i love a fake dating story with great banger and hilarious moments but this one was a bit lacking for me. the fmc priscilla is a major overthinker which was VERY relatable because same girl. however, i will i didn’t feel the chemistry or speaks with the romance between the fmc and mmc. there was a lot of miscommunication between the two. i wanted to enjoy this more but sadly it just didn’t work for me.

job event planner priscilla has been asked to plan her best friend’s dream wedding proposal to her boyfriend ryan, except it appears he might beat her to it. the solution? team up with ryan’s obnoxious but beautiful best friend oliver to plan a joint proposal. they keep their unlikely alliance a secret to their friends. as they work on the proposal, will another happily ever after be in the cards?

tropes: fake dating, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, cabin getaway, meddling friends

Content advisory: Brief mention of parental death. Two open door sex scenes beginning halfway through chapter 25 and 26.

After losing her event planning job, Priscilla Cain out on her own - with her first client her bestie, Tina, and Tina's proposal to her boyfriend, Ryan. But Ryan wants to propose to Tina. So it is up to Priscilla - and Ryan's bestie, Oliver - to save the day and arrange a surprise proposal that will wow both Ryan and Tina.

Meanwhile Priscilla can't stand Oliver. But the two of them need to start fake dating in order for Tina and Ryan to believe the ruse and why they're spending so much time together.

This book was okay. It felt like a cheesy Hallmark-movie type of book, and it leans heavily into the fake dating and miscommunication tropes.

None of the characters were particularly loveable or relatable to me: Priscilla being both stubborn and refusing to change her mind, yet a complete doormat; Tina being a bridezilla to be with zero filter or respect for boundaries; Oliver for being a "handsome, but quietly pining" trope and Ryan for being a cardboard cutout. There didn't seem to be any chemistry between any of the characters.

I gave this 3 stars, because there were some entertaining moments.

~This is a NetGalley ARC. All opinions are my own~

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Such a fun book with loveable characters! They have great chemistry and really feel like they are made for each other.
Personally, I prefer dual POV but I still enjoyed this.
If you love the fake dating trope, this is one for you!

I loved this story. I’m here for all the banter. Throw in a slow burn, enemies to lovers story and I’m hooked. These two were made for each other. While the are both helping their best friends plan the perfect proposal, they have to somehow find a way to be nice to each other and keep their plans a secret. It’s a sweet romance.

I’m a big fan of Hate Mail so I was pumped to read this! The characters have great chemistry and their banter is top tier.
The story has an early 2000’s vibe to it and is a little bit cheesy (but in a good way)
I did like Hate Mail a bit more but overall a super cute read.
Thank you to Net Galley & HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

what a book. i really enjoyed these feisty characters trying to fight each other for their friends' proposals. this was so funny, and i loved reading about how they fell in love during their wild adventures.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for sending me this ARC for an honest review.

I religiously consume any book with Kuffmans work on the cover, which obviously meant that this was a must read.

“The proposal project” is the perfect romcom
That will sweeten up your life. This is the kind of book that’s for those who loved the vibes of “The Wedding Planner” staring JLO. And I think this book truly encapsulates the theme. Two characters having to work together to plan a perfect team wedding proposal!!

It was cute, it was funny, and it was absolutely romantic. So worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and author Donna Marchetti for this eARC

An absolutely splendid fun read!

The Proposal Project is a great contemporary rom-com! It's got the banter, the quirky characters, the scheming and the hilarity.

While I did not love it as much as Marchetti's first book (Hate Mail was perfection) I still loved it and will recommend it to anyone for a fun summer read!

The Proposal Project is a light and enjoyable contemporary romance with a fun premise and relatable characters. Donna Marchetti delivers charming interactions and sweet romantic moments that make the story easy to read and engaging. The humor and playful banter add to the book’s appeal, making it a pleasant, breezy read.

That said, the plot can feel predictable, and some character arcs and emotional beats lack depth, which keeps the story from leaving a strong impression. While entertaining, the novel leans on familiar romance tropes and doesn’t offer many surprises.

Overall, The Proposal Project is a pleasant, casual read—perfect for fans of feel-good contemporary romance, though it doesn’t leave a lasting impact.

This was a lighthearted, fluffy read 💍✨.

I really enjoyed the unique premise and fun mix of tropes—fake dating and enemies-to-lovers, all while planning their friends’ engagement!

That said, I felt the romance lacked depth, and I wished Priscilla (our FMC) had shown more maturity. I wasn’t sure how old the characters were meant to be, but both Priscilla and her friend Tina often came across as a bit childish.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun book. I loved it from start to finish!

The Proposal Project is a heartwarming and charming romance that blends humor, sweetness, and just enough tension to keep you hooked. Priscilla finds herself helping plan her best friend’s dream proposal and unexpectedly ends up working alongside Oliver, who is handsome, witty, and frustratingly irresistible. Their interactions are full of spark, teasing, and moments that make you grin from start to finish.
The chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver is the highlight of the story. Their banter feels natural, their connection slowly builds in a satisfying way, and the romantic tension keeps the pages turning. The book balances lighthearted humor with emotional moments, giving the story warmth and relatability. Many scenes are laugh-out-loud funny, while others pull at your heartstrings, creating a lovely mix of feelings.
Some readers may notice that certain secondary characters could have been developed more fully, and a few plot moments lean on familiar rom-com tropes, but the overall execution is engaging and enjoyable. The pacing is smooth, making it easy to read in a single sitting or over a cozy afternoon.
This book is perfect if you enjoy sweet, witty romances with clever dialogue, charming leads, and a story that leaves you smiling. While not flawless, it delivers a satisfying romantic payoff and memorable characters, making it a worthwhile read for fans of feel-good contemporary romance.

The way i couldn’t stop reading this book!!!! It felt like the ideal rom-com!!!

We follow Priscilla, who, after losing her job, and kinda forced by her best friend, opens her event planning business. Her first client? Said best friend, Tina, who wants her to organize the perfect wedding proposal to Ryan. The catch? It seems like Ryan could beat her to it, ruining Tina’s dream and crushing her business before it even starts. Begrudgingly, Priscilla has to team up with Ryan’s best friend, who she fancied long ago, Oliver and organize a joint proposal. Of course, they have to keep the plan secret and, what’s the best way to do it? Fake date.

In this book we can find the next tropes: enemies to lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, one bed, clueless FMC and obsessed MMC. The plot is to die for!

I have to give this book 5 stars.
*Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This book was such a fun and charming read, with the perfect mix of humor, heart, and a touch of drama. The premise felt fresh, and the execution made it even more enjoyable. The main characters had great chemistry, and their banter felt natural and witty, which made their relationship easy to root for. Beyond the romance, there were also some thoughtful moments about love, trust, and taking chances that gave the story more depth.

The pacing was smooth, and it kept me hooked from start to finish, though there were a few predictable beats that come with the genre. Still, the way the story unfolded felt satisfying, and the characters’ growth made the ending feel well-earned.

A solid 4 stars fun, heartfelt, and engaging, with just the right balance of sweetness and substance.

After loving Hate Mail, I had to pick up this author’s book and it didn’t disappoint! This was such a sweet, light, fake-dating rom-com with just a hint of enemies to lovers. The proposal/party-planning angle was unique and so fun, and I read it in one sitting. While the resolution felt a little rushed and some subplots (like Malcolm and the job situation) could have used more depth, overall it was charming, engaging, and left me smiling. A perfect lighthearted read when you want something fun and feel good, the perfect palette cleanser book!!

a top tier romcom with such likeable and humorous characters and a fantastic plot - this was such an entertaining and enjoyable read

"The Proposal Plan" by Donna Marchetti is an absolute delight from start to finish. I was immediately captivated by its charming blend of romance, humor, and unexpected twists. The story follows Priscilla, an event planner, and Oliver, her supposed enemy, as they work together to orchestrate the perfect proposal for their best friends. Their journey from reluctant allies to something more is both entertaining and heartwarming. The chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver is electric, and their witty banter keeps the pages turning. I found myself giggling and smiling throughout, especially at the cute moments that seemed straight out of a rom-com. Overall, "The Proposal Plan" is a fantastic read that leaves you with a warm feeling and a smile on your face.

This was my first Marchetti book, and I found it enjoyable! It's a rom-com, with an emphasis on the COMEDY aspect ;}. The characters are both lovable; however, I don't love the miscommunication trope. At some points, the book was teetering towards being cringey, which made for a bit of second-hand embarrassment (which I do not like.) Nonetheless, I had a fun, mindless time, which is what we all need sometimes, right? Tropes include: fake dating, best man x maid of honor, and enemies to lovers. Overall would recommend!

this was like the cutest and cheesiest (in the best way) time! I had a huge smile on my face for the last like 40% of the book!

If you want a feel good book that just has all the swoonworthy romance and yearning this will for sure check all the boxes for you.

From fake dating to planning a mega proposal to spice, this had everything i was wanting + some. I really enjoyed the overall plot of this book, it was fresh and different while still having all the aspects of tension and yearning you want from a fake dating and enemies to lovers romance.

Priscilla was such a relatable character. While i’ve never been fired for the mistake of someone else at work, i think a lot of people, women especially, can relate to the feeling of having the mistakes of others fall on our shoulders in the workplace. I really loved her drive to be successful in her business while also doing all she could for her best friend.

Oliver was a man obsessed from the beginning. He wanted every second of that fake dating to be real from the jump and i just loved it!!

The writing was bingable and enjoyable! I was laughing out loud, smiling at my kindle like a weirdo, kicking my feet and giggling and had the best time throughout!

Also, Malcolm can go somewhere….. IYKYK.

The Vibes:
-Proposal Planning
-Enemies to Lovers
-Fake Dating
-All in a Friend Group
-Forced Proximity ISH
-Slow Burn Romance
-He is OBSESSED / He falls first
-The Banter 😮‍💨

There’s a playlist at the start of The Proposal Project with Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams, so straight away I thought, oh, this one gets me.

I really liked Donna Marchetti’s Hate Mail, so I was looking forward to this. We’ve got fake dating, a chaotic joint proposal plan, and only one bed - all the makings of a romcom banger, right?

But this just didn’t hit the spot for me. The writing felt a bit younger than the characters, and some of the emotional moments didn’t quite land. I found myself wanting more from Priscilla and Oliver—more depth, more heart, more growth. And Tina, the best friend… I’m sorry, but she drove me up the wall. Her actions had real main character energy in the worst way. If this had been her romance I’d have closed the book halfway through. Good luck, Ryan.

There’s definitely fun to be had—it’s fast, tropey, and easy to read—but it felt more like a fizzy distraction than something I’ll return to. Great playlist, though.