiled throughout this book, and Im still smiling writing this review. If you are looking for a story that will warm your heart and maybe give you some courage to do something you might not think you can, read this!!!!
A heartfelt story of two strangers agreeing to an arranged marriage for the benefit of everyone but themselves. Then, finding the courage to find their own happiness with the help and support of each other.
The characters were written so completely I felt as though I was reading about a friends life. The challenges and experiences the main characters. Banner and Lily, faced, were realistic and relatable. Their emtions were written in such a way I found myself smiling when the characters were smiling, laughing when they were laughing, and tearing up when they were crying. The pace was perfect, and the plot and character development were balanced. Lily was a planner, Banner wasn't. An opposites attraction that got sweet and spicier as the story went on. They took a chance on each other, and it paid off. "Trusting someone wasn't just about telling them the good parts. It was about letting them see the rest of it- the fear, the uncertainty, the things you weren't proud of- and trusting them to stay anyway."
I smiled throughout this book, and Im still smiling writing this review. If you are looking for a story that will warm your heart and maybe give you some courage to do something you might not think you can, read this!!!!
July 9, 2026
This was a quick and enjoyable read. I loved the arranged marriage trope, and the chemistry between Banner and Lily made their relationship fun to follow.
Lily's journey was my favorite part of the story. Raised to believe she had to become a lawyer and eventually take over her family's firm, she buried her dream of becoming a fashion designer to meet her parents' expectations. Watching her find the courage to choose herself and pursue her passion was incredibly satisfying.
Banner was just as compelling. Despite growing up in a wealthy family, he walked away from their expectations at eighteen to build a life on his own as a mechanic. Returning home for an arranged marriage that would benefit both families forced him to confront his past, but it also reunited him with the girl he had quietly loved since childhood.
Both characters experienced meaningful growth as they learned to value themselves and break free from the pressure placed on them. While I enjoyed their romance and the emotional moments, I did feel like some part were unnecessary, and it was a bit difficult to stay fully connected to the characters. I also wished there had been more honest communication between them, as many of their misunderstandings could have been resolved with a single conversation.
Overall, it was a sweet romance with strong character development and a satisfying storyline.
PS: Arranged marriage is one my favourite tropes
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐ 4.25/5
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I'm always a fan of arranged marriage romances, but this one hit differently because of how strongly it explored family expectations. Coming from an Indian culture where arranged marriages are still common, I found myself relating to Lily's struggle to balance her own dreams with the expectations placed on her by her family.
Lily and Banner agree to an arranged marriage to satisfy their families and secure a business merger, believing it's only temporary. What I loved most was how their relationship grew naturally through friendship, trust, and shared experiences. Their romance wasn't rushed—it was built on understanding and learning to truly see each other.
Lily's journey was especially emotional. Watching her finally pursue her passion while facing judgment and criticism broke my heart, and I couldn't help rooting for her. Banner had his own flaws and secrets, but his quiet support and genuine care made him such a compelling love interest.
This was a heartfelt slow-burn romance with wonderful character growth, relatable family dynamics, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the life we choose for ourselves is worth fighting for. If you enjoy arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, and character-driven romances, I'd definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I'm always a fan of arranged marriage romances, but this one hit differently because of how strongly it explored family expectations. Coming from an Indian culture where arranged marriages are still common, I found myself relating to Lily's struggle to balance her own dreams with the expectations placed on her by her family.
Lily and Banner agree to an arranged marriage to satisfy their families and secure a business merger, believing it's only temporary. What I loved most was how their relationship grew naturally through friendship, trust, and shared experiences. Their romance wasn't rushed—it was built on understanding and learning to truly see each other.
Lily's journey was especially emotional. Watching her finally pursue her passion while facing judgment and criticism broke my heart, and I couldn't help rooting for her. Banner had his own flaws and secrets, but his quiet support and genuine care made him such a compelling love interest.
This was a heartfelt slow-burn romance with wonderful character growth, relatable family dynamics, and a beautiful reminder that sometimes the life we choose for ourselves is worth fighting for. If you enjoy arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, and character-driven romances, I'd definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
June 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Probation Period by Zara Monzel completely hooked me from the very first chapter. I genuinely couldn’t put it down and found myself flying through the pages because I just had to know what would happen next.
I absolutely loved Banner and Lily’s story. What begins as an arranged marriage and a marriage of convenience quickly develops into something so much deeper. Watching Lily, a law student with dreams of becoming a fashion designer, and Banner navigate ninety days of forced proximity while confronting their pasts made for such an emotional and captivating read.
The chemistry between Banner and Lily was incredible from the very beginning. Their relationship developed naturally, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The forced proximity trope was done so well, building both the romance and emotional connection between them.
The writing flowed beautifully, making it easy to become completely immersed in the story. Every chapter left me wanting to read just one more, and before I knew it, I had finished the book.
And that ending… it was absolutely perfect and the ideal way to wrap up their journey.
If you love arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, emotional romance, and characters you’ll fall in love with, then Probation Period is one you definitely need to add to your TBR.
Probation Period by Zara Monzel completely hooked me from the very first chapter. I genuinely couldn’t put it down and found myself flying through the pages because I just had to know what would happen next.
I absolutely loved Banner and Lily’s story. What begins as an arranged marriage and a marriage of convenience quickly develops into something so much deeper. Watching Lily, a law student with dreams of becoming a fashion designer, and Banner navigate ninety days of forced proximity while confronting their pasts made for such an emotional and captivating read.
The chemistry between Banner and Lily was incredible from the very beginning. Their relationship developed naturally, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. The forced proximity trope was done so well, building both the romance and emotional connection between them.
The writing flowed beautifully, making it easy to become completely immersed in the story. Every chapter left me wanting to read just one more, and before I knew it, I had finished the book.
And that ending… it was absolutely perfect and the ideal way to wrap up their journey.
If you love arranged marriage, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, emotional romance, and characters you’ll fall in love with, then Probation Period is one you definitely need to add to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, but all feelings and thoughts are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Probation Period by Zara Montel was an easy 5-star read for me.
What stood out the most was the yearning. Every interaction felt meaningful, every moment carried emotion, and the slow build of the relationship had me completely invested.
Banner was everything I wanted in a romantic lead. He cared deeply for her, showed up when she needed him, and offered support without trying to take over her life. What I loved most was that he understood when to step in and when to give her the space she needed to breathe, heal, and figure things out for herself. That balance made his devotion feel genuine and incredibly touching.
I also loved the FMC's journey. Watching her fight for her dreams, push through obstacles, and refuse to give up on herself was inspiring. Her growth felt authentic, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.
The romance, the emotional depth, the yearning, and the character growth all came together perfectly. This was the kind of book that keeps you turning pages because you're completely invested in the characters and their happiness.
If you love supportive heroes, emotional romance, plenty of yearning, and a heroine determined to chase her dreams, I highly recommend picking this one up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Probation Period by Zara Montel was an easy 5-star read for me.
What stood out the most was the yearning. Every interaction felt meaningful, every moment carried emotion, and the slow build of the relationship had me completely invested.
Banner was everything I wanted in a romantic lead. He cared deeply for her, showed up when she needed him, and offered support without trying to take over her life. What I loved most was that he understood when to step in and when to give her the space she needed to breathe, heal, and figure things out for herself. That balance made his devotion feel genuine and incredibly touching.
I also loved the FMC's journey. Watching her fight for her dreams, push through obstacles, and refuse to give up on herself was inspiring. Her growth felt authentic, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.
The romance, the emotional depth, the yearning, and the character growth all came together perfectly. This was the kind of book that keeps you turning pages because you're completely invested in the characters and their happiness.
If you love supportive heroes, emotional romance, plenty of yearning, and a heroine determined to chase her dreams, I highly recommend picking this one up.
July 7, 2026
ARC REVIEW!!
I am lucky enough to be apart of @authorzaramonzel content team and get to experience an ARC of The Probation Period! When I ARC read The Peppermint Premise I didn’t think it would lead me to becoming apart of this team with so many cool people! Banner & Lily are literally so adorable and his love for her shows through in the most amazing ways, while they struggled with communicating with each other at first they soon realized they were on the same team. The support they have for each other and pushing each other to achieve their goals and dreams was incredibly beautiful! If this sounds like something you’d love to read please go do it! 💖
“Lily.” Banner’s voice pulled her back. His thumbs had stilled on her hands. His voice dropped to a whisper. “My Little Hurricane.” She laughed, tears already spilling down her cheeks. “You taught me how to stop running,” he said quietly, just for her to hear. “How to want something, and how to stay even though I’m scared. I didn’t know I was capable of any of that until you. I love you.” She was full-on crying now. He lifted his voice. “I do.” The officiant turned to her. “And do you, Lily, take Banner to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Through her tears, Lily smiled. “Always yes. I do.” “By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
I am lucky enough to be apart of @authorzaramonzel content team and get to experience an ARC of The Probation Period! When I ARC read The Peppermint Premise I didn’t think it would lead me to becoming apart of this team with so many cool people! Banner & Lily are literally so adorable and his love for her shows through in the most amazing ways, while they struggled with communicating with each other at first they soon realized they were on the same team. The support they have for each other and pushing each other to achieve their goals and dreams was incredibly beautiful! If this sounds like something you’d love to read please go do it! 💖
“Lily.” Banner’s voice pulled her back. His thumbs had stilled on her hands. His voice dropped to a whisper. “My Little Hurricane.” She laughed, tears already spilling down her cheeks. “You taught me how to stop running,” he said quietly, just for her to hear. “How to want something, and how to stay even though I’m scared. I didn’t know I was capable of any of that until you. I love you.” She was full-on crying now. He lifted his voice. “I do.” The officiant turned to her. “And do you, Lily, take Banner to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Through her tears, Lily smiled. “Always yes. I do.” “By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
July 7, 2026
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it. The characters really grew through the story which is always fun to see. Both Lily and Banner had issues with their parents that got resolved by the end of the story but could have been resolved at any point if they had communicated. There was a lot of non communication in this story between the main characters and them and other side characters. Lily and Banner did both realize their faults and speak up about what mattered to them before any damage was done and then continued speaking up for themselves with others in their lives. The chacters really helped each other with their growth and plans for the future. They were truly partners before they even said I do.
I don't really see how this was a marriage of convenience but that's neither here nor there and doesn't take away from the story. The characters went from an arranged marriage to like and eventually to love. I did enjoy what Banner did toward the end of the story to show Lily how much he loved her and wanted to be with her.
There were several emotional moments in the story, especially when Banner and Lily sat down and spoke to their parents about the future. There were also a few spicy moments, these two really have a thing for exhibitionism. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love with each other and learn to love themselves.
I don't really see how this was a marriage of convenience but that's neither here nor there and doesn't take away from the story. The characters went from an arranged marriage to like and eventually to love. I did enjoy what Banner did toward the end of the story to show Lily how much he loved her and wanted to be with her.
There were several emotional moments in the story, especially when Banner and Lily sat down and spoke to their parents about the future. There were also a few spicy moments, these two really have a thing for exhibitionism. I enjoyed watching these two fall in love with each other and learn to love themselves.
July 3, 2026
There's something so special about the way Zara writes. She has this incredibly amazing ability to create characters that feel real, and somehow, without you even noticing, become deeply attached to them. It's not just the bigger moments that made me fall in love with her stories...it's the little things. The conversations, the quiet support, the shared laughs, all these everyday moments that suddenly feel magical and make me feel so much.
With The Probation Period, I found myself genuinely obsessive and over the moon when Banner and Lily held hands, hugged, or even shared pancakes together (yes, the pancakes deserve a special mention). These moments shouldn't have had me grinning like an idiot, but that's Zara's magic, she made the mundane things feel significant.
And this is the kind of story reminds me that love doesn't always have to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes it's patient, steady, and quietly refuses to let go.
My biggest takeaway from TPP is to trust yourself and the things you're passionate about. The people who truly love and care about you will support you, even when you can't quite see the path ahead. And maybe, most important point, love often finds us in the most unexpected ways. When it does, don't be quick to push it away.
With The Probation Period, I found myself genuinely obsessive and over the moon when Banner and Lily held hands, hugged, or even shared pancakes together (yes, the pancakes deserve a special mention). These moments shouldn't have had me grinning like an idiot, but that's Zara's magic, she made the mundane things feel significant.
And this is the kind of story reminds me that love doesn't always have to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes it's patient, steady, and quietly refuses to let go.
My biggest takeaway from TPP is to trust yourself and the things you're passionate about. The people who truly love and care about you will support you, even when you can't quite see the path ahead. And maybe, most important point, love often finds us in the most unexpected ways. When it does, don't be quick to push it away.
July 3, 2026
Thank you to Happily Booked PR & the author for the opportunity to review this book. This is my review in my own words.
I initially picked this book as an arc based on the tropes & cover. Little did I know it would easily become one of my absolute favorite reads of the year. I bought the physical copy the day it came out because I knew it was something I had to have in physical book form & I hadn’t finished the book yet.
Banner Lee and Lily Thompson feel like they are me but in character form. The way Banner runs from things & the way Lily over thinks, I saw myself in EVERY SINGLE PAGE. The ADHD rep is so beautifully and respectfully done. I underlined so many things and was like… I feel like this!!!
I also saw a beautiful representation of marriage or partnership. The way Banner is patient, and waits for Lily to come to him when she’s struggling is something that I’ve noticed even in my own relationship. Sometimes, we just need somebody to just be there and this book beautifully shows a relationship, a partnership, or a friendship that blooms into more, because they wait on each other. They see what the other needs. I have no criticism, just praise.
Please go get this book ASAP
I initially picked this book as an arc based on the tropes & cover. Little did I know it would easily become one of my absolute favorite reads of the year. I bought the physical copy the day it came out because I knew it was something I had to have in physical book form & I hadn’t finished the book yet.
Banner Lee and Lily Thompson feel like they are me but in character form. The way Banner runs from things & the way Lily over thinks, I saw myself in EVERY SINGLE PAGE. The ADHD rep is so beautifully and respectfully done. I underlined so many things and was like… I feel like this!!!
I also saw a beautiful representation of marriage or partnership. The way Banner is patient, and waits for Lily to come to him when she’s struggling is something that I’ve noticed even in my own relationship. Sometimes, we just need somebody to just be there and this book beautifully shows a relationship, a partnership, or a friendship that blooms into more, because they wait on each other. They see what the other needs. I have no criticism, just praise.
Please go get this book ASAP
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