Priscilla's been asked by her best friend Tina to plan her proposal but her boyfriend Ryan has had the same idea by asking his best friend Oliver to arrange his proposal. Only thing is Priscilla and Oliver can't stand each other and both plans are different

The Proposal Project was a quick and easy read. A really enjoyable book that had a sweet ending.

The building up of the relationship felt mostly believable and relatable which made it easier to read. I think I would have appreciated more of a villain or bad guy but also understand that wasn't the direction of the story.

The spice level was good, although it did feel like all the spice was somewhat confined to one section of the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

The Proposal Project had such a fun and promising concept—I was instantly intrigued and excited to dive in! Priscilla and Oliver had some swoony moments and their banter gave glimpses of great chemistry. When the spark was there, it definitely added to their character development and pulled me back into the story.

This was a quick and easy read with a light touch of spice that felt just right for the vibe the book was going for. The character growth throughout the story was also really solid, especially as the plot moved forward. I appreciated that both Priscilla and Oliver had personal journeys woven into their romance.

That said, I did find myself struggling a bit to fully connect with the characters, and at times it felt like the plot lost its footing. The miscommunication trope played a larger role than I personally prefer—it’s one of those things that can work in small doses, but when it stretches too far, it starts to impact the emotional payoff for me.

Overall, I think readers who enjoy a character-driven, slightly spicy romance with charming banter and a unique setup will still find something to love here. It might not have hit all the marks for me, but it definitely had its sweet and engaging moments. 💕📖

Thank you again to NetGalley and Donna Marchetti for the arc💖. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Donna Marchetti for an ARC of The Proposal Project in exchange for an honest review.

The Proposal Project follows event planner, Priscilla Cain, when her best friend, Tina, hires her to help organise her proposal. The problem? Tina's boyfriend, Ryan, is planning a proposal of his own at the same time. Priscilla must team up with Ryan's best friend (and her nemesis), Oliver, to plan the ultimate joint proposal without either Tina or Ryan figuring out the truth.

This was a quick, fun, and easy read. I thought there were a lot of funny moments, and I had no problems getting through the book. The fake-dating aspect added a lot of hilarity as well. I just thought that Oliver and Priscilla fell in love pretty quickly, considering they didn't have that much of a relationship outside the few weeks they were planning the proposals.

This was my first book by Donna Marchetti, and I thoroughly enjoyed it—I’m honestly annoyed it took me this long to pick it up! It gave me Wedding Planner vibes (minus the cheating) with all the wholesome romcom charm I love. Priscilla and Oliver’s fake-dating, enemies-to-lovers dynamic was so much fun to watch unfold, and the banter had me smiling nonstop.

Marchetti’s writing is so vivid, it felt like watching an early 2000s romcom in book form. Sweet, funny, and delightfully over the top—just a really joyful read. I can’t wait to dive into more of her work!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes:
* enemies to lovers
* Open door romance
* Down on her luck FMC
* besties helping besties
* Rom com
* Fake dating to real dating
* Slow burn

Thank you to NetGalley, Donna Marchetti, and One More Chapter for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was such a fun rom-com, and both couples were so witty and absolute couples goals!

Oliver and Priscilla both clearly have been longing for each other for a while, so this slow burn fake dating romance kept me screaming “you both want each other, just admit it already!” But the tension and little moments of connection he showed towards her kept me reading and anticipating for the big moment when they really open up to each other and both get that clarity of their feelings for each other. I loved that!

I loved the Jumbotron moment especially-Oliver and Ryan are funny best friends and I enjoyed all the banter between these 4 friends together. Tina is so honest and says whatever she wants, so it’s always a laugh whenever you hear what comes out of her mouth!

I love their first kiss. He kisses her so unexpectedly, and it’s so subtle and nonchalant but he’s so clearly into her. So when they finally give in to physical connection, it had my heart racing along with Priscilla. When they finally admit their emotional connection, my heart was leaping with hers too!

My only complaint is the miscommunication trope. But I like how they quickly talk it through and then get back to what they started in that shower 🌶️

Finally, the epilogue proposal was perfect! I predicted what he did but loved the proposal reveal and how sentimental and sweet it was-exactly like what she told him she wanted at the beginning of the book. So beautiful! I’ve loved both of Donna’s books so far, and can’t wait to read whatever she releases next!

This one surprised me in the best way! The banter? Top tier. The chemistry? Whew. I stayed up way too late reading because I had to know how it ended. A few parts felt a bit slow, which is why it’s not a full 5 stars, but overall—such a fun, swoony read. Definitely recommend if you’re into slow burns with just the right amount of drama!

Fun and easy to read. Interesting characters and a good storyline. Good plotline. I enjoyed it and I think you will too!

Priscilla finds herself forced to work with AND fake-date her former-crush-turned-enemy, Oliver, to pull off a massive and elaborate proposal for their best friends. Donna Marchetti smashed yet another rom-com with this absolutely ridiculous and fun ride. She is so good at writing books that I can see so clearly in my head as an early 2000s rom-com and it’s just the best time. This was so sweet and SO funny and silly at times. A really wonderful light read to pick up when you need some sunshine and banter. I will say that I had a hard time caring much about the proposal situation itself, which made some parts a little slow moving for me, but I loved the romance and chemistry between the leads so much that it really made up for it.
This was a really fun iteration of the fake dating trope, and I had a very fun time reading it. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

3.5 ⭐
Je découvre l'autrice avec ce roman !
On est sur un fake dating un peu farfelu, avec deux persos qui se sont engagés à organiser la (double, du coup) demande en mariage de leurs meilleurs amis respectifs. Sauf que Priscilla fuit Oliver 24/7, et qu'il faudra bien trouver une excuse auprès de sa BFF pour justifier tout le temps passé avec lui.
Le pitch était sympa mais je ne me suis pas attachée aux persos et je ne me suis pas sentie
investie dans l'histoire, dommage.

The Proposal Project is a delightful romantic comedy that masterfully blends humor, heartfelt moments, and classic romance tropes.  Donna Marchetti delivers a story that's both entertaining and emotionally resonant, making it a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

The story centers around Priscilla Cain, an event planner tasked with organizing her best friend Tina's dream proposal to her boyfriend, Ryan.  However, complications arise when it appears that Ryan might beat Tina to the punch.  To ensure both proposals go off without a hitch, Priscilla teams up with Ryan's best friend, Oliver, a man she finds both infuriating and irresistibly attractive.  Their secret collaboration leads to a series of comedic and romantic escapades, challenging their initial impressions of each other.

Marchetti expertly employs beloved romance tropes such as fake dating, forced proximity, and enemies-to-lovers, creating a narrative that's both familiar and fresh.  The chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver is palpable, and their witty banter adds depth to their evolving relationship.

With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and a perfect balance of humor and romance, The Proposal Project is a heartwarming tale that explores the unexpected paths love can take.  It's a perfect pick for readers seeking a feel-good story with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

this was cute, I liked the fake dating part of this. the whole concept of the two proposals felt incredibly unrealistic but ignoring that it was an overall easy fast paced enjoyable read.

I loved this SOOOOO much! I will admit, the self doubt was rough to get past once Priss and Oliver started really connecting even behind closed doors or away from people but I love a fake date trope and these two were amazing. His confession of really liking her and the realization that their story could have started sooner was the cherry on top and I LOVED THE ENDING. I absolutely adored Donna Marchetti's other book, Hate Mail, and this book lives up to the same sweetness with good banter and a softness that helps you melt into the book.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I DNF around the 30% mark. I thought the concept of wedding planning would be a fun read but I couldn’t connect with the characters and found the miscommunication trope to be a little annoying.

I read Hate Mail a while back and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to dive into this ARC. It had the same charm I remembered: easy, engaging writing, great humour, and characters you actually want to root for.

Oliver was a total sweetheart. Even when Priscilla was determined to hate him, he still looked out for her. He was a little cocky, sure, but it was the kind that clearly masked how hopelessly gone he was for her. I loved that even when he justified their kisses as part of the fake-dating act, it was obvious... he just wanted to kiss her. From the very beginning, you could tell he liked her, and that early rejection genuinely hurt him.

Priscilla, on the other hand... I’m so glad she didn’t end up working for Malcolm. What a nightmare. He was condescending, overly flirtatious, and couldn’t take a hint if it smacked him in the face. Her decision to walk away and start her own business? Loved that for her. And the support she got from Tina was one of my favourite parts of the book. Their relationship felt like true sisterhood. unfiltered, unconditional love with just the right amount of tough honesty.

Now, the romance… this is where it fell a little flat for me. There was so much time spent on the logistics of the fake dating and planning the proposal that I started to miss the emotional depth. We’re told they were once close friends, but that was a whole year ago and only for a week. I needed more in the present, conversations that meant something, moments where they learned new things about each other. I really wanted a scene where Priscilla opens up and explains why Oliver calling her “obsessive” cut so deep. That kind of emotional clarity would’ve taken their story to the next level. Instead, there was a lot of miscommunication that felt avoidable and dragged out longer than necessary.

That said, the banter? On point. And the sweet moments we did get were genuinely lovely. I could totally buy them as a couple, but only if we’d had a bit more in-between to bridge the jump from frenemies to full-blown declarations of love.

Overall, this was still a fun, quick read. Light, funny, sweet, and even if I wanted more from the romance, I enjoyed the ride.

'I've spent so much time hating him, I didn't know he was capable of doing something that couldn't make me feel good.'

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the first book I've read by Donna Marchetti, and I really enjoyed her writing style. It's one of those books that's a good pallette cleanser between denser reads, and I found myself picking it up any moment I could.

I loved the forced proximity and fake dating tropes through the book, and I thought the chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver was great. However, that hot tub scene was a crime against sanitation 🤣 If I had an Air bnb, I wouldn't be renting it out to these two.

I did also think that Priscilla and Oliver had a tendency to be quite immature, which put me off at times, but their swoony moments helped to balance it out.

Overall, this was a light and fluffy romcom that is perfect for a beach read. The stakes weren't too high, and there were plenty of sweet moments between Priscilla, Oliver and their group of friends. I had fun reading this one 🙂

I enjoyed reading this book overall. The plot was engaging and kept me interested throughout. My favorite part was when the characters realized they had feelings for each other — it was sweet and satisfying, and a highlight of the story for me.

While I really liked the overall premise, I did feel that some sections dragged on a bit and could have been more concise. Still, it was a decent read and worth picking up if you're in the mood for a heartfelt story with a slow-burn romance.

The Proposal Project is a delightful, light, and fun romance that really hit the sweet spot for me. Priscilla Cain, an event planner tasked with organizing her best friend’s dream wedding proposal, finds herself in a quirky and unexpected alliance with Oliver, the groom-to-be’s charming but obnoxious best friend. Together, they hatch a secret plan to pull off a joint proposal—and the sparks that fly between them are as entertaining as the proposal itself.

The story’s strength lies in its playful banter and the chemistry between Priscilla and Oliver, which feels genuine and effortless. I loved watching their relationship evolve from reluctant partners to something much more meaningful, all while juggling the chaos of wedding planning and the complications of keeping their secret from friends.

What makes this book stand out is its feel-good vibe—there’s no heavy drama or heartbreak weighing it down, just a well-paced, fun story with lovable characters. The supporting cast adds extra charm, making Magnolia Cove feel like a place I’d want to visit.

Overall, The Proposal Project is perfect if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted romance that balances humor, sweetness, and just enough romantic tension to keep you turning the pages. Donna Marchetti’s writing is engaging and breezy, making this a great choice for fans of contemporary rom-coms.

Cute little love story. The girl coming up from such a horrible situation and finding a way to make things better in the most comical way. this book was entertaining from beginning to end and I can't wait to see what other books this author has because I'm definitely
about to go down the rabbit whole and read as much of her stuff as I can find. this book was great read and written very well.

Spice 🌶️
Miscommunication ❌
Fake Dating 👫
Forced proximity 🙅‍♀️
Enemies to Lovers ❤️‍🔥
Clueless FMC & Obsessed MMC 👩‍❤️‍👨
One Bed 🛏️

If you’re after a palate cleanser or just an easy summer read this is the perfect book for that! It’s such an easy read I flew through it without even realising.
I quite related to Priscilla in the way she thought he was making fun of her but actually he was being genuine. I feel I also struggle with complements/knowing when people are genuine.
I won’t typically touch miscommunication tropes but I feel this one wasn’t too bad as I found they forgive each other quite quickly. Although I think this is where it worked well with being fake dating and a one bed trope. These 2 forced them both to communicate and sort out any of their differences. I really liked the idea of her going out on her own with her business and it’s something that suited her well.