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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First, I listened to the audiobook and the narrators are great. Second, I have read several books by this author and I’ve loved them. However, I thought about DNFing this so many times! But I spent money on it so I stuck around. It was painful to get through it. The reason for staying married was just silly. The amount of times their inner monologue was about “he/she’s doing this for optics. They don’t really like me that way” was annoying and so immature, even though the other person was being VERY clear about how they felt (except for saying the L word). I couldn’t connect to the characters. Even their romance lacked the consuming feelings that two people in love usually show in these types of books. And the whole thing about Maeve getting jobs (or not) because she was now married to a famous player just gave me a sour taste in my mouth. It just felt very flat. I can’t believe so many of the reviews were positive. I’d 100% skip this one.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.75 stars ✨
What a strong start to the new year!! Friends to lovers is on its way to becoming one of my favorite tropes.
Maeve and Asher are incredibly fleshed out characters who feel very much like they could be actual people. Maeve has an infectious, bubbly personality and Asher is an absolute sweetheart—with a bossy side when the moment calls for it 😏
I strongly believe that your partner should be your best friend and this was exactly that. Their romance is the type that could only blossom from a decade-long friendship like theirs. It’s adorable how protective and considerate they are of each other, and their consistent support and admiration for one another is so heartwarming. The inside-jokes, moments of vulnerability, unwavering loyalty, and wholehearted trust that they share has fortified the foundation of their relationship.
One of the most refreshing elements of this book is the mature conversations between Maeve and Asher. They’re so comfortable talking to each other about their fears, insecurities, and ambitions. Their ability to communicate so openly and respectfully adds further depth to their relationship. It also helps that they inherently understand each other after being friends for so long. They always know what the other needs and neither lets the other push them away when the situation and rising emotions become overwhelming.
Their annual big adventure on the anniversary of Maeve’s mom’s death is such a touching tradition that tugged on my heartstrings. I love their backstory because they both relate to the experience of losing someone but those were very different relationships so it doesn’t feel like they bonded over losing the same person or same type of connection. Their bond feels authentic without being a defining factor of their relationship.
On a lighter note, the spicy scenes were all great quality, but I mostly appreciated how they raised the stakes and added tension to move the story forward. Also, their flirty, teasing banter was chef’s kiss! They’re so playful and witty; they bring so much energy to the story. It’s sweet how easily they fall into married life and the domesticity of it. However, as the book goes on, the tone shifts and they become more serious and anxious. Since it’s a marriage of convenience, there’s uncertainty about the future of their relationship. It’s understandable, but it’s accompanied by a bit too much back and forth and it becomes slightly redundant to the point that I start to lose interest.
The plot feels logical and grounded, especially when it comes to the PR aspect of their marriage. I very much appreciated how well the conflict (it’s not a breakup) toward the end of the book was handled. It made perfect sense and felt believable because it stemmed from the established aspects of the characters’ personalities and past traumas.
However, Maeve’s insecurity about feeling like she’s “too much” felt a bit underdeveloped. She says it’s an insecurity and something a past relationship told her, but that’s about as much explanation as we get. I guess that’s also how it is in life. Some boy in 5th grade points out your hairy arms, and from then on, you shave your arms. Still, I wanted to see more about how this fear spiraled into something so deeply ingrained. There’s a brief mention of her mom’s influence, but it doesn’t reveal much; I wish this had been explored further.
In terms of the writing style, I found the chapter titles to be such a fun addition! You don’t see a lot of those in contemporary romance. However, there were a few moments when the characters speak to the reader like they’re addressing a TV audience and it pulled me out of the story. Similarly, there was some fluff—entire conversations with side characters or extra details that didn’t contribute to the character developments or the plot. This created an issue with the pacing as the additional content sometimes felt overwhelming and failed to efficiently help in moving the story forward.
Overall, this was such an incredible, heartfelt romance with charm, depth, and a mature exploration of love. I was so awestruck by the strength of Maeve and Asher’s relationship and all of the healthy communication that they demonstrated throughout the book. I wasn’t a fan of the pacing, but the deep emotional connection that these two share had me falling in love with their story.
Audiobook side note: Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet were perfect as Maeve and Asher!! 10/10. No notes.
Thank you very much to Lauren Blakely and GoodGirlsPR for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!
________________________________________________
Annotations from the audiobook:
Ch I forgot: I AM LIVING FOR THESE MATURE CONVERSATIONS. ALSO love how well he understands her to the point that he knows what she does and doesn’t need to hear under every circumstance. He always knows what to say.
Ch 17: WAIT. The timing is not right. She’s gonna think she got it bc of the marriage 😭😭😭😭 Nooooo
By Ch 43: Losing the fun flirty side. They’re so serious now. Sweet how they’re very domestic but idk I’m losing interest.
Ch I forgot: The moment he realizes he’s been in love with Maeve?!?! So tenderly precious!!
Ch I forgot: I just realized I don’t think I’ve read a book yet where the MMC has 2 dads. They are so cute. But I LOVE how they gave Asher a new last name and moved their last names to middle names so that they could all have the same last name since they don’t like hyphenated names (I don’t like hyphenated names either).
Ch 51: EXCUSE ME?!?! The maturity?!!? Omg she fears being too much and he said he needed space (arguing about him being obsessive about the fear of losing someone he loves) when she calls him out on his concerning habits and she didn’t take it personally. She doubled down on her concern.
Ch I forgot: I love the way that he recognizes his issue (google autofill search). It feels so genuine.
Other notes: So many swoon-worthy moments!
What a strong start to the new year!! Friends to lovers is on its way to becoming one of my favorite tropes.
Maeve and Asher are incredibly fleshed out characters who feel very much like they could be actual people. Maeve has an infectious, bubbly personality and Asher is an absolute sweetheart—with a bossy side when the moment calls for it 😏
I strongly believe that your partner should be your best friend and this was exactly that. Their romance is the type that could only blossom from a decade-long friendship like theirs. It’s adorable how protective and considerate they are of each other, and their consistent support and admiration for one another is so heartwarming. The inside-jokes, moments of vulnerability, unwavering loyalty, and wholehearted trust that they share has fortified the foundation of their relationship.
One of the most refreshing elements of this book is the mature conversations between Maeve and Asher. They’re so comfortable talking to each other about their fears, insecurities, and ambitions. Their ability to communicate so openly and respectfully adds further depth to their relationship. It also helps that they inherently understand each other after being friends for so long. They always know what the other needs and neither lets the other push them away when the situation and rising emotions become overwhelming.
Their annual big adventure on the anniversary of Maeve’s mom’s death is such a touching tradition that tugged on my heartstrings. I love their backstory because they both relate to the experience of losing someone but those were very different relationships so it doesn’t feel like they bonded over losing the same person or same type of connection. Their bond feels authentic without being a defining factor of their relationship.
On a lighter note, the spicy scenes were all great quality, but I mostly appreciated how they raised the stakes and added tension to move the story forward. Also, their flirty, teasing banter was chef’s kiss! They’re so playful and witty; they bring so much energy to the story. It’s sweet how easily they fall into married life and the domesticity of it. However, as the book goes on, the tone shifts and they become more serious and anxious. Since it’s a marriage of convenience, there’s uncertainty about the future of their relationship. It’s understandable, but it’s accompanied by a bit too much back and forth and it becomes slightly redundant to the point that I start to lose interest.
The plot feels logical and grounded, especially when it comes to the PR aspect of their marriage. I very much appreciated how well the conflict (it’s not a breakup) toward the end of the book was handled. It made perfect sense and felt believable because it stemmed from the established aspects of the characters’ personalities and past traumas.
However, Maeve’s insecurity about feeling like she’s “too much” felt a bit underdeveloped. She says it’s an insecurity and something a past relationship told her, but that’s about as much explanation as we get. I guess that’s also how it is in life. Some boy in 5th grade points out your hairy arms, and from then on, you shave your arms. Still, I wanted to see more about how this fear spiraled into something so deeply ingrained. There’s a brief mention of her mom’s influence, but it doesn’t reveal much; I wish this had been explored further.
In terms of the writing style, I found the chapter titles to be such a fun addition! You don’t see a lot of those in contemporary romance. However, there were a few moments when the characters speak to the reader like they’re addressing a TV audience and it pulled me out of the story. Similarly, there was some fluff—entire conversations with side characters or extra details that didn’t contribute to the character developments or the plot. This created an issue with the pacing as the additional content sometimes felt overwhelming and failed to efficiently help in moving the story forward.
Overall, this was such an incredible, heartfelt romance with charm, depth, and a mature exploration of love. I was so awestruck by the strength of Maeve and Asher’s relationship and all of the healthy communication that they demonstrated throughout the book. I wasn’t a fan of the pacing, but the deep emotional connection that these two share had me falling in love with their story.
Audiobook side note: Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet were perfect as Maeve and Asher!! 10/10. No notes.
Thank you very much to Lauren Blakely and GoodGirlsPR for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review!!
________________________________________________
Annotations from the audiobook:
Ch I forgot: I AM LIVING FOR THESE MATURE CONVERSATIONS. ALSO love how well he understands her to the point that he knows what she does and doesn’t need to hear under every circumstance. He always knows what to say.
Ch 17: WAIT. The timing is not right. She’s gonna think she got it bc of the marriage 😭😭😭😭 Nooooo
By Ch 43: Losing the fun flirty side. They’re so serious now. Sweet how they’re very domestic but idk I’m losing interest.
Ch I forgot: The moment he realizes he’s been in love with Maeve?!?! So tenderly precious!!
Ch I forgot: I just realized I don’t think I’ve read a book yet where the MMC has 2 dads. They are so cute. But I LOVE how they gave Asher a new last name and moved their last names to middle names so that they could all have the same last name since they don’t like hyphenated names (I don’t like hyphenated names either).
Ch 51: EXCUSE ME?!?! The maturity?!!? Omg she fears being too much and he said he needed space (arguing about him being obsessive about the fear of losing someone he loves) when she calls him out on his concerning habits and she didn’t take it personally. She doubled down on her concern.
Ch I forgot: I love the way that he recognizes his issue (google autofill search). It feels so genuine.
Other notes: So many swoon-worthy moments!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is my first Lauren Blakely read, and I couldn’t be happier that it was The Proposal Play! It was so, so cute. I found myself wanting more of Maeve and Asher—their banter, their adventures, their antics—everything in between.
Asher is a professional ice hockey player who’s being auctioned off for a date at his team’s charity event. Maeve is an aspiring artist, Asher’s best friend’s sister, and they first met in grief counseling after both losing loved ones. From that day forward, they’ve always been in each other’s lives.
“Nothing lasted after I met Maeve because I was falling in love with her all that time, and I didn’t even know it was happening.”
I loved watching Maeve and Asher’s friendship evolve into the cutest love story! Their dynamic was so funny and lighthearted. I literally covered my mouth at some of their one-liners.
This book also touches on mental health, such as Asher’s obsessive-compulsive tendencies and his constant need to protect the people he cares about by researching medical conditions in great depth. Asher also starts a campaign to help others who might be experiencing the same things.
I’m a sucker for both the “brother’s best friend” and “best friends to lovers” tropes, and they were both done so well here! The story of how they met was bittersweet, but they’ve always gravitated toward each other. It’s like that invisible string theory. Asher Callahan might just be a top book boyfriend—I loved him so much!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
🌶️🌶️/3
Ohmygosh, listening to Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet bring these characters to life was amazing! I very much appreciated their performance and felt that they portrayed their characters perfectly.
You know how a friends to lovers can sometimes be a “when are they going to finally admit they love each other” type situation? Definitely this case. Everyone around them saw it way before they did. I loved the therapy talk, especially how it isn’t an immediate cure. These two were clearly meant to be together and I was so glad that I was along for their journey.
❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 friends to lovers
💋 brother’s best friend
💋 marriage pact
💋 quickie Vegas marriage for funsies➡️ marriage of convenience when it leaked➡️it turns real
💋 hockey romance
Maeve is always there for Asher, he’s her and her brother’s best friend. And when she overhears dastardly plans in the women’s bathroom to cause trouble for Asher at the bachelor auction, she will do anything to stop it. Including outbid the rich girl and win a date with her best friend. It turns out they get to fly to Vegas for a concert. And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?
Thank you to Hambright Pr for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Ohmygosh, listening to Vanessa Edwin and Robert Hatchet bring these characters to life was amazing! I very much appreciated their performance and felt that they portrayed their characters perfectly.
You know how a friends to lovers can sometimes be a “when are they going to finally admit they love each other” type situation? Definitely this case. Everyone around them saw it way before they did. I loved the therapy talk, especially how it isn’t an immediate cure. These two were clearly meant to be together and I was so glad that I was along for their journey.
❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 friends to lovers
💋 brother’s best friend
💋 marriage pact
💋 quickie Vegas marriage for funsies➡️ marriage of convenience when it leaked➡️it turns real
💋 hockey romance
Maeve is always there for Asher, he’s her and her brother’s best friend. And when she overhears dastardly plans in the women’s bathroom to cause trouble for Asher at the bachelor auction, she will do anything to stop it. Including outbid the rich girl and win a date with her best friend. It turns out they get to fly to Vegas for a concert. And what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?
Thank you to Hambright Pr for the copy, all thoughts are my own.