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Promposal
promposal (n.)--an often public proposal, in which one person asks another to the prom, eliciting joy or mortification.
Camilla can't help hoping her secret crush, Benjamin, might randomly surprise her out of the blue with a promposal. However, when she's asked to prom by an irritating casual acquaintance--wearing a fancy tux and standing in front of a news crew--she's forced to say yes. Yet all hope's not lost. A timely school project gives Camilla a chance to get closer to Benjamin...and it seems like the chemistry between them is crackling. But is she reading into something that isn't there?
Joshua, Camilla's bestie, has been secretly in love with his gay best friend, Ethan, since middle school. Just as he decides to bite the bullet and ask Ethan if he'll go to prom with him, even if just as friends, he gets a shocking surprise: Ethan asks Joshua for help crafting the perfect promposal--for another guy. Now Joshua has to suppress his love and try to fake enthusiasm as he watches his dreams fall apart...unless he can make Ethan see that love has been right in front of his eyes the whole time.
The road to the perfect promposal isn't easy to navigate. But one thing's certain--prom season is going to be memorable.
Camilla can't help hoping her secret crush, Benjamin, might randomly surprise her out of the blue with a promposal. However, when she's asked to prom by an irritating casual acquaintance--wearing a fancy tux and standing in front of a news crew--she's forced to say yes. Yet all hope's not lost. A timely school project gives Camilla a chance to get closer to Benjamin...and it seems like the chemistry between them is crackling. But is she reading into something that isn't there?
Joshua, Camilla's bestie, has been secretly in love with his gay best friend, Ethan, since middle school. Just as he decides to bite the bullet and ask Ethan if he'll go to prom with him, even if just as friends, he gets a shocking surprise: Ethan asks Joshua for help crafting the perfect promposal--for another guy. Now Joshua has to suppress his love and try to fake enthusiasm as he watches his dreams fall apart...unless he can make Ethan see that love has been right in front of his eyes the whole time.
The road to the perfect promposal isn't easy to navigate. But one thing's certain--prom season is going to be memorable.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2015
7 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Helms
16 books103 followersRhonda Helms started writing several years ago. She has a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. She also edits for Carina Press (an imprint of Harlequin Publishing) and freelance edits.
When she isn't writing, she likes to do amateur photography, dig her toes into the sand, read for hours at a time, and eat scads of cheese. WAY too much cheese.
Rhonda lives in Northeast Ohio with her family.
When she isn't writing, she likes to do amateur photography, dig her toes into the sand, read for hours at a time, and eat scads of cheese. WAY too much cheese.
Rhonda lives in Northeast Ohio with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
November 5, 2014
My thanks to Simon Pulse & Edelweiss
Point of View: Dual (Camilla & Joshua)
Writing: First Person | Past Tense
Setting:
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary Romance/GLBT (Joshua was gay)
This was such a delightful read. It was light and sweet, but not too much that I couldn't stand. There was cheesiness that I normally don't like, but in this book, it somehow worked.
Between Camilla and Joshua, I have to say Joshua stole the show for me. I thought he was super sweet and such a wonderful character. I loved his sense of humor. Camilla was not so bad herself, but there was something about her that seemed a little annoying to me.
The plot was nice, with a good pace to it. I liked the side stories besides Camilla being "prompose" by someone she didn't feel anything for, and Joshua was asked to do something he had to hide his true feeling. Quite a few times, this book had me ohhh and ahhh because it was so frigging cute.
In short, I really did have a blast reading this book. To be honest, I wasn't planning on enjoying this, but luckily it turned out to be a good one in my opinion. If you are looking for a light read about high school romance, you can't go wrong with this book.
December 27, 2015
“The best promposal is the one that comes from the heart. It doesn’t try too hard. It’s confident without being arrogant or fake. It shows that you understand the person, have taken the time to pay attention and learn him. Nothing is more flattering than feeling like someone gets you.”
Fun and easy read. Reading this makes me reminisce my own prom experience even though its TOTALLY different from the one that happenedhis book.
The characters are okay and the story flowed smoothly however it lacks on the personal side of the characters. I wanted to know them more however the story focuses more on the Prom Hype.
Nevertheless, this is a feel light good book that you can also enjoy.
*Advance Reader Copy provided by Simon & Schuster thru Edelweiss for review.*
October 11, 2017
Will you go to prom with me? Who wants a simple promposal like that? In this book it's all about how you're asked. The two main characters are best friends, Camilla and Joshua, and they're both hoping to go to prom with both of their crushes. Throughout the book they have to power through some challenging obstacles. It mostly takes place at school or at a house. It is a happy, romantic book that I'm sure you'll enjoy. I haven't read any book like Promposal, but it was a really good enjoyable book.
February 12, 2015
Review:
Promposal is a cute story about two best friends, Camilla and Joshua, hoping against all odds that they will be able to attend prom with the long time objects of their affections. Camilla is blindsided by an over the top promposal from a classmate she barely knows. There are roses, music and even a news crew. How is a girl supposed to answer in the negative when the whole world is watching – including the proposer with such a hopeful look on his face? I really felt for Camilla. Although her experience is over the top, I think many of us can relate to being in awkward positions that leave us feeling frustrated and powerless.
During the weeks before prom, Camilla becomes closer to her crush, Benjamin, thanks to a group project in psychology class. But since she’s already going to prom with her unwanted promposer (I totally just made that up – I think), Benjamin is only willing to take their growing relationship so far. In the end Camilla needs to decide what the smartest AND kindest course of action is. She also has to learn to communicate (not her strong suit in this situation) with both her prom date and her crush. There are plenty of awkward stumbles along the way as Camilla learns to accept that her prom experience won’t be EXACTLY what she expected.
Camilla’s best friend, Joshua, has had a crush on his other BFF, Ethan, for as long as he can remember. Their such good friends that Joshua is afraid of admitting his feelings and ruining one of the two best friendships he has. When Ethan asks him to help plan a promposal for another guy in their class, Joshua is heartbroken. But since they are friends he’ll do it. Just as in Camilla’s situation, Joshua has to learn not only how to communicate with Ethan but also decide if the possible fall out of confessing his feelings is worth the risk.
As I stated before, I think most people can identify with these two teens and the awkward scenarios they are trying to struggle through. The story is told in the first person POV and chapters alternate between Camilla and Joshua. The style worked well in this book since the two of them were such close friends and they could believably tell parts of each other’s stories. As a reader the only thing I really missed was Benjamin and Ethan’s POV. I was very curious as to what their thought processes were and why they made the decisions they did.
Promposal ended up being a perfect afternoon read that let me escape for a little while. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for the same thing.
Nat
Promposal is a cute story about two best friends, Camilla and Joshua, hoping against all odds that they will be able to attend prom with the long time objects of their affections. Camilla is blindsided by an over the top promposal from a classmate she barely knows. There are roses, music and even a news crew. How is a girl supposed to answer in the negative when the whole world is watching – including the proposer with such a hopeful look on his face? I really felt for Camilla. Although her experience is over the top, I think many of us can relate to being in awkward positions that leave us feeling frustrated and powerless.
During the weeks before prom, Camilla becomes closer to her crush, Benjamin, thanks to a group project in psychology class. But since she’s already going to prom with her unwanted promposer (I totally just made that up – I think), Benjamin is only willing to take their growing relationship so far. In the end Camilla needs to decide what the smartest AND kindest course of action is. She also has to learn to communicate (not her strong suit in this situation) with both her prom date and her crush. There are plenty of awkward stumbles along the way as Camilla learns to accept that her prom experience won’t be EXACTLY what she expected.
Camilla’s best friend, Joshua, has had a crush on his other BFF, Ethan, for as long as he can remember. Their such good friends that Joshua is afraid of admitting his feelings and ruining one of the two best friendships he has. When Ethan asks him to help plan a promposal for another guy in their class, Joshua is heartbroken. But since they are friends he’ll do it. Just as in Camilla’s situation, Joshua has to learn not only how to communicate with Ethan but also decide if the possible fall out of confessing his feelings is worth the risk.
As I stated before, I think most people can identify with these two teens and the awkward scenarios they are trying to struggle through. The story is told in the first person POV and chapters alternate between Camilla and Joshua. The style worked well in this book since the two of them were such close friends and they could believably tell parts of each other’s stories. As a reader the only thing I really missed was Benjamin and Ethan’s POV. I was very curious as to what their thought processes were and why they made the decisions they did.
Promposal ended up being a perfect afternoon read that let me escape for a little while. I definitely recommend it if you are looking for the same thing.
Nat
April 7, 2015
También en: El Extraño Gato del Cuento
Promposal es uno de esos libros que te llena de arrugas. ¿Cómo es eso? Porque sonríes como idiota en cada paso de página.
La palabra Promposal no me era conocida, eso sí, lo asociaba con propuesta pero hasta ahí nada más. Si tienes curiosidad, Promposal viene de Prom (la fiesta de PROMoción) y Proposal (propuesta en inglés), lo que me da a entender que este tipo de eventos son importantes (a duras penas a mí me lograron arrastrar a mi graduación, una vez que salí del colegio no quise volver por nada del mundo). Fue un poco chocante ver que soy una rareza hasta para eso. Aclarado eso, pasemos al libro.
Promposal es adorable a más no poder, es una de esas rarezas en el mundo Young Adult de ahora ¿En qué sentido? Es que es un libro limpio, por no encontrar otra palabra. Me hace recordar mucho a los primeros libros que leí, tuve la suerte de encontrarme con cosas bastante suaves al inicio pero que me dieron una base sólida en mis gustos de libros. ¡Y ya casi no hay de esos libros! Claro, puedes leer libros que sean así publicados hace 10 o 15 años. Pero ¿publicados actualmente? Es bastante difícil.
Quizá no sea del agrado de quienes buscan drama adulta o cosas explícitas, como a los que ya nos hemos acostumbrado con el New Adult, pero si lo que quieres es recomendar un libro a alguien que empieza a leer, Promposal me parece perfecto porque no solo tiene romance de chica-conoce-chico sino también bastante LGTB, cosa que me encanta. Y es uno de los problemas de libros publicados hace 10 o 15 años, ellos no tienen tanta variedad como los de ahora.
Así que sí, Promposal es la mejor combinación entre la inocencia de los libros de antes más la aceptación de épocas modernas.
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Promposal es uno de esos libros que te llena de arrugas. ¿Cómo es eso? Porque sonríes como idiota en cada paso de página.
La palabra Promposal no me era conocida, eso sí, lo asociaba con propuesta pero hasta ahí nada más. Si tienes curiosidad, Promposal viene de Prom (la fiesta de PROMoción) y Proposal (propuesta en inglés), lo que me da a entender que este tipo de eventos son importantes (a duras penas a mí me lograron arrastrar a mi graduación, una vez que salí del colegio no quise volver por nada del mundo). Fue un poco chocante ver que soy una rareza hasta para eso. Aclarado eso, pasemos al libro.
Promposal es adorable a más no poder, es una de esas rarezas en el mundo Young Adult de ahora ¿En qué sentido? Es que es un libro limpio, por no encontrar otra palabra. Me hace recordar mucho a los primeros libros que leí, tuve la suerte de encontrarme con cosas bastante suaves al inicio pero que me dieron una base sólida en mis gustos de libros. ¡Y ya casi no hay de esos libros! Claro, puedes leer libros que sean así publicados hace 10 o 15 años. Pero ¿publicados actualmente? Es bastante difícil.
Quizá no sea del agrado de quienes buscan drama adulta o cosas explícitas, como a los que ya nos hemos acostumbrado con el New Adult, pero si lo que quieres es recomendar un libro a alguien que empieza a leer, Promposal me parece perfecto porque no solo tiene romance de chica-conoce-chico sino también bastante LGTB, cosa que me encanta. Y es uno de los problemas de libros publicados hace 10 o 15 años, ellos no tienen tanta variedad como los de ahora.
Así que sí, Promposal es la mejor combinación entre la inocencia de los libros de antes más la aceptación de épocas modernas.
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February 27, 2016
***Spoiler Alert***
"Camila" has a secret crush that might surprise her with a proposal but everything goes wrong when Camila's acquaintance asked her In front of a news crew and she was forced to say yes. The genre of this book is Realistic Fiction. This book is First person point of view because it has words like I, Me, and We.
First of all, Joshua and Camila, I would say that Joshua was really sweet guy and romantic. And I also think that he was a really wonderful character. Second of all, Benjamin also was really sweet but he was really intense at some parts and very romantic. But Camila was a little underestimated and to annoying in some points of the book. I liked how the author made everything flow in. Finally, the conflict is when Camila finds out that Joshua and Benjamin are cousins and that she ruins her chance by going with Joshua. The conflict is person vs person. I like how the author made everything flow in. My favorite part was when Joshua actually gives Camila a surprise by calling Benjamin and telling him to come and share prom next to her side.
Also, I really like when Benjamin asked Camila to be her girlfriend because that was the most intense moment. The theme of the this story is Romance because how Benjamin and Camila fight to be together.
After all, In conclusion I would rate this book a 5 star because of the intense between Benjamin, Camila, and Joshua.I would recommend This book to people that like romance because the book was very intense and sweet.
"Camila" has a secret crush that might surprise her with a proposal but everything goes wrong when Camila's acquaintance asked her In front of a news crew and she was forced to say yes. The genre of this book is Realistic Fiction. This book is First person point of view because it has words like I, Me, and We.
First of all, Joshua and Camila, I would say that Joshua was really sweet guy and romantic. And I also think that he was a really wonderful character. Second of all, Benjamin also was really sweet but he was really intense at some parts and very romantic. But Camila was a little underestimated and to annoying in some points of the book. I liked how the author made everything flow in. Finally, the conflict is when Camila finds out that Joshua and Benjamin are cousins and that she ruins her chance by going with Joshua. The conflict is person vs person. I like how the author made everything flow in. My favorite part was when Joshua actually gives Camila a surprise by calling Benjamin and telling him to come and share prom next to her side.
Also, I really like when Benjamin asked Camila to be her girlfriend because that was the most intense moment. The theme of the this story is Romance because how Benjamin and Camila fight to be together.
After all, In conclusion I would rate this book a 5 star because of the intense between Benjamin, Camila, and Joshua.I would recommend This book to people that like romance because the book was very intense and sweet.
September 12, 2014
(I received a copy from Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.)
Promposal was an alright read, but it wasn't great.
Camilla and Joshua were okay characters, but i didn't love them. I did feel quite sorry for them both though.
Having a crush on one of your good friends, and watching them trying to come up with the perfect promposal for another guy wouldn't be very nice.
I would have died from embarressment if i was Camilla. Having a promposal from a guy you didn't really like, in front of a news crew would be awful! When a girl said it was "The most romantic thing she'd seen in her life" i strongly disagreed. Being pressured into saying yes becuase it's going to be on TV, is anything but romantic!
I don't get why all these students loved the idea of a promposal so much to be honest. What's wrong with people just saying "Would you like to go to prom with me?" why do they find the need to show off and go over the top?!
Overall, an okay read, but the whole promposal thing didn't do it for me.
Promposal was an alright read, but it wasn't great.
Camilla and Joshua were okay characters, but i didn't love them. I did feel quite sorry for them both though.
Having a crush on one of your good friends, and watching them trying to come up with the perfect promposal for another guy wouldn't be very nice.
I would have died from embarressment if i was Camilla. Having a promposal from a guy you didn't really like, in front of a news crew would be awful! When a girl said it was "The most romantic thing she'd seen in her life" i strongly disagreed. Being pressured into saying yes becuase it's going to be on TV, is anything but romantic!
I don't get why all these students loved the idea of a promposal so much to be honest. What's wrong with people just saying "Would you like to go to prom with me?" why do they find the need to show off and go over the top?!
Overall, an okay read, but the whole promposal thing didn't do it for me.
September 12, 2014
Promposal
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss.)
This was an okay story, but I ended up finding the very notion of a ‘promposal’ to be pretty cringe-worthy.
Camilla and Joshua were both okay characters. I felt quite sorry for Camilla and the way that Zach ambushed her and asked her to prom, and the situation that Joshua found himself in wasn’t much better!
The storyline in this was okay, but I did find it quite cringe-worthy at points. I found the whole idea of a promposal pretty embarrassing, and I am so glad I never had to attend a prom. I couldn’t quite believe how over-the-top people were, and how seriously they took the whole thing! I mean really? I just don’t get why a stupid high-school dance is so important?
There was romance in this, but I didn’t really get into it.
The ending to this was okay, but I was pretty glad that the book was over really.
Overall; a little cringe-worthy!
6 out of 10.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss.)
This was an okay story, but I ended up finding the very notion of a ‘promposal’ to be pretty cringe-worthy.
Camilla and Joshua were both okay characters. I felt quite sorry for Camilla and the way that Zach ambushed her and asked her to prom, and the situation that Joshua found himself in wasn’t much better!
The storyline in this was okay, but I did find it quite cringe-worthy at points. I found the whole idea of a promposal pretty embarrassing, and I am so glad I never had to attend a prom. I couldn’t quite believe how over-the-top people were, and how seriously they took the whole thing! I mean really? I just don’t get why a stupid high-school dance is so important?
There was romance in this, but I didn’t really get into it.
The ending to this was okay, but I was pretty glad that the book was over really.
Overall; a little cringe-worthy!
6 out of 10.
June 4, 2016
Promposal is a short, sweet read about prom and the stories that go with it. I finished this book in one sitting, and I would recommend it to everyone–especially those who want to relive memories of their prom night and those who are dreaming to know how it feels like. Rhonda Helms was able to capture the #PromFeels that I was looking for, and I’m glad that I read this book.
Full review on my book blog: https://bibliophilesoprano.wordpress.... (Will be up on February 5!)
Full review on my book blog: https://bibliophilesoprano.wordpress.... (Will be up on February 5!)
August 27, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
From my personal experiences of adoring novels by fabulous authors, I tend to add all of the author's other works to my TBR list. Okay, maybe not everything, but other novels for sure. The interesting thing with Promposal was that it is written by Rhonda Helms, who mastered her hit new-adult novel, One Broke Girl, which I immediately fell in love with as I started reading it. When I requested this one from the library, I had no idea that it is written by her, or literally by any other author I've read a book by. This makes my whole experience ten times better, even though I discovered this "truth" after I flipped over the last pages of this book.
Promposal is one of those books that you strictly read for entertainment. You don't find yourself being too strict on structure, plot, characters, or any of that—the concept and events simply captivate you and leave you flipping over the quick pages of the book. It turned out to be great, but then again, it's not one of those YA novels with a concept that you'd like to see again anywhere else. It's just it's one one-time thing about the cheesiness of high school, and every teenage girl's dream to be asked to prom by the hottest guy in school. I must admit that I've had those dreams, too.
I can't help myself over squealing because of the romance here. Helms focused on two very, very different couples: Camilla and Benjamin and Joshua with Ethan. She flips between the two perspectives of them dealing with their own personal lives, finding the perfect way to impress their crushes, and them continuing their friendship, confiding in everything. Now that's what I call a memorable relationship. Boy-girl friendships seriously rule, and Joshua alongside Camilla were the perfect match. I loved the portrayal of their "social standings" as well.
This was completely fabulous, but then again, the cheesiness at the start of the novel kind of turned me away from reading this. I wasn't a fan of this at first, but knew that I'd obviously finish it because it's such a quick, short read. The whole act of promposals didn't really look fascinating at first. The cheesiness of Camilla, a quiet girl, having a crush on a hot, pretty popular guy is obviously cliché and found in almost every chick flick out there. Do I really want a repeat of my tween years, watching Mean Girls and all of those films?
Promposal, like I usually say about contemporary novels, isn't for everyone. It's all about prom, and doesn't really go deep into a particular subject as you wish it could. It's all girly, cheesy and particularly more for a tween, I guess. But hey, if you enjoy horrible novels, which this kind of is in a way, filled with drama, then I'd definitely go for this. Remember, it's entertaining!
From my personal experiences of adoring novels by fabulous authors, I tend to add all of the author's other works to my TBR list. Okay, maybe not everything, but other novels for sure. The interesting thing with Promposal was that it is written by Rhonda Helms, who mastered her hit new-adult novel, One Broke Girl, which I immediately fell in love with as I started reading it. When I requested this one from the library, I had no idea that it is written by her, or literally by any other author I've read a book by. This makes my whole experience ten times better, even though I discovered this "truth" after I flipped over the last pages of this book.
Promposal is one of those books that you strictly read for entertainment. You don't find yourself being too strict on structure, plot, characters, or any of that—the concept and events simply captivate you and leave you flipping over the quick pages of the book. It turned out to be great, but then again, it's not one of those YA novels with a concept that you'd like to see again anywhere else. It's just it's one one-time thing about the cheesiness of high school, and every teenage girl's dream to be asked to prom by the hottest guy in school. I must admit that I've had those dreams, too.
I can't help myself over squealing because of the romance here. Helms focused on two very, very different couples: Camilla and Benjamin and Joshua with Ethan. She flips between the two perspectives of them dealing with their own personal lives, finding the perfect way to impress their crushes, and them continuing their friendship, confiding in everything. Now that's what I call a memorable relationship. Boy-girl friendships seriously rule, and Joshua alongside Camilla were the perfect match. I loved the portrayal of their "social standings" as well.
This was completely fabulous, but then again, the cheesiness at the start of the novel kind of turned me away from reading this. I wasn't a fan of this at first, but knew that I'd obviously finish it because it's such a quick, short read. The whole act of promposals didn't really look fascinating at first. The cheesiness of Camilla, a quiet girl, having a crush on a hot, pretty popular guy is obviously cliché and found in almost every chick flick out there. Do I really want a repeat of my tween years, watching Mean Girls and all of those films?
Promposal, like I usually say about contemporary novels, isn't for everyone. It's all about prom, and doesn't really go deep into a particular subject as you wish it could. It's all girly, cheesy and particularly more for a tween, I guess. But hey, if you enjoy horrible novels, which this kind of is in a way, filled with drama, then I'd definitely go for this. Remember, it's entertaining!
July 11, 2017
Rating: 2 stars
The newest craze of the 21st century teen: promposals. So of course there has to be a book based around them. Personally, I think most promposals are cheesy and over-the-top, so I'm kind of scratching my own head over why I picked this up to begin with. Maybe it was because I had a few expectations going in that didn't play out the way I wanted them to- and that disappointed me.
The Big Act: This book did a great job of addressing every kind of promposal, from cheesy and over the top to cute and romantic. Readers saw awkward acceptances, turn-downs, kiss-and-accepts, and even make-up promposals. It was all just a part of the high school drama. I don't know if it's just my school, but we don't have any promposals happen during the school day. They happen outside of school where they won't bug the rest of us. So the amount of promposals and time spent on them in general throughout this book's school was a bit off-putting and hard to connect with. But maybe that's just me...
Test of Character: The book is told in alternating POVs of best friends Camilla and Joshua. Both were fine characters, though with little depth outside their high school drama. Their love interests were clear from the beginning, and they kinda just stuck to that. Zach, Camilla's prom date and doting boy, was barely seen. He just came into the story when he was needed as a plot point, or when Camilla was complaining about him. It was clear the author just used him as a plot point, and didn't care about developing him at all. The same is true for Benjamin, Ethan, and any other character outside of the two main characters.
Say Cheese (but not too loud): This book was full of cheesiness. Every description of the love interests was mature and freaking annoying. Ethan was "perfect beyond compare" while Benjamin was "just so smart and mature and and and..." I just couldn't take it. Their was also an insane amount of dropping-to-one-knee. Like, hello, you're in high school. Get over yourself. I was also looking for a little pizazz, a little twist in the story. Instead, it all just plodded along predictably, nothing new.
Overall, this book just didn't provide anything new. By the end I was skimming a bit just to reach the final page. This was a very quick and easy read, but it wasn't a breath of fresh air like such books tend to be.
The newest craze of the 21st century teen: promposals. So of course there has to be a book based around them. Personally, I think most promposals are cheesy and over-the-top, so I'm kind of scratching my own head over why I picked this up to begin with. Maybe it was because I had a few expectations going in that didn't play out the way I wanted them to- and that disappointed me.
The Big Act: This book did a great job of addressing every kind of promposal, from cheesy and over the top to cute and romantic. Readers saw awkward acceptances, turn-downs, kiss-and-accepts, and even make-up promposals. It was all just a part of the high school drama. I don't know if it's just my school, but we don't have any promposals happen during the school day. They happen outside of school where they won't bug the rest of us. So the amount of promposals and time spent on them in general throughout this book's school was a bit off-putting and hard to connect with. But maybe that's just me...
Test of Character: The book is told in alternating POVs of best friends Camilla and Joshua. Both were fine characters, though with little depth outside their high school drama. Their love interests were clear from the beginning, and they kinda just stuck to that. Zach, Camilla's prom date and doting boy, was barely seen. He just came into the story when he was needed as a plot point, or when Camilla was complaining about him. It was clear the author just used him as a plot point, and didn't care about developing him at all. The same is true for Benjamin, Ethan, and any other character outside of the two main characters.
Say Cheese (but not too loud): This book was full of cheesiness. Every description of the love interests was mature and freaking annoying. Ethan was "perfect beyond compare" while Benjamin was "just so smart and mature and and and..." I just couldn't take it. Their was also an insane amount of dropping-to-one-knee. Like, hello, you're in high school. Get over yourself. I was also looking for a little pizazz, a little twist in the story. Instead, it all just plodded along predictably, nothing new.
Overall, this book just didn't provide anything new. By the end I was skimming a bit just to reach the final page. This was a very quick and easy read, but it wasn't a breath of fresh air like such books tend to be.
February 26, 2015
Promposal is a short, cute novel about best friends, Camilla and Joshua, who hope that they will be able to attend their high school prom with the people of their dreams. Camilla receives a huge promposal full of flowers, music, and the attention of what seems like everyone in their school. However, there is only one problem, she does not want to go with this boy, but wants to go with her crush, Benjamin instead. Then we have Joshua who has a crush on their other BFF, Ethan, but Joshua is let down when Ethan asks Josh to help him put together a promposal for another guy in their class. I think so many people can relate to these two teens and their awkward high school years. They both must learn to be brave and communicate their feelings to the ones they want to attend prom with!
What sold me the most about this book was the alternating chapters. We get to see things from Camilla’s perspective as well as from Joshua’s. Their voices are so different and it interesting to see them handle the same topics, just in different ways. I would have loved to have had Ethan’s point of view as well, just because he was a part of their group and was so close to both of them. This book was a nice little escape for me and took me no time at all to finish. I am a high school teacher, so the term “promposal” only became familiar to me in the past few years. Students go above and beyond to make these special, and I love that this was included in a book! Props to Rhonda Helms!
***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Simon Pulse in exchange for my honest review***
What sold me the most about this book was the alternating chapters. We get to see things from Camilla’s perspective as well as from Joshua’s. Their voices are so different and it interesting to see them handle the same topics, just in different ways. I would have loved to have had Ethan’s point of view as well, just because he was a part of their group and was so close to both of them. This book was a nice little escape for me and took me no time at all to finish. I am a high school teacher, so the term “promposal” only became familiar to me in the past few years. Students go above and beyond to make these special, and I love that this was included in a book! Props to Rhonda Helms!
***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Simon Pulse in exchange for my honest review***
November 27, 2016
Helms, Rhonda Promposal: It’s all about the ask pg. 207 Teen Simon and Schuster 2015 Language: (70 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content-PG-13; Violence: G;
Being a high school librarian and being wrapped up in kids asking to prom I was intrigued by the title. It captures all the typical teenage scenarios when it comes to asking to prom. The mean girl who says no in front of the whole school, the girls who doesn’t know the guy very well and gets asked on TV, the girl who likes another guy and really wants him to ask her but she gets asked by his cousin. The couple who makes out all the time, and the awkward guy who just doesn’t know how to act. The chapters trade back and forth between two main characters Camilla and Joshua. The profanity in it takes away from the story and is completely unnecessary. The funny thing is the end of the story hardly has any profanity at all. I absolutely hated the ending it abruptly stops. It needs more resolution. I also don’t agree with Camilla’s decision of what she does at the prom. It’s not noble. Joshua is gay and is attracted to another male. It had a lot of potential I just think it’s a broken story. I won’t put it in my library.
HS - NOT RECOMMENDED Emilee Teacher Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
Being a high school librarian and being wrapped up in kids asking to prom I was intrigued by the title. It captures all the typical teenage scenarios when it comes to asking to prom. The mean girl who says no in front of the whole school, the girls who doesn’t know the guy very well and gets asked on TV, the girl who likes another guy and really wants him to ask her but she gets asked by his cousin. The couple who makes out all the time, and the awkward guy who just doesn’t know how to act. The chapters trade back and forth between two main characters Camilla and Joshua. The profanity in it takes away from the story and is completely unnecessary. The funny thing is the end of the story hardly has any profanity at all. I absolutely hated the ending it abruptly stops. It needs more resolution. I also don’t agree with Camilla’s decision of what she does at the prom. It’s not noble. Joshua is gay and is attracted to another male. It had a lot of potential I just think it’s a broken story. I won’t put it in my library.
HS - NOT RECOMMENDED Emilee Teacher Librarian
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/...
May 1, 2015
My Thoughts: Promposal was a really cute one! We are introduced to Joshua and Camilla. Two best friends who fall in love with other people and are there for one another through everything. Joshua is gay and Camilla is straight. Joshua falls for one of his best friends while Camilla falls for a guy in one of her classes at school.
I really liked this one. I liked seeing all the other characters plan their promposals and ask people out. I liked the different points of view between Joshua and Camilla too. I liked seeing what they were both going through. I also liked the family aspect. I liked seeing both of their families and things weren't perfect but they made it work.
I felt like there wasn't a lot of depth to this one. But that is ok. It got the point across and it was a fun light read for me.
Overall: Liked it. Of course both characters had some complications and obstacles to get through but I really liked how things played out. And I liked how prom went as well! It was a fun read. This one was probably more between a 3.5 rating and a 4. But I did enjoy it!
Cover: Cute! Like it!
What I’d Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
_________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
I really liked this one. I liked seeing all the other characters plan their promposals and ask people out. I liked the different points of view between Joshua and Camilla too. I liked seeing what they were both going through. I also liked the family aspect. I liked seeing both of their families and things weren't perfect but they made it work.
I felt like there wasn't a lot of depth to this one. But that is ok. It got the point across and it was a fun light read for me.
Overall: Liked it. Of course both characters had some complications and obstacles to get through but I really liked how things played out. And I liked how prom went as well! It was a fun read. This one was probably more between a 3.5 rating and a 4. But I did enjoy it!
Cover: Cute! Like it!
What I’d Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
_________
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
March 17, 2015
What if you couldn't go to prom with the guy you wanted to go with because some other guy asks you on front of a news crew and audience and you can't say no? Well, that's Camilla's problem. Then there's Joshua. When Joshua and his friend Ethan both came out of the closet in the seventh grade Joshua never admitted the feelings he had for him. Now a senior with prom on the way Ethan needs Joshua's help with the perfect promposal... For another guy leaving Joshua to wonder if he'll ever get Ethan. I thought this book was pretty good. It was cute and funny at points. The one thing that bothered me was the almost "fake" interpretation of high school. Even when there was conflict it didn't seem like there was actual conflict because the way it was written and it got resolved so fast that conflict didn't really last. It made high school seem so stereotypical perfect to the point where it seemed kind of fake at points, but overall it was a generally good book. Also since it literally is promposal season you should read it because it is a sweet book.
March 6, 2015
2.5 Stars. A cute, easy read, just maybe a little too easy.
A boy asks Camilla to prom in a manner that’s tricky for her to refuse, so she accepts even though she crushes heavily on another guy. Meantime, Camilla’s best friend Joshua harbors a crush on their mutual friend Ethan; however, Ethan enlists heartbroken Joshua to help him ask another boy to prom.
A slight twist somewhere along the way, a change of heart, or at least the possibility of a change of heart would have brought a welcome bit of doubt or suspense as to how this one would work out, I was fine with the couples who ended up together in the end, it just might have been a little more interesting if they hadn’t from fairly early on, seemed like sure things.
I did like the characters, particularly how Benjamin kind of did his flirting through books, and how homosexuality wasn’t a big deal to any of them; still, I would have liked a few more layers of emotion, and story.
A boy asks Camilla to prom in a manner that’s tricky for her to refuse, so she accepts even though she crushes heavily on another guy. Meantime, Camilla’s best friend Joshua harbors a crush on their mutual friend Ethan; however, Ethan enlists heartbroken Joshua to help him ask another boy to prom.
A slight twist somewhere along the way, a change of heart, or at least the possibility of a change of heart would have brought a welcome bit of doubt or suspense as to how this one would work out, I was fine with the couples who ended up together in the end, it just might have been a little more interesting if they hadn’t from fairly early on, seemed like sure things.
I did like the characters, particularly how Benjamin kind of did his flirting through books, and how homosexuality wasn’t a big deal to any of them; still, I would have liked a few more layers of emotion, and story.
March 23, 2015
Ok, the title was seemed shallow. but don't judge it by its title.
buku ini diceritakan dr 2 pov brgantian. joshua & camilla. nooo mereka tdk akan dijodohkan pngarangnya d akhir cerita. dua rmaja ini mnghdpi problem msg2 trkait prom.
awal sampai akhir baca, aq puas dg cuteness ceritanya. tp aq agak trganggu dg 2 pov, cowok & cewek, yg sering bikin aq rancu. feelings yg aq dpt dr 2 pov ini sama: spt sdg bc pov cewek.
bisa dianggap sbg 'cacat' novel ini, tp bs jg dianggap sbg kelebihan (jika mmg disengaja), krn stlh bc smp akhir, 'rasa' cewek ini jd masuk akal dg situasi yg dihdpi di joshua.
*berusaha gak nyepoil*
overall, aq puas.
buku ini diceritakan dr 2 pov brgantian. joshua & camilla. nooo mereka tdk akan dijodohkan pngarangnya d akhir cerita. dua rmaja ini mnghdpi problem msg2 trkait prom.
awal sampai akhir baca, aq puas dg cuteness ceritanya. tp aq agak trganggu dg 2 pov, cowok & cewek, yg sering bikin aq rancu. feelings yg aq dpt dr 2 pov ini sama: spt sdg bc pov cewek.
bisa dianggap sbg 'cacat' novel ini, tp bs jg dianggap sbg kelebihan (jika mmg disengaja), krn stlh bc smp akhir, 'rasa' cewek ini jd masuk akal dg situasi yg dihdpi di joshua.
*berusaha gak nyepoil*
overall, aq puas.
August 4, 2016
This book is a good light read, perfect for getting in the mood of prom season. In addition to the entire lack of description in characters, setting, and personality, the whole book was really cliche. Regardless, it had a few swoon-worthy and totally relatable moments. Though the rating is closer to 2.5, I gave it a 3.
June 6, 2017
A very easy and sweet read. I'd recommend this book to those wanting a bit of fluff, a few smiles, and a bucket full of high school angst. I simply adored Joshua and to a lesser extent Camilla. Their respective love interests were also very likeable and so very sweet.
September 12, 2016
I actually think it's a cute story.
June 18, 2017
This was so bad. Just so bad. Torture to read.
July 14, 2015
Cute cute cute! American highschool at its finest
April 18, 2020
This wasn't a super terrible book, but it could be made into a Hallmark movie for sure. On top of that is was heteronormative and perpetuated certain dating norms that I find outdated. Camilla gets asked by Zach out in front of a hallway full of her peers and a news team and feels forced to say yes, even though she barely knows the guy, so people won't think she's a jerk.
Later on in the book one of Camilla's friends, David, attempts a public promposal in the cafeteria (sans news team) and the girl, Karen, rejects him. It was obvious when he first started that she wasn't into it but he persisted. She said she didn't like him that way and didn't want to go to prom with him. She also said he was embarrassing her, which Camilla considered harsh, even though David had put this girl on the spot just like Zach had done to her. Camilla knew exactly what kind of embarrassment Karen was feeling but still sided with David, and the rest of the school.
Later still, after some of Camilla's prom date drama has died down and she's decided to give Zach a chance and go with him as a friend, she finds Karen crying in a stall in the girls restroom. You see, everyone had seen the video of her rejecting David and felt bad for the guy. None of the other guys would ask her to prom. Her best friend, who had clearly been sympathetic towards David during the disastrous ask, had stopped hanging out with Karen and done her own promposal to David. Camilla consoled Karen, told her it was okay to go alone to prom or with a friend (which is true) but maybe, if Karen had been more gentle with David, gone somewhere private to let him down, things wouldn't be so bad for her. Karen thanks Camilla for her expert advice and Camilla leaves feeling like she's really helped someone.
Apparently it's never occurred to any of this people that a guy making some big romantic gesture to a girl he barely knows, asking her to this big social event in front of everyone is just pressuring her into a social obligation she may not want any part of.
The other storyline, Joshua about being in love with his best friend, was maybe supposed to show the reader that if you're going to ask someone to prom you should get to know them and them ask in an intimate, personal way that doesn't require an audience.
If only Josh had explained this to Camilla.
Oh Well, at least it was LGBTQ+...
Later on in the book one of Camilla's friends, David, attempts a public promposal in the cafeteria (sans news team) and the girl, Karen, rejects him. It was obvious when he first started that she wasn't into it but he persisted. She said she didn't like him that way and didn't want to go to prom with him. She also said he was embarrassing her, which Camilla considered harsh, even though David had put this girl on the spot just like Zach had done to her. Camilla knew exactly what kind of embarrassment Karen was feeling but still sided with David, and the rest of the school.
Later still, after some of Camilla's prom date drama has died down and she's decided to give Zach a chance and go with him as a friend, she finds Karen crying in a stall in the girls restroom. You see, everyone had seen the video of her rejecting David and felt bad for the guy. None of the other guys would ask her to prom. Her best friend, who had clearly been sympathetic towards David during the disastrous ask, had stopped hanging out with Karen and done her own promposal to David. Camilla consoled Karen, told her it was okay to go alone to prom or with a friend (which is true) but maybe, if Karen had been more gentle with David, gone somewhere private to let him down, things wouldn't be so bad for her. Karen thanks Camilla for her expert advice and Camilla leaves feeling like she's really helped someone.
Apparently it's never occurred to any of this people that a guy making some big romantic gesture to a girl he barely knows, asking her to this big social event in front of everyone is just pressuring her into a social obligation she may not want any part of.
The other storyline, Joshua about being in love with his best friend, was maybe supposed to show the reader that if you're going to ask someone to prom you should get to know them and them ask in an intimate, personal way that doesn't require an audience.
If only Josh had explained this to Camilla.
Oh Well, at least it was LGBTQ+...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2018
2.5 stars
I thought the cover of Promposal screamed fluffy contemporary and was eager to start the weekend off by immersing myself in an adorable feel-inducing story. However, I completely overestimated this book. Despite its entertaining and light-hearted beginning, the more and more I read, the more I found myself becoming tired of its droning plotline.
The romance was the main reason I picked this book up and it saddens me to say that I did not like any of the relationships in this book. I did not care if Benjamin got with Camilla. I did not feel Joshua and Ethan’s ‘connection’. I didn’t even like Niecey and Dwayne - who literally sucked face the entire book and did nothing more - or Madison and Tyler. None of these couples had any chemistry. None of them had anything between them. I wasn't rooting for any of them to get/stay together. I just didn't care and that upsets me because I should care. I wanted to care but there was absolutely zero chemistry between these characters… and that is coming from the ultimate lover of best friend romances (moi!).
The characters themselves was also really hard to care for. They were all just so generic that I couldn't feel anything for them. I know I keep saying it but I just couldn't care for them. They were all cardboard cutouts and completely one-dimensional.
Oh, and if anything this has increased my horror at the American education system. I cannot believe that prom is a real thing. I mean it is so antiquated! It seems more like a popularity contest than anything. Also, I could not wrap my mind around the idea that anyone thought that a ginormous in-front-of-everyone "promposal" was endearing. The whole idea is crazy to me!
Side note: I found the writing style to be easy and fluent but also a bore.
The ending was also anticlimactic and kind of predictable. Everyone gets together with who they are meant to. Surprise, surprise. Yawn.
Review copy provided by Simon Pulse for an honest review.
I thought the cover of Promposal screamed fluffy contemporary and was eager to start the weekend off by immersing myself in an adorable feel-inducing story. However, I completely overestimated this book. Despite its entertaining and light-hearted beginning, the more and more I read, the more I found myself becoming tired of its droning plotline.
The romance was the main reason I picked this book up and it saddens me to say that I did not like any of the relationships in this book. I did not care if Benjamin got with Camilla. I did not feel Joshua and Ethan’s ‘connection’. I didn’t even like Niecey and Dwayne - who literally sucked face the entire book and did nothing more - or Madison and Tyler. None of these couples had any chemistry. None of them had anything between them. I wasn't rooting for any of them to get/stay together. I just didn't care and that upsets me because I should care. I wanted to care but there was absolutely zero chemistry between these characters… and that is coming from the ultimate lover of best friend romances (moi!).
The characters themselves was also really hard to care for. They were all just so generic that I couldn't feel anything for them. I know I keep saying it but I just couldn't care for them. They were all cardboard cutouts and completely one-dimensional.
Oh, and if anything this has increased my horror at the American education system. I cannot believe that prom is a real thing. I mean it is so antiquated! It seems more like a popularity contest than anything. Also, I could not wrap my mind around the idea that anyone thought that a ginormous in-front-of-everyone "promposal" was endearing. The whole idea is crazy to me!
Side note: I found the writing style to be easy and fluent but also a bore.
The ending was also anticlimactic and kind of predictable. Everyone gets together with who they are meant to. Surprise, surprise. Yawn.
Review copy provided by Simon Pulse for an honest review.
June 20, 2025
This was my third read of this (though it's been years since the last one), and I enjoyed it. It's a simple tale, really, but I liked the thoughtfulness of many of the characters:
All in all, I liked the overall thoughtfulness of the story, even as it captured a piece of teen culture.
All in all, I liked the overall thoughtfulness of the story, even as it captured a piece of teen culture.
June 15, 2018
Promposal is a very sweet love story, or to be more precise “stories.” I’m not a huge fan of the whole promposal idea, but the author even touches on how it’s to each their own. A couple needs to know their audience, and how each person will act when asked to prom. They must be aware how they will respond to certain scenarios. I did have many eye roll moments, but this most likely is due to the fact that I am a little beyond the high school romance stage, but definitely can relate to how they acted. I could see myself acting the same way 10-15 years ago. Many times throughout the book I found myself laughing out loud at the situations these teenagers got themselves into. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but rated it a 3 because it was a little too cheesy at times, and also I think I would have enjoyed this more as a high schooler reading it. I definitely recommend it to fans of Jennifer E. Smith, and to more of a upper teen audience.
February 15, 2018
this is the second time ive read it and it gets better each time ive read it. This book was about Camilla and Joshua and promposals. She gets a promposal from a guy she doesn't have feelings for and Joshua helps his best friend Ethan impress another boy even though Joshua likes Ethan a lot. Camilla likes a boy names Benjamin and they are paired up for an English assignment. Joshua can't just sit back and let Ethan ask this guy out so he admits to Ethan that he likes him and this shakes Ethan up . Later on they prom has arrived and Ethan asks Joshua to prom and Benjamin ends up meeting Camilla there. I recommend this to someone who like romance, prom, couple situations and drama.
May 8, 2017
This book is very earnest but just doesn't feel like it goes anywhere. I can't be overally critical of the writing as it is YA, but there was no real stakes or character growth or even really tension. Always nice to run into queer kids in books who don't die tragically or just act as sidekicks, so kudos on that. Not so thrilled about the clumsy inclusion of Dwayne and Niecey, who are like the only two black kids in school but are given even less personality than the other kids--which is saying something--and spend the whole book literally sucking face.
June 17, 2017
Rating- 3/5
This book was a good short read, I finished it in around 2 hours, seeing how it was only around 200 pages.
There jsnt a lot to say for this one, I generally liked it and it was a cool read.
But the one complaint is the way that the book ended. With the information that Ethan gathered about Joshua I thought the book would end differently, with a different promposal so I was somewhat diapointed with it.
This book was a good short read, I finished it in around 2 hours, seeing how it was only around 200 pages.
There jsnt a lot to say for this one, I generally liked it and it was a cool read.
But the one complaint is the way that the book ended. With the information that Ethan gathered about Joshua I thought the book would end differently, with a different promposal so I was somewhat diapointed with it.
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