On a scale of 1-10, how comfortable are you with public scrutiny? Do you love to be centre of attention, happy to bask in the view of anyone who happens to be around? Or are you a more private person, preferring that your emotions and experiences are kept for a small select audience? Perhaps you’re somewhere in the middle. All of these are perfectly fine, as long as those we know well understand our preferences and respect our boundaries.

The Proposal starts with a scene that perfectly illustrates what happens when someone does not respect those boundaries. When Fisher, Nikole’s boyfriend of just a few months, proposes to her on-screen at a baseball game, the boundaries are not just crossed, but smashed to little pieces. Don’t get me wrong - for some people cameras and screens are a dream proposal, and I’m not going to yuk your yum, although you’d hope your prospective fiancé would at least spell your name right. But for Nik, the horror of the moment is immediate and total. Teeny tiny spoiler: she says no.

The Proposal cover.jpg — The Proposal

Headline Eternal, 2018

Jasmine Guillory

Nikole’s boyfriend (ex?!) storms away leaving her to face the disappointed crowd. Stricken, Nik is saved by a brother and sister, Carlos and Angela, who recognise she might not be the bad guy here. They spirit her away, and give her a lift back into the city, dropping her with her friends who have assembled to support her in her moment of need.

Nikole’s two best friends are Courtney, a Korean woman who owns her own cupcake bakery, and Dana, an actor. Nikole herself is a writer. How very LA. Nikole boasts an unsuccessful love-life: as well as Fisher she has suffered at the hands of a supercilious ex by the name of Justin, who was a doctor. She has sworn off partners hailing from the medical profession as a result, and in fact men in general. She has Had. Enough.

Carlos and Angela are part of a close-knit Latinx family; their dad died not long ago. Carlos is a paediatrician and feels his role now is to look after the poor helpless women in his family. As a result he is definitely, definitely not going to start a serious relationship any time soon. Can you see where this is going yet?

“Fisher… would only look at her blankly”

Courtney and Dana reckon Nikole should use Carlos as her rebound. Nikole is more concerned with the threat that Fisher may pose to her – he’s already sent various abusive messages and calls (“I was the best thing that ever happened to you”), so she encourages her friends to join her at self-defence classes. There, inspired under the tutelage of Natalie, Nikole starts making tentative steps to regain her confidence and self-regard.

“This is LA. There is no such thing as a ‘serious relationship kind of guy’ in this city”

Now, don’t be too shocked, but Carlos and Nikole begin to grow closer. After Carlos saves the day with a cupcake crisis that Courtney has, Nikole realises he might be worth spending more time with.

They begin a physical relationship, but both are still secretly concerned that the other wants “something serious”.

“I’m not as good at reading people as I thought I was”

The rest of the story plays out against a backdrop of the troubled pregnancy of Carlos’ cousin Jessie, another relation that Carlos feels responsible for. Quite frankly he’s something of a caricature, playing the obligated, self-sacrificing man of the house to the nth degree. At times it’s hard to place credence in the idea that Nikole would find him at all appealing, but there’s just enough made of her damaging past relationships to understand that she might like the idea of someone who would look after her. Carlos is also just self-deprecating enough to not be a total doormat.

There are crises, misunderstandings, close calls, and revelations. There’s nothing ground-breaking in The Proposal, and it’s not exactly searing social commentary. But it’s a good story, that ticks all the right emotional boxes, and it’s refreshing to see some non-heterosexual non-white relationships explored. It’s an easy read, and you’ll smile throughout.