Book Review :: The Book Proposal by K.J. Micciche

The Book Proposal by K.J. Micciche
ISBN: 1728264723
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca
on 16 May 2023
Genres: Adult, Romance
Pages: 320
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads

Broke up with, broke, and with a vicious case of writer's block, romance writer Gracie Landing is a hot mess. She can hardly be blamed for drinking one (or a few) too many cocktails when out with her besties in an attempt to cheer herself up.

Sometime in the foggy wee hours, she recklessly emails her unrequited high-school crush, Colin Yarmouth, who is now a successful attorney harbouring regrets of his own.

When she receives an intriguingly friendly (not to say flirty) response, her acute embarrassment is overcome only by her fervent curiosity—what would a hottie like Colin be like as a grown-up?

The two forge an unlikely friendship that's unmistakably headed for more.

Colin's tales of his own woeful break-up become fodder for Gracie's fertile imagination and her current work-in-progress takes off.

With the deadline looming and her checking account dwindling, Gracie has no idea that borrowing Colin's story could wreak havoc on her life, her career, and her own chance at happily-ever-after…

Last updated on 13 February 2023

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What is The Book Proposal by K.J. Micciche about?

The Book Proposal by K.J. Micciche is the story of romance writer Gracie Landing, who is going through a tough time after a breakup, financial struggles, and writer’s block.

In an attempt to cheer herself up, she drinks too much while out with her friends one Saturday, and in the early hours of the morning, she impulsively emails her high-school crush, Colin Yarmouth, now a successful attorney.

To her surprise, Colin responds with a friendly and flirty message, leading to the two form an unlikely friendship that seems to be leading towards something more.

Gracie uses Colin’s own breakup story as inspiration for her work-in-progress, which takes off. However, as the deadline for her book approaches, her editor is on her for material and her financial situation becomes dire, she is unaware that borrowing Colin’s story could have major consequences for her career and her own chance at happiness.

My thoughts on The Book Proposal

The Book Proposal was FUN. Like, a lot of fun. And I know that’s not the best description for a book review, but … it really was a fun book.

Okay, let me expand.

Lots of the reviews I’ve seen online have been a bit of a mix. Some people really loved the book (they thought it was ‘fun’ too!), and some people just couldn’t deal with it. You’ve probably guessed I fall into the former group.

While reading The Book Proposal I found myself laughing out loud, and that doesn’t often happen when I’m reading a book. Sure, books I read are funny on occasion, but very few actually get an audible snort or loud ‘HA’ out of me. This one did.

Gracie is a riot and while we were so different in nearly every way, there were at times when she was really relatable and I think that’s because of the way that Micciche wrote Gracie’s character. The everyday nonsense of life is played out so wonderfully in this story that you couldn’t help but empathise with the characters. Not all the time, of course, but enough to make me enjoy it a lot.

The fact the story is about a story is also really enjoyable to read. A book about books. I do love a story that’s about stories, bookshops, or publishing. (Sidebar: have you seen the TV show, Younger? That’s about a publishing company and it’s brilliant.) I think the bibliophile in me just leaps for joy when I find a book about book-loving people. They’re my people, ya know?

Colin was an interesting character, and while Gracie’s chapters were more enjoyable to read, it was still nice to have the alternating point-of-view chapters between the two main characters. Their lives are very different, but after the infamous email that Gracie sends in the first few pages, they’re suddenly thrown back into each other’s lives, and there’s more in common than first meets the eye.

There were, of course, things I didn’t like, too, as is the case with all books. There were times when it dragged a little bit, or I got a bit bored of Colin’s chapters, or it was too predictable and I thought ‘okay, just get on with it’. But not enough ‘didn’t like’ things to warrant it being a bad book.

If you’re after a fun, lighthearted romance book about romance books, about high-school unrequited crushes becoming friends (and more) in their adult years, and quirky characters that probably aren’t that similar to you but somehow you can relate to … The Book Proposal comes out in May 2023.

Will you be reading it?

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Thank you to Netgalley who provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. This does not affect my review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.