Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Decent Proposal
The Decent Proposal: A Novel | Kemper Donovan
13 posts | 16 read | 15 to read
A humorous, heartfelt love story built on a tantalizing premise: would you agree to spend two hours a week with a stranger—just talking—to collect half a million dollars at the end of a year? Struggling Hollywood producer Richard is twenty-nine, hungover, and broke. Ridiculously handsome with an easy charm, he spends his days procrastinating at the Coffee Bean and nights hanging out with his best friend, Michaela, aka “Mike.” At thirty-three, Elizabeth is on track to make partner at her law firm. Known as “La Máquina”—the Machine—to her colleagues, she’s grown used to a quiet, orderly life with no romantic entanglements of any kind. (Her closest friend is an old man who discusses Virginia Woolf with her at the beach. Enough said.) Richard and Elizabeth have never met before, but their paths collide when they receive a proposal from a mysterious, anonymous benefactor: they’ll split a million dollars if they agree to spend at least two hours together every week for a year. Both are shocked and suspicious, and agree the idea is absurd, but after Richard anxiously considers the state of his bank account and Elizabeth carefully conducts a cost-benefit analysis of the situation, they agree to give it a try. As these two perfect strangers wade awkwardly into the waters of modern courtship, discovering a shared affection for In-N-Out burgers, classic books, cult-hit movies, and various Los Angeles locales, they realize that uncovering the secret identity of their benefactor will not only make clear what connects them but change them both forever. This delightful tale is full of twists, revelations, and above all love in its multitude of forms. Advance Praise For Decent Proposal “A sharp, wise, and hilarious novel. Think Entourage meets Tom Wolfe with a touch of Indecent Proposal. . . . We loved it!”—Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza, authors of The Knockoff “The Decent Proposal is as clever as it is hopeful. Whether talking about the secret menu at In-N-Out or matters as grand as life and death, Kemper Donovan’s voice is original, captivating, and assured. This book is both a moving love letter to Los Angeles and a thoughtful rumination on what people can mean to one another.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Maybe in Another Life “Impossible to put down, this character-rich, breakout novel will make your heart burst with love. You’ll turn the pages so fast you might get a paper cut.”—Claire Bidwell Smith, author of The Rules of Inheritance
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
Clwojick
Decent Proposal | Kemper Donovan
post image
Pickpick

Finished this audiobook yesterday during the #LitsyWalkathon. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a perfect light and easy summer read. 💕

review
erinjohns
Panpan

Orpheus was the only character that kept me from bailing on this book numerous times. I was confused if this was supposed to be a tale of finding ones self, romance, or an In and Out Burger commercial.

review
Skeeterisme
post image
Pickpick

Wonderful!

30 likes1 stack add
review
VanChocStrawberry
Decent Proposal | Kemper Donovan
Bailedbailed

Nopity nope nope. Just can't do the sexy but infantile man and uptight woman thing. No.

blurb
VanChocStrawberry
Decent Proposal | Kemper Donovan
post image

Trying a short light book for some morning reading for the #24in48readathon #24in48
I was still up at 5, so I got ready to go to the Y and then discovered they don't open until 7 on Saturdays. I was so annoyed, I went to bed. 😂

Because I like pics, here's one of my cat, Tikki, staring at my rabbit, Mister. I promise Mister wasn't terrified. I also promise he's not always in that cage, but he likes to chew cords, so this is for safety!

MrBook #Tikki looks so much like my #Coale 😻😻😻! #catsofLitsy #rabbitsofLitsy 7y
litmuggle I understand mine have to go in sometimes because they try to eat my walls. 7y
15 likes2 comments
blurb
MrBook
post image

#TBRtemptation post 3! A debut romantic comedy considered Jane Austen in Los Angeles. Richard's a struggling and broke Hollywood producer. Elizabeth's on track to make partner at the law firm and has made friends with a Venice homeless man. A mysterious benefactor offers them a million dollars to split if Rich & Liz talk for two hours together every week for a year. He needs the money, she likes the challenge. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook 😎

56 likes3 stack adds
review
booksrockcal
Pickpick

I did not expect to like this book because its premise seemed too outlandish- a stranger pays two people $500,000 each to speak with each other for two hours per week for a year. But I got hooked because it takes place in Los Angeles, and the author's author's lyrical descriptions of the City of Angels indicate that clearly loves the city as much as I do. I kept reading to read about Los Angeles, and the plot hooked me

review
thegirlwiththelibrarybag
post image
Pickpick

Not really the cheerful fluff that I had anticipated. Instead it's a slow reveal of how love can blossom, redeem & to an extent, heal wounds of the past. This is the story of Richard & Elizabeth who are thrown together, seemingly randomly by a mysterious benefactor who promises big money if they agree to spend 2 hours each week together over the course of a year and how they get to know each other (in part) by discussing movies and books.

65 likes6 stack adds
blurb
thegirlwiththelibrarybag
post image

I'm on a 'read some of the books you've bought' kick at the moment 😅 I'm halfway through this book which pitches the main characters together by an unusual proposal - spend 2 hours a week together, talking, for a year and share a million dollars.

julesG I've been on that kick for years. Still, I continue to buy new books. When's the next Book Hoarders Anonymous meeting? I might have to join. 7y
thegirlwiththelibrarybag @julesG, I go between book I own and library books... as for the meeting, I'd like to know too 😂 7y
68 likes2 comments
review
AbbyVegas
Pickpick

A modern-day twist on "When Harry Met Sally," set in Los Angeles... I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters had real chemistry on the page, and I was rooting so hard for both of them! Kemper Donovan weaves a tale that's funny, poignant, romantic, and suspenseful. I just wish I was more familiar with L.A.'s neighborhoods since the city is practically a character in the book!

3 likes1 stack add
blurb
Caralen
Decent Proposal | Kemper Donovan
post image

Normally I stay away from romances, but this one intrigued me. We follow the MCs through mutual distaste to the gradually deepening affection. It's not just romantic love either! Deepening, platonic love is given equal time and space. It was wonderful, relaxing book.

3 likes1 stack add
quote
Livia_oh
Decent Proposal | Kemper Donovan
post image

blurb
Livia_oh
Decent Proposal | Kemper Donovan
post image