A witty enemies to lovers romance with unforgettable banter, undeniable chemistry, and plenty of heart.

Goodreads | Not That Kind of Proposal

Release date: July 21, 2026

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

From the internationally bestselling author of Any Trope but You comes an enemies-to-lovers rom-com about a hopeless romantic wedding planner and the cynical divorce lawyer forced to help her plan her ex’s wedding.

Gracie Holland lives for Happily Ever Afters—just not her own. After a crushing breakup, she’s thrown herself into planning weddings at Larkwood, the ivy-covered Rhode Island estate where she also lives in the guest cottage. But when her beloved boss passes away and leaves the estate to her grandson, Gracie’s carefully rebuilt life is suddenly on the line. Jude Larkwood is everything she’s sworn ruthless, practical, and immune to romance—he’s a divorce lawyer, for crying out loud! Worse, he plans to sell Larkwood by the end of the summer.

Jude has spent his life cleaning up other people’s romantic disasters—and he has no interest in watching another love story fall apart on his family’s lawn. But inheriting Larkwood comes with one its maddeningly optimistic wedding planner. Gracie’s sunshiney faith in love unsettles Jude almost as much as her ability to push through his defenses. He’s built a life on keeping emotion out of the equation—but something about her keeps slipping past his guard.

When Gracie’s ex calls out of the blue asking her to plan his wedding, she sees an unexpected opportunity. Jude reluctantly agrees to give her until the wedding to change his mind, and in exchange, she drags him into a two-month crash course in love to make even the most hardened cynic start to wonder if love might not be such a scam after all.

But as cake tastings and vendor emergencies give way to late-night confessions and undeniable chemistry, Gracie and Jude must confront the fears they’ve spent years avoiding. But can a hopeless romantic and a confirmed cynic find a future they both believe in?

Review:

This was such a fun read. The premise immediately grabbed me—a wedding planner falling for a divorce attorney is the kind of opposites attract setup that practically writes itself—and Victoria Lavine absolutely delivers. Gracie and Jude couldn’t be more different, but their witty banter, constant teasing, and undeniable chemistry made every scene together entertaining. Even when they were driving each other crazy, it was obvious they were perfect for one another.

I also loved that beneath the humor and romance was a story with real emotional depth. For a while, the one thing Gracie and Jude truly had in common was the loss of someone they both loved, and that shared grief became the foundation for a deeper connection. The mental health representation felt authentic, and I appreciated how the story balanced heavier moments with plenty of swoony romance and laugh out loud interactions.

The writing was strong, the romance was definitely on the steamier side, and the chemistry between these two never felt forced. Watching them slowly work through everything standing in their way made their happily ever after feel completely earned. If you’re looking for a romance that’s funny, sexy, heartfelt, and full of opposites attract energy, this is an easy one to recommend.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

• Opposites attract romances
• Enemies to lovers with witty banter
• Wedding planner × divorce attorney pairings
• Forced proximity
• Strong chemistry and steamy romance
• Grief and healing woven into the love story
• Mental health representation
• Romantic comedies with both heart and humor

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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