Oh wow, Marchetti has only gone and done it again. I didn't put two and two together, so I only realised she is the absolute icon behind 'Hate Mail' after I finished this absolute wonder of a book but it all makes sense! She never misses, and I hope she never tries to because her books are too damn good!

Firstly, before we even get into the book itself the playlist at the beginning is my favourite book playlist I've read - it has so many phenomenal songs and also suits the book perfectly. So well done Donna, the details have not gone unappreciated. Straight off the bat, this book has no business being so hilarious. The opening, where the concept of time is discussed and how the same length of time can feel short/long ('for instance, when you're in bed with a guy and it only lasts twenty seconds, well it might as well have only been two seconds') was so funny. Also, shortly after, when Priss gets fired and she asks if she can keep the left-handed tape dispenser (already funny) and her boss retorts that she's 'not even left handed' also got me in the giggles. What did I say? The details don't just end at the amazing playlist at the start of the book, there are funny little quips too throughout.

I absolutely loved the premise of event planner Priss planning a surprise proposal for Tina to propose to her boyfriend. I've never come across it in a romance book before, it felt progressive and fresh and just an all round good time. I won't ruin the plot and give spoilers, but I was equally as pleasantly surprise for the remainder of the plot and thought it was such a fun idea and incredibly original. The fun thing about the plot too is that, because it involves fake dating in front of a couple we get to see a romance evolve in the context of a double date and with an audience which was really fun to do. It almost added an audience and another dimension to the romance and Oliver and Priss' relationship. I also loved the layer of irony that every character in the book knew about the proposal but didn't know anyone else knew, it was such a clever aspect of the plot that elevated the entire book.

Oliver, our MMC, is remarkably funny and I wouldn't want anyone else to be the MMC this book other than him ('you're not even wearing headphones. Were you just dancing to the sound of the traffic?' Is a hilarious thing he actually said to Priss). His dynamic with Priss was so brilliant and such a joy to read ('I'm not going to help you sabotage Ryan's plan, but I do have a proposal for you' (Oliver), 'oh yeah? You were inspired by Tina and Ryan and now you want to get married too?' (Priss). Priss is also a phenomenal character, so much care was taken with forming her character she has all these random quirks that made me feel like I knew her so well. For example, whenever there's a difficult situation and rather than talking she'll just stuff her face with food to avoid the topic at hand - once again, the attention to detail!

The chemistry is also off the charts with this book, when Priss nearly kisses Oliver and he teases her that she 'raised up' on her toes she retorts with 'I was looking for fireworks'. Our guy Oliver does not miss a beat and replies with 'in my mouth?' To which Priss says 'yeah. I didn't find any'. Oh my, can we get a round of applause for Marchetti, please! Also their chemistry doesn't just stop at flirty, they have great banter too. When Priss is talking about Malcom's nose job and says 'maybe he used to be a liar and he's not anymore', Oliver replies with 'he's not Pinocchio' - I found this funny beyond words. But that's also not to say that there isn't steamy moments. This book is oh so spicy, in the most classy of ways. There were so many moments where I would look up from reading and crack a window because it was getting hot - that is all I'll say without divulging into the actual spice that occurs in the pages of this masterpiece.

I wish Tina, Priss' bestie, had her own spinoff book because she was an absolute gem of a character. She is such a generous friend to Priss and the perfect sidekick in every way. She doesn't get in the way of the plot, but she does what every good best friend does: she supports it and helps improve it.

My only critique was that there are a couple of plot points that just felt a little unrealistic. The whole paying Priss for planning the proposal with a literal cheque was so unrealistic - I don't know anyone who even owns a chequebook nowadays. I get that it was a mechanism to drive the plot and for Oliver to find out that Priss was planning a proposal but it fell so flat for me because it just felt really unlikely. Another plot point that frustrated me a little was when Priss just shows up at Oliver's house, having only been there once before. I don't remember how to get anywhere off by heart that I've only been to once before, so this also felt a tad unrealistic. It also felt a bit icky when Priss is going through Oliver's drawers in his room in an attempt to find the ring - I get it's meant to show the stakes are high but also privacy please? The fireworks scene also freaked me out a little, why are they playing with little explosives as if it's a cute thing and throwing them at each other - wtf?!! The thing that did irk me the most was that a smiley face over text was denoted as '(:' - sorry is Donna okay? A smiley face should always be written as ':)', always.

There were some wording moments that also felt ever so slightly odd. For instance, when Priss 'can see the subtle thump of his (Oliver's) heart through his shirt' - huh? He would be literally dying if she could see that. Also, the flow of the conversation about pizza felt a bit forced. When Oliver says 'Hmm, Maybe I'll get some for dinner tonight' it felt like Marchetti was trying to write about two people having a conversation about pizza rather than two people having an actual conversation.

A truly great plot that is absolutely brimming with fun, spice and genuine romance. The funnest ride of a romance book I've been on in a very long time.

4.25! 🌟 I seriously had the best time with this book. There’s just something so fun about watching two chaotic people try to plan a double proposal while pretending they don’t hate each other (even though, let’s be real, they’re both down bad). Priscilla is that girl who’s always cheering everyone on, even when her own life’s falling apart, and honestly, watching her finally do something for herself was everything. And Oliver? Obsessed. Quietly obsessed. The way he just shows up for people without needing credit? Immediate book boyfriend. My only complaint is that I wish there was more focus on them instead of their friends :( but still, I loved every second of their little moments together. Such a sweet, feel-good romcom!!

Cute cover by one of my fav illustrators but for whatever reason I just couldn't get into this enemies to lovers story. I was listening to it and I think the narrators might have attributed to my lack of enjoyment. May pick it up some other time but I DNF'd for now. There was too much focus on other people than the main characters for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Priscilla is hired by her best friend Tina to plan the perfect proposal. Then she finds out that Ryan (Tina's boyfriend) is also planning a proposal to Tina. Priscilla decides to team up with Ryan's best friend to plan the perfect double-proposal.

There's just one problem -- she hates Oliver, Ryan's best friend. There was an initial attraction when they first met, but Oliver humiliated Priscilla years ago and she can't let it go. When Tina finds Oliver and Priscilla together, they don't have an explanation... So they lie and tell Tina they're dating.

We all know what's going to happen here, but being along for the ride is satisfying. Recommended for romance fans, especially if you love the fake dating trope.

Marchetti has grown a lot since Hate Mail and it was immediately evident. This book was a lot stronger, serving classic 00s rom com plot and cheese, but with spice. At about the 75% mark the story diverted a bit from where I hoped it would go, but it was so strong prior to that that I’m not mad. Great build up of tension to the peak of the premise. One star deducted because flash mobs make my skin want to peel itself off. I know this is irrational and not the book’s fault, but I did not need to be haunted by the cringe of 2010 and felt I’d done nothing to deserve it. Jokes aside, really enjoyed this fun read!

Love this so much! I definitely enjoyed reading this- a competition to see who can propose first with the help of besties 😭

I previously read this author's book, "Hate Mail" and I was so pleasantly surprised by it and felt it was a refreshing plot etc. So I was ecstatic to be given an eArc of this book (thanks Netgalley and One More Chapter!)
The main plot of this book was over - the - top. Our main girl (Priscilla) gets fired from her party planning job and her bestie just writes her a SIX FIGURE check to help her propose to her bf... but wait.. her bf is also trying to propose to her! So then she has to work with his best friend (Oliver) to secretly plan a joint proposal. It's wild. Oh and did I mention - she had feelings for this best friend...
All that said, while I found the plot completely unrelatable... it was still very engaging and entertaining. The tension between Priscilla and Oliver is excellent and he definitely gives book boyfriend vibes.
I was torn between 3.5 and 3.75 (rounded up)⭐

The Proposal Project was a fun and lighthearted romance that delivered exactly what I expected. It’s full of classic tropes—fake dating, one bed, forced proximity—and the banter between the main characters was definitely a highlight. Priscilla and Oliver had some really sweet moments, and I enjoyed their dynamic, even if it felt a bit predictable at times.

It didn’t blow me away or hit particularly deep, but it was such a good palette cleanser! If you’re looking for something quick, tropey, and entertaining between more intense reads, this is a great pick.

Fake dating? Check. One bed? Check. Swoony banter and a pinch of chaos? CHECK!
This was such a fun, feel-good read with just the right mix of heart and heat. Priscilla and Oliver's chemistry is undeniable, and their snarky-sweet moments had me grinning like a goof. A little predictable, maybe, but honestly? I didn’t mind one bit—I was too busy enjoying the ride. Perfect for a cozy weekend or beach day. I didn’t expect to smile this much! From the very first chapter, the setup was adorable, and the vibes were exactly what I needed—light, flirty, and full of charm.

I absolutely adored Hate Mail so I knew that I needed to read this new one from Donna! I still think that Hate Mail was my favorite so far, but this one was fabulous! When Priscilla gets fired from her dream event planning job, she gets hired by her best friend to plan a ridiculously-over-the-top marriage proposal. Things get complicated when she finds that Oliver, her best friend’s boyfriend’s best friend (and her nemesis for the last year) is carrying around a ring! This is a wild and complicated ride of hilariously funny moments, witty banter, misunderstandings, and slow burn romance. The writing is fabulous, flows well, and sucks you into the story! I was literally reading this on my phone while waiting in a queue - addicting! Overall, I would give this 4.25-stars. For fans of fake dating, enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, and second chances, this one is definitely one to check out & recommended for your summer TBR! Thanks so much to Donna Marchetti, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this e-ARC!

Donna Marchetti’s sophomore novel was just as fun and compelling as her debut!! I flew through it, laughed out loud, and rooted for Priscilla and Oliver the entire time.

dnf at 39% (12 chapters read)

i wanted to like the book. i really did. i liked the premise presented in the blurb and once i started reading i actually liked the mmc, but, oh lord, the fmc?! noooo
i couldn’t find myself liking and even less rooting for her. i get that she is supposed to be obsessive and that is a big deal but the overdramatic reaction to one little sentence and the therefore ensuing villainization of the mmc (who, as far as i know and judge, did nothing else controversial) just wasn’t for me and made it unbearable for me to read.

𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐈 - 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓  

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖  

This was a really cute and heartfelt read with a touch of enemies to lovers added into the mix.It read more like a chick lit for me, but be prepared for some spiciness. Nonetheless, the story perfectly blended into my summer reading vibes, with the wedding theme and all those bells and whistles, so no complaints from me!

As someone who totally enjoyed Hate Mail I was quite excited to start Priscilla and Oliver's story.Priscilla was just laid down from her job. Getting blamed as an entry level professional and taking the blow-out was not on her plans when trying to climb the event planning ladder.
So when the opportunity comes along to help to plan the biggest proposal of the century for her best friend, and the subsequent wedding related event she can't say no. Her plans start to get bumpy when it turns out: the soon to be groom also wants to marry the girl of his dreams.Great minds think alike, but with that comes a careful balancing act to not ruin the surprises.

Add Oliver, the gorgeous but obnoxious best friend of the groom. The two of them don't see eye to eye on most things but one: the proposal has to go down without a hitch!Pretending to get along may be the solution, even if it's impossible to act out.
However the forced proximity might just start to work and the universe might surprise Priscilla with feelings she never anticipated.
The fake dating trope is ALWAYS a hit for me, but pretending to like each other while simultaneously not getting on well was the cherry on top! The added layer of a past misunderstanding, the two-way attraction simmering for a time and the obliviousness of Priscilla when it came to Oliver's true feelings.
The boy obsessed was cheeky, teasing and one handsome fella.I liked how Priscilla found her footing, both in her private and professional life as the story unfolded. The romcom elements were shining, but the added spice and no third act breakup were the show stealing elements for me. And of course Oliver. Because that's who he is.

Priscilla is tasked with arranging her friend Tina's lavish proposal to her boyfriend Ryan, however finds that she has to cooperate with her nemisis Oliver when they find that Ryan was planning to propose to Tina at the same time.
Priscilla does seem to go for everything flat out, but I couldn't help feeling for her. Oliver is more reserved, but I had the inkling that he rather fancied her as well. Cue some amusing / embarrassing moments whilst they try to keep things from the happy couple to be.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

*4.5

Donna Marchetti is becoming an automatic must read author for me especially after Hate Mail and this book!

The Proposal Project contains my fave trope ever, enemies-to-lovers, and is a cute romcom novel focusing on a fun group of friends!

Priscilla is in charge of organising her bff Tina’s lavish dream proposal event to her boyfriend Ryan, but her plans start to falter when she discovers that Ryan is also planning to propose to Tina. Priscilla must join forces and work with Oliver, Ryan’s bff, who happens to be her enemy (and the guy she used to be obsessed with until he embarrassed her), to pull off a double proposal stunt for their two friends without them knowing. Cue fake dating, banter, and meddling friends. I loved the friendship in this book, it was wholesome and made me smile and laugh.

I wish it could have been longer as I wanted to read more about Priscilla and Oliver’s relationship! There was a strange side plot involving a rich CEO who was hitting on Priscilla but it was only for a couple of chapters and I felt it could have been left out as it wasn’t expanded on and didn’t impact the story that much.

Thank you to One More Chapter for reaching out to me about this ARC and to netgalley! ✨

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
This had a lot of fun tropes. I enjoyed the friends to enemies to friends to lovers story. They were both such great friends to Tina and Ryan and I loved their little group.

Got the arc for this book. This book is about Priscilla and Oliver and they are planning their best friends proposal. Somewhere along the way they end up fake dating. This book was very cute and sweet. Maybe too short I would have liked a little more of this story

I absolutely LOVED this newest book by Donna Marchetti! It was so good that I could barely put it down and finished reading in less than a day. Main character Priscilla Cain has such a great personality and so relatable, like when she was agonizing over her crush I had to hold back my squeals of laughter and delight. The whole back and forth will they, won't they get together for the main characters had me so entertained and I just loved everything from the epic miscommunications (one of my favorite book tropes) to the grand gesture that tied up the story at the end in a neat bow. Throughout the book Bruno Mar's song "Marry Me" was on constant repeat on my mind and a perfect soundtrack for this story <3

10/10 would recommend to all readers

Two enemies have to team up to create a marriage proposal of their friends' dreams. What could go wrong?

Tina and Ryan want to propose to each other, but they both don't know about it. Who figures it out are their respective best friends, Priscilla and Oliver, who are trying to make their friend's dream happen, but ultimately have to work together so that Tina and Ryan propose to each other at the same time. Win-win. But what does this teamwork mean to Pris and Oliver?

Author's debut "The Hate Mail" has been delightful, so of course I had to pick up her next release!

"The Proposal Project" is a quick, funny and light read with a bit of spice. Good to just lay on a beach and relax.

Oliver is a teacher, which I found adorable. He's a bit cocky and loves pushing Pris' buttons, while also being so down bad for her. Priscilla is a likable character. I enjoyed how she stood her ground with her parents being against her owning a business.

The tension and banter between Oliver and Pris were just amazing! There was a bit of the miscommunication trope, but I think it was done well and it actually felt realistic.

Many laugh out loud moments, bordering on cheesiness, a little ridicious, but I had a great time reading.

Okay, I loved this…all of the characters, their personalities, friendships and relationships!

Two people coming together to plan the proposals for their best friends who both want to propose to each other while having to fake date only to actually fall for each other. It read like a rom com movie that I would absolutely watch!

I loved how the story developed and all came together in the end. It was such a sweet story and it was so well written.

Plus, many of the tropes I love:
• fake dating
• dislike to love
• forced proximity
• one bed