Read this book! Alison creates a world that feels so real and characters that you fall in love with. I am not a fan of shows like the Bachelor, but with The Charmed Offensive you get a behind the scenes look at how the show works, the cast dynamics, and the wackiness of TV. Each chapter felt like watching an episode of the show with twists and turns but also tender moments. The final chapters are where I truly fell in love with the book.
Dev & Charlie’s dynamic is top tier because it feels real and authentic. I must also praise the representation in this book. Desi rep, mental health rep, asexuality rep, bi rep, and so much other stuff. I’m often skeptical of white authors writing BIPOC main characters, but I felt like Dev was a fully fleshed out human and the focus of his story was not solely his race. My one main critic of The Charmed Offensive is that at times it felt like a LGBTQ+ identity PSA with an educational turn in an otherwise standard romance novel.

Thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for this digital arc! I def loved this book and encourage you all to read it.

4.5 rounded up. Being a huge fan of Bachelor Nation, I was excited to check out this book and I was not disappointed. This was a tad predictable but everything else about this book was perfection. I loved Charlie and Dev so much. I loved the slight twist at the end. I loved how this reminded me of Win a Date with Tad Hamilton mixed with Unreal but with great knowledge of the history of the Bachelor and a nod to Colton Underwood all rolled up and tied into a cute little bow. There are some TW for this book so make sure to check those out before reading - mental health issues - anxiety, depression, panic attacks. It touched on a lot of important topics but was still a sweet romance.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

In this romance, Dave works on the production side of a Bachlor-esque reality TV show. Charlie is the lead of the season. Dave usually works with the contestants, but in a reversal, he ends up being the personal producer of Charlie. As Charlie opens up, Dave begins to admire him... and then becomes attracted to him... and then realizes he has ~feelings.~ As the show continues, Dave and Charlie engage in a forbidden love affair. This is a representative, heartfelt tale of loving one's self, loving others, and opening one's self to others in ways that are vulnerable and powerful. The mental health representation is so important and adds additional vulnerability.

The story feels authentic and real and the characters are so well-written. This actually felt like a real-life romance and that is a testament to the realistic pacing. Highly recommend!

For fans of The Bachelor, reality TV, One to Watch
Representation: LGBT+, anxiety, OCD

What a debut!!!

This was delightful. I was concerned about my dislike of reality shows swaying my opinion of the book but this was so not the case.

As we learn the inner thoughts of both Charlie and Deb we discover that love truly takes any form. I love a good love book. I especially love that I personally do not care about the gender or orientation of the characters. To me love is beautiful in whatever form it comes in.

The Charm Offensive gave me all the feels. There is discussion of fear, mental health, and overcoming inner turmoil. I adored this!

Thank you Atria for the advanced review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5

Thanks to @atriabooks and @netgalley for my review copy! The love was real for this book!
.
Going to try and make this short and sweet! This was a fun/quirky read that while it had its funny & sweet moments it touched on some really important topics like mental health and normalizing going to therapy.
.
Told in Dual perspectives we meet Charlie and Dev. Charlie is a rich tech nerd and also the new star of a dating relationship show. Dev happens to a producer on the show. Problem? Charlie is completely awkward and has no idea how to be ‘normal’. Dev is tasked with helping him get comfortable with being on camera. It’s impossible to not fall in love with these two men. A few things about this book..
.
-Charlie is awkward and has anxiety and doesn’t have a clue how to interact with people and oblivious to people with they try and flirt with him
-Dev deals with depression and believes in ‘Ever After’ the show he helps produce (think The Bachelor type of show). He’s loves love
-You get some reality show background into while they are filming Charlie’s season which I thought was fun
-Once again, it’s hard to not fall in love with these leading men. Charlie and Dev are precious.
-Closed door romance
-Puzzing involved (puzzling?) Charlie prefers a night in doing puzzles and seeing sci-fi shows
.
This book delves in anxiety, depression, panic attacks, homophobia, OCD, sexuality, etc so trigger wanting for those. I think many will be seen in this book. I also really liked the note from the editor at the beginning of the book.
.

Why is it that the books I love are the hardest ones for me to review? The Charm Offensive is Alison Cochrun's romcom debut but you would honestly never know it. It has an incredible amount of depth while at the same time being completely adorable and hilarious. There is a lot of focus on mental health which I always appreciate in novels for how important it is, but there is also some other great representation as well which was refreshing to have in a romcom. I honestly hate both The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, but anything like that in book form and I am all over it. I loved the sneak peek into the behind-the-scenes of a reality TV show like that (even if it's a fake one), and it was a great setup for a fantastic plot. Almost all of the characters are lovely, and there is so much relatable content in this story as well. By the end of the book I was smiling like an idiot with tears in my eyes, and The Charm Offensive gave me every single one of the feels.

I was planning on reading it but decided to listen to the audiobook at literally the last minute, and it was so worth the credit I used on it. The narrators are Vikas Adam, Graham Halstead & Cassandra Campbell, and what a team they were! They made me love the book even more, and Adam and Halstead were freaking amazing as Dev and Charlie. I loved the addition of the female voice for the bits at the end of every chapter, and I don't think I could have dreamed up a better cast for the audio. If anyone is interested, I also found out that Cochrun has Spotify playlists on her website for the characters of Dev, Charlie, and Parisa. I plan to listen to those as soon as I can, and I think that is such a fun addition to make these characters even more real to the reader. The Charm Offensive made this author an instant auto-buy for me and my heart is just overflowing after getting done with it. If you love romcoms then this is a must-read that needs to be on your list!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book. It turned out to be so much more than I thought it would be. So many of the terrifyingly anxious thoughts that go through my head on a daily basis are reflected here by Charlie. It was great seeing a character with anxiety trying to navigate the world in a realistic way (even if it was within a less-than-realistic environment). I think we all have a little Charlie and a little Dev inside ourselves so having them find happiness means a lot.

2019 had Red, White and Royal Blue; 2020 had Boyfriend Material & now 2021 has The Charm Offensive.

PS. Watching The Expanse while working on a jigsaw puzzle is absolutely my idea of a good time.

The Charm Offensive is everything I needed right now. Not only is it cute and funny and full of romance, but it brings home one of life’s most important truths…always be your authentic self ❤️❤️

I have to confess that I’ve never watched an episode of any reality dating show. I will, however, confess to an occasional Real Housewives binge, but The Bachelor just isn’t my thing.

Either way, if you love all things reality romance or not, Alison Cochrun’s @alisoncochrun debut novel is a reminder that the path to love can be rocky and painful and scary, but it’s so worth it if you achieve it in the end ❤️❤️

Thanks to Alison @atriabooks and @meganrudloff for my copy of The Charmed Offensive. I adore this book that explores not only sexual identity, but mental illness, two topics that in my opinion don’t appear nearly enough in today’s fiction

Link to Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTpkYddrb7p/

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read early and review!

I freaking LOVED this book! This book encompasses everything I was looking for when I read Red, White and Royal Blue and was disappointed.

Charlie who is a tech genius and millionaire decides to go on the hit dating show Ever After as a way to rebuild his image. Dev, the show’s producer who is reeling from a breakup of his own gets paired with Charlie to help him through his social awkwardness. Can you guess what may happen from here???

One aspect of this book that I really want to point out is the representation of mental health. Charlie suffers from OCD and anxiety while Dev also suffers from depression. The way that these two are emotionally there for each other was a really big factor in how much I loved this book.

This book would be perfect for those who read One to Watch and wanted a bit more out of the romance. This book is also perfect for those who enjoy lovable characters, a romance to absolutely swoon for and a story line that keeps you turning the pages.

Alison Cochrun and Atria, you knocked it out of the park! 5 swoony stars from this fan!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to @Atriabooks and @netgalley for this gifted copy of The Charm Offensive!

Charles Winshaw is a seemingly uptight, picture perfect Prince Charming who goes on the reality dating show Ever After to hopefully give himself an image makeover. The actual reality is that Charlie is a total mess, mentally. He is confronted with so many new and uncomfortable experiences while filming that he starts to crack under pressure and what happens throughout the rest of the book is alternately difficult and magical to watch unfold.

Dev Deshpande is a producer on Ever After and is charge of Charlie. They have to live together on a sequestered set and Dev needs to find a way to mold the stiff, awkward Charlie into a man who can date 20 women and charm the pants off of a television audience. How do you coach a guy who gets so nervous he throws up all over your shoes into a quintessential Prince Charming? Dev is an expert I his field and believes with all of his heart in happily ever after, so he’s determined to make it work.

What develops between Dev and Charlie is both awkward and beautiful, but what about the show?

This book was so much fun. I truly did get some joy, laughter and love out of it. The side characters are amazing, the LGBTQIA+ rep was outstanding, the mental health issues and they way they are presented were frank and honest. I found the whole thing both inspiring and entertaining. I think everyone can find something to love about this refreshing take on fairytale love and happily ever after.

I loved this SO MUCH!! Dev and Charlie were amazing and I loved seeing them come together, learn about each other, and have such open discussions about mental health. I would protect Charlie with my life.

I also loved the discussions/exploration of sexuality with Charlie. Especially including the ace spectrum AND him being told that he doesn’t have to choose a label if he doesn’t want to.

Aside from the serious conversations, this book much just a lot of fun to read. I loved the reality tv aspect and reading about the schemes and ridiculous situations the members got into.

Not going to lie, I’m kind of hoping for a Daphne book 👀

Like many people, I have a love/hate relationship with reality dating shows. So when I saw The Charm Offensive pop up on Netgalley, I was intrigued. And after I read it, I was indeed charmed!!

Dev is a producer on Ever After, a Bachelor-esque dating show in which a bachelor/bachelorette meets a bunch of people of the opposite sex and then eliminates them one by one. His new bachelor is Charlie, a tech guy in need of an image rehab (lolol at who thought this was a good idea, but we have to just go with it.)

Charlie is very attractive but also very socially awkward (he has anxiety and OCD) and, as it turns out, a virgin. The show is turning out to be a disaster and it’s up to Dev to save it. So he decides to take Charlie on some practice dates to get him more comfortable with the dating concept. And soon they each realize that they are very attracted to each other (!!!)

Dev and Charlie were such a cute couple and I was rooting hard for them. I also loved reading about the inner workings of a reality TV dating show and how much the show is scripted and manipulated in editing. I definitely suspected that!

I highly recommend The Charm Offensive to those who love reality TV and/or a super cute romance!

Good Gods this book has EVERYTHING that makes a perfect rom com.

One bed? Check!
Oblivious MC? Check!
Fake Dating? Check! (and not in the traditional way either)
Witty Banter? Check!
Amazing mental illness rep? Double Check.
Multiple POV? Check!

I genuinely cannot even begin to describe how much i loved reading this book and seeing all the amazing representation. From Dev, a gay Indian man to nonbinary side characters this book had it all.

And I know some of the reviews have had an issue with the fact that the author didn't dive into Dev's Indian heritage and culture and to that I say: would you have rather Alice, a white woman, try and get it wrong? And more importantly, why does he have to be connected to his culture to be truly good Indian rep? Not all 2ng gen people do relate or even participate in their culture. Please get your head out of your ass lol.

Anyways, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute romcom to get them out of a reading slump.

The Charm Offensive
Alison Cochrun
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. Dev Deshpande has believed in Fairy Tales and True Love since he was a child, watching the dating reality show, Ever After, since it's first season. As an adult, he works as a producer on the show, helping to craft the perfect love stories millions of viewers see on their screens. Then along comes tech millionaire Charlie Winshaw, cast as the latest Prince. Charlie looks like the absolute perfect Prince Charming, but in reality is about as smooth as extra chunky peanut butter. It becomes Dev's job to make him Charming. Dev moves into Charlie's temporary home provided by the show, and starts taking him on Practice Dates to get him used to the idea without cameras around. Dev can't help but be attracted to this perfect physical specimen, and Charlie finds himself feeling more comfortable with Dev than he's felt with anyone before. Will they give into the attraction despite the non-fraternization clause in their contracts? Will Charlie end up engaged to his Princess?

I absolutely loved this book. Not only was it a beautiful story of love, but it also had a diverse characters and the most accurate portrayal of depression and anxiety I've seen in a book. I saw parts of myself in both characters. Dev, with his eternal optimism about love and romance that would shut down completely when he had a depressive episode. Charlie struggles with anxiety and the ability to advocate for himself. But somehow they each see the best in the other, and their flaws are places in which they can help one another, be supportive. Dev and Charlie give me goals for the type of partner I want and want to be. I wanted to reread this book the moment I finished it. There are characters you find who end up staying with you and having an impact on you, and both Charlie and Dev are that for me.

Film grad Dev is a staunch believer in romance. That's why, for six years, he's worked as a handler on Ever After, a reality TV show where models and Instagram influencers go to find love. Except this season, their bachelor is struggling to fit in. Dev's the only one on set with the patience to help tech billionaire Charlie cope with his OCD and anxiety in this rarified world where time is money and every moment is a performance.

Worse, Dev is attracted to Charlie, and the star seems to share those feelings. But Dev's contract has a strict non-fraternization clause. With his job on the line, can they get through the season without tanking the show? And what will happen once Charlie chooses his bachelorette?

This book is SO GOOD. Dev is a sweetheart, and Charlie is doing his best in a very difficult situation. You can't help but root for them to get their HEA. With a strong supporting cast, this is a must-read romance.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I freaking loved this book SO much y’all! This one follows Dev, a producer on Ever After (a Bachelor style reality tv dating show) and Charlie this seasons prince. Dev becomes Charlie’s handler and he has his work cut out for him because not only does Charlie not even believe in true love, he’s only agreed to do the show to help his public image and he suffers from severe anxiety. Dev struggles to get Charlie to connect with any of the women on the show, he’s nervous and awkward and physically unable to relax. Soon enough Dev starts to crack Charlie’s shell and it’s apparent behind the scenes these two have better chemistry than anything they’re trying to show onscreen.

Ok, this had some of the best mental health representation I’ve ever seen before, the conversations about mental illness and sexuality were just incredible and so important, I adored it. Getting to see behind the scenes of a reality tv dating show was just the icing on the cake for me, but then you also get the cutest, most tender love story between Charlie and Dev as well. SWOON. I seriously loved every single aspect of this one and highly recommend it, especially if you like rom coms and reality tv! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @atriabooks for my copy! 💛

" How can I help when it gets like this?"
Dev folds himself tighter against Charlie...
" You can just stay," he says, at last. "No one ever stays."

Oh my heart. The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun has my emotions running amok. This romantic comedy is written with witty banter while displaying real tenderness and respect for its characters.

Dev has been watching the reality dating show Ever After since he was 10 years old. Now at 28 he is a producer. He has always believed in true love despite his recent heartbreak.

Charlie is the new bachelor trying to save his position in his own tech firm. Neither man is really looking for love and definitely not with each other. So when the realization hits Dev, who is gay, that he is falling for Charlie, he fights it to not only protect his job but to protect his heart. Charlie, who has never been attracted to a man fights his feelings for Dev because he just does not understand them.

As this unconventional love story unfolds we are treated to laugh out loud moments, inside scoop on scripted reality shows and surprisingly very real discussions on mental health. Dev has episodes of clinical depression and Charlie has OCD and panic attacks. It is obvious the author has taken great strides to be kind and respectful while giving some honest insight into how our mind and emotions often take over our lives despite our efforts to control them.

I am in awe of the simple yet perfect writing that made me invested in every character in this story. Almost every ethnicity and sexual orientation is represented but it is done with tender care so that as a reader you feel this is a story about human beings falling in love and sincere friendships. Where they come from or who they love is just one part of them but how they treat people is what matters.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #Netgalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Let's start off the bat with this: I loved absolutely every minute I spent reading this book and was so sad when it was over. I've never watched The Bachelor but wow, did I find myself wanting to after this.

When Charlie agrees to be the next Prince Charming on Ever After, he does it with the express intention of rehabilitating his image to get his old job back. What he doesn't account for is Dev, one of the producers of the show who is not only Charlie's handler, but believes in true love and the power of the show to bring two people together.

And does this show bring two people together!

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun does a masterful job of using dual-perspective narration so that we can learn about Dev and Charlie, letting us see them at their highs and lows. It helps to make the story feel real to us, mirroring the reality of the reality show. Or rather the non-reality of the reality show. It is a fascinating look behind the scenes at how shows very similar to Ever After are produced and the storylines the audience never questions.

This book is also a beautiful look into mental health, with heavy discussions about anxiety, depression, and OCD. There are real and honest conversations about mental health and how it can be pushed aside for the sake of career.

The central love story between Dev and Charlie was exceptional. I was so invested in these two characters. I loved the representation brought by not only them, but the characters in their support circles. Even now, writing this review, I am filled with warm fuzzies thinking about the progression of Dev and Charlie, how natural it was, and how Cochrun got me hook, line, and sinker.

If this had been an actual season of television, I can't tell you how much I would scream about it from the rooftops. Looks like I'll be screaming about this book from the rooftops instead. And happily!

Thank you Netgalley for this copy!

If you are a fan of the bachelor/bachelorette, you will love this book!

The beginning of this story felt very slow for me, I was a bit scared that I was going to DNF it but i'm glad I stuck with it. Since I do not watch the TV show, the whole concept is a bit bizarre to me and not sure if I would ever be interested in watching it. Dev and Charlie's interactions were great because of the angst it created and I was craving for all the scenes where they desired each other but they didn't move forward. Overall, it was a cute M/M romance and I would recommend to friends.

I think the best thing about this book is the mental health representation with both main characters. Charlie has OCD and intense anxiety, which was a recipe for disaster on this high energy television show that is all about him. Dev deals with clinical depression and I felt like the author explained and showcased the audience the realistic aspects when it comes to the downs of mental health. Another thing I enjoyed reading about how fluid sexuality is and how a couple of the characters struggled with it.

One thing that is kind of off putting is the lack of true indian representation when it came to Dev. I went to go see who the author was half way through reading and I was a bit surprised. I felt like she could have dove more into Dev's culture instead of just making him indian to check the "diverse representation" box.

Confession: I do not watch The Bachelor or any show from its franchise. However, I seriously adored The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun! Thank you @atriabooks for the gifted copy and for including me on the book tour! This book is available now!

Dev is a producer for Ever After and a true believer in fairy tale love. Charlie is the new ‘prince’ of the reality show, but instead of a dashing charming prince, he’s pretty much an anxious hot mess in front of the camera. As Charlie and Dev grow closer throughout the filming process, they realize maybe Charlie’s happy ending is about to go off script.

So as I said above, I don’t watch The Bachelor - but loved this book. I really liked the chemistry (both platonic and more) between Deb and Charlie. I liked how Dev did so much to draw Charlie put and help him figure out what he really wants from the show and in life. Their banter was great, and the side characters were the icing on the cake with how supportive they were to Charlie and Dev. More importantly the representation and focus on mental health were a huge focus of the plot and that’s so important.