Book of the Month is my first read from Jennifer Probst and it’s small-town, enemies to lovers (sort-of), with some fake dating thrown in.

Aspen is a successful romance writer who made a killing with her first novel. Unfortunately the next two books have been slow sellers and she is out of excuses and ideas. Aspen heads home to Outer Banks to stay with her sister and regroup.

Once there she hits onto the idea of hooking up with Brick–the local man ho–so he can break her heart and she’ll have the inspiration to write again. Brick is in town running his late grandfather’s tour business. He’s not a natural at it and the business is in trouble. Their meet cute is excruciating when Aspen tries to chat him up and he rejects her.

Eventually Brick and Aspen hatch a plan so she can have her heartbreak and he can fix the business – and hopefully his reputation. It’s essentially complicated fake dating, which they do and of course, they open up to each other, enough to fall in love, but not enough for Aspen to put their relationship first.

There’s a subtext around gossip and the damage of seemingly harmless chatter in a small community–a support group has been formed by all the women who Brick has dumped–so Aspen is navigating that group, the rumour mill, his reputation as well as writing her next not-a-romance.

It’s very meta about romance authors and there’s a lot of detail about the writing process and book sales and how publishers and agents are invested. So much to enjoy–a cast of quirky side characters, a charming town, a romantic setting, baby turtles, wild horses, hash brownies, all the necessary ingredients for a light-hearted romance.

I just wish I’d liked it more – I didn’t connect with Aspen who held her ideas too tightly. Brick was a bit of a sad sack. It’s a gorgeous setting and everyone is lovely, but not enough substance for me.

-this review is by Laura Black