🤴BOOK / REVIEW 🤴

OH MY HEAVENS. This book, guys. THE BOOK WAS SO AMAZING. I am not a huge fan of the #bachelor / #bachelorette franchise, but this book is based off of the reality TV show, and I absolutely adored it.

#thecharmoffensive is one of the best #lgtbqia books I've ever read. I absolutely loved how flawed and real both Charlie and Dev were. This book focused so much on personal acceptance, growth and trusting the process. It was certainly steamy, but I appreciated that this wasn't the main focus on the book. I would truly recommend this to anyone. Such a feel good #queer #romcom 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

I knew I would love this book the second I finished reading the description. Romance surrounding a bachelor-like reality show? Yes please. Racially diverse characters? Um, yes. Neurodiverse characters? DOUBLE YES! A sexuality diverse group of characters? TRIPLE YES. The characters are loveable and relatable. Honestly, I couldn't stop reading it and when I had to stop (damn work!), it was literally all I could think about. I'll probably be thinking about Dev and Charlie for months now. I can't wait until this is out and I can start recommending it to staff and customers. Also, it belongs on my shelf!

I loved this book! I haven't rooted so hard for a couple since Alex and Prince Henry in Red, White, and Royal Blue, and that's saying something because I adored that book and read it twice! This book gets all the props for its positive representations of mental health and gender identity. Highly recommended for fans of RWRB and Boyfriend Material!

*Will link Instagram review closer to pub date

The Charm Offensive, Alison Cochrun's take on reality dating shows, is an absolutely adorable, funny, and moving romance with real stakes, real characters, and real diversity. Though it's never afraid to tackle serious matters, The Charm Offensive remains engaging, entertaining, and just completely heartwarming at every step. Fans of Red, White and Royal Blue and Boyfriend Material are sure to enjoy this charming story that makes you believe in happily ever afters.

CW: Mental health episodes (OCD, depression, anxiety, panic attacks), casual homophobia, vomiting

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I was very excited to read this new novel from Alison Cochrun. I liked the premise of the story and thought it would be super fun to go along on this quest of one man dating twenty different women, trying to find love, kind of like the show, The Bachelor.

I really liked both Charlie and Dev, but at no point did I form any kind of connection with either guy. I don't know if it is because the book is written in third person, or if Ms. Cochrun just missed the mark on pulling me in as a reader.

I have to say, if I had not known prior to starting this story that Dev is an Indian-American, I would not have picked up on that while reading. Nothing was brought up about his heritage or his family or what Indian beliefs are, so I felt like I could have been reading about anyone. It's almost like the author threw that bit in to satisfy some type of diversity element, but it really missed the mark.

The story got off to a really slow start, which was a little grueling to get through, but once it picked up steam, I really did enjoy Charlie and Dev together. There were several mental health topics discussed which was really great, and I loved the behind the scenes of the reality show. Mostly I just wanted to stay in a bubble with Charlie and Dev and watch their relationship blossom.

I'm torn on whether I truly liked this story as a whole. There were parts of it I really enjoyed, and other parts I really could have skipped over altogether. I give Kudos to Ms. Cochrun for tackling these highly sensitive topics, and I have no doubt a lot of readers are really going to like this book.

Many thanks to the publisher, Atria, and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

THIS is the reality TV dating story I didn't know I was looking for. An unexpected story of affirming love — from both self and others — emerges from the toxic trash heap that is reality TV dating shows.

Dev Deshpande is a helpless romantic who also happens to be a producer and behind-the-scenes scripter of the "unscripted" Bachelor-esque show "Ever After." He coaches women contestants into charming the show's Prince Charmings. But this season's outrageously handsome tech millionaire prince is having technical difficulty charming or being charmed, so Dev is suddenly switched to team prince — where he tries to calm, coax, and coach the most attractive person his heart has ever met into a happily ever after with someone else.

Charles Winshaw only agreed to be on "Ever After" in a desperate attempt to repair his professional image and get back to "before" — before he was kicked out of the world of tech work, the only world that makes sense to him. He's been assured that no one else on the show really believes in the love connections that "Ever After" is producing and peddling. But then he meets a kind, unexpectedly patient producer who seems to truly believe — and Charlie is suddenly less desperate for a return to "before" and more desperate to see what might come "ever after."

With lovely complex main characters, broad representation and inclusivity, support for mental health in general and therapy in particular, and an unshakeable theme about loving and deserving love — "The Charm Offensive" is a refreshing, #OwnVoices contemporary romance that doesn't sacrifice personal health and development for the sake of a tidy, shoe-horned romance plot. And yet! You'll absolutely find the romance tropes you adore here.

I thought the middle could use a good trim, but that didn't detract from the overall positive reading experience. It isn't as laugh-out-loud funny as "Boyfriend Material" but if you were a fan of Luc and Oliver (and their friends and co-workers) then you'll want to pick this one up too.

Topics: reality TV, faking, image, mental health, therapy, neurodiversity, OCD, anxiety, depression, friendship, inclusivity, storytelling, discrimination, representation, affirming love, LGBTQ+ (including ace, aro, demisexual, and discussions of spectrum sexuality), self love, seeing and being seen, sexual awareness/awakening, coming out
Tropes: practice dating, secret dating, forced proximity, sexual awakening, opposites attract, talent-handler couple,
Content notes: vomiting, alcohol dependency, anti-LGBTQ bigotry, gaslighting, manipulation, exploitation of mental health issues, kissing for ratings, intimate but not explicit sex scenes

My thanks to #NetGalley and Atria for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the blurb, I thought it sounded like an interesting premise. I've personally sworn off reality dating type shows years ago because they are so darned scripted, so I was curious to see what this new to me author would do with the twists it would obviously take to make it inherently MM. I really enjoyed the push and pull not only between Charlie (who I just wanted to hug) and Dev (who I wanted to hug even harder) but also all the people in both of their lives including the contestants who all added something to the whole. With frank discussions about mental health and the gay community, I found the story to be a refreshing look at all the different ways to find love on all different spectrums.

I don’t know if I will properly be able to word exactly how dear this book is to me but I'm going to do my best to try to do it justice and capture the incredible heart of this book.
I’ve never watched any reality dating shows but boy howdy I would if they would be more like the world Allison crafts in her book. I’m not so much for contrived drama (and I loved that she and her characters called them out on all of that) but the Charm Offensive was sensitive, inclusive, introspective, diverse, and just lovely as all get out.
I picked up this book as a distraction after I lost my cat because I was sad and trying to escape a depression spiral and thought that a fun cute gay romp would help but I got a book that was so much more than that. This book was so kind to me and spoke not only about depression specifically but also broader mental health issues. It was so much deeper and better than I imagined and, for that, it was just what I needed. It was tender and kind and so real and just what I needed right when I needed it.
I loved how the book handled not only Dev and Charlie’s respective insecurities as well as Dev’s depression and Charlie’s OCD but also, how it showed them handling each other’s unique circumstances. It was just really lovely to see and so well written.
I also loved the supporting characters like Parisa, Jules, Angie, Daphne, Skylar, and heck even Ryan by the end all made for a rich cast of great moments. I just am trying so hard to tell you guys how great this book is without giving away all the moments that made me fall for it because I want you all to have your own journey with this amazing book.
At the end of the day, this was not at all the book I thought it would be when I started and thank God. This book was emotional and vulnerable and funny and tender in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I’ve noticed over the last few years, and in the synopsis for this book, in particular, is that anytime there is a contemporary book with a fun premise and an MLM romance it gets compared to Red, White, and Royal Blue. And I get it. I do. It’s a smart move to call upon such a popular and enjoyable book but, for me at least, the Charm Offensive had so much more depth and heart to it while really exploring multiple spectrums of sexuality and mental health. And Allison did all this thoughtfully and wonderfully and authentically. I want books to be compared to this one. I want more tender queer books that aren’t afraid to really get into mental health and I want more books that leave me with the happy tears and utter bliss and contentment that this book gave me. I want more books to make me feel seen like this book did. I want more books with characters like Dev and Charlie and Jules and Parisa. But until that day I can see multiple rereads of this incredible stunner of a book in my future as well as me following Allison Cochrun’s career with great interest. This was one heck of a debut y’all.

I've seen so many good things about this book and I totally get it. This book just makes you feel good. I loved seeing Charlie and Dev figure themselves out and get together. All of the side characters were fabulous as well and I would love to see more of them. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I highly recommend for fans of If the Shoe Fits or One to Watch.

I received this as an e-ARC from Netgalley but all opinions remain my own. Thank you netgalley!

This blew me away. One of the most beautiful romances I have ever read.

It was funny, poignant, honest. I loved the discussion about mental health, and how it was handled.

Dev and Charlie's chemistry was incredible, their romance so real and believable. I was invested whole-heartedly from page 1.

An absolute winner for me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

TL;DR: read this book. right now. read the book. it’s fun, it’s deep, it’s so so important, and so so good.

I read this in about 4 days. Each night only stopping because I knew I had to get up for work (and my eyes weren’t focusing from staring at my screen for so long).

I mostly just want to say to the author: Thank You. Thank you for writing this beautiful book and these wonderful characters in all their unflinching truth. I can’t tell you how much this means.

I can’t tell you just how much these characters made me feel seen. I can tell you that I feel so much less alone now.

There was also one scene (with Skyler and Charlie) that had me suddenly sobbing. Representation matters. It matters so much. Thank you.

If you’re still reading this review, y’all should also know that this book was so much FUN. It’s not just deep stuff, it’s truly a good time. I looked forward each night to sneaking away to read and chose it over TV every time. It played out like a movie in my head and the characters have such distinct voices it made it so easy to slip right back in and forget about the outside world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a temporary e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written rom-com for those who enjoyed Alexis Hall’s Boyfriend Material, combining a nicely built romance with good side characters and a deep delve into mental health issues - some of the scenes with Charlie’s panic attacks/anxiety were quite viscerally intense. Even for those who’ve never been into Bachelor/Bachelorette type reality shows, the story both explains the appeal and shows the shortcomings. Recommend to those who like contemporary romance with a bit of weight to it.

Thanks to @atriabooks for my gifted copy of The Charm Offensive, by Alison Cochrun. This book about two men meeting in unlikely circumstances on a show similar to The Bachelor had me feeling SO many different wonderful emotions, and the best part - it comes out today! The full synopsis is in the comment section.

I really enjoyed this sweet contemporary romance. The romance was so sweet, and the characters were so genuine! Charlie had my heart, as did Dev, and I loved how their love developed while Charlie was on the show. And honestly, so did Jules and the rest of the wonderful side characters. If you enjoyed Red, White, and Royal Blue, you’ll love The Charm Offensive.

Beyond the hilarious and romantic parts, I was so impressed with how Cochrun brought up a variety of real-world, important issues, and showed great skill in how they were woven into the plot. This book definitely has a content warning for mental health issues, but the way they were utilized in the plot definitely adds to the depth of the characters, and what they go through as their relationship progresses.

Dev Deshpande works on the set of Ever After, a reality dating show he's loved since he was a kid. He truly believes in the show's premise of happily ever after, even as his own six-year-relationship with Ryan, a co-worker, ends. Then the show casts Charles Winshaw, a handsome millionaire tech genius as their next prince. Charlie has only agreed to come on the show to fix his awkward image, which has made it impossible for him to get another job in tech. He's terrible in front of the cameras and even worse with the women he's supposed to woo. Dev is assigned as his handler, a last ditch attempt to save Ever After. As he works to get Charlie to open up, the two connect, and realize that their chemistry is far better than anything Charlie has with his potential love interests. But Ever After demands a fairy tale ending--what does that mean for Charlie and Dev?

"And maybe then Dev will forget that in his own life, happily ever afters are never guaranteed."

This is a truly lovely book, with a great romance filled with crackling tension combined with excellent points about mental illness and being loved unconditionally (or not, as the case may be). I fell head over heels in love with both Charlie and Dev--they are wonderful characters, whom you grow attached to easily.

Dev truly believes in the romance of the show when no one else does--including his ex, Ryan, and Charlie. Yet sweet Dev does not feel worthy of the love he so fervently believes in and can only offer up what he terms "Fun Dev," a light, easygoing version of his personality that does not reflect his true self. Meanwhile Charlie struggles with OCD and anxiety. He has never been in a serious relationship or given himself a true chance to explore whom he likes. The two feel so real and are so well-written: they just fly off the pages. I don't watch the Bachelor and other type shows, but if you do, I'm sure you'll love this book. Even if you don't though, there's so much to enjoy in the dynamics of the story and the examination of the pros and cons of reality shows--a look at how they treat women, racism, sexuality, and more.

"Then again, it turns out Charles Winshaw is no one's definition of a Prince Charming, no matter how much he might look the part."

Cochrun writes and describes anxiety so well and truly mental illness as a whole. It's treated seriously and given the respect it deserves. There is so much great representation in this book, include ace. And while it covers serious issues, at heart, this is a romance, and oh, it's so cute! There's so much steamy, sexual tension between Charlie and Dev. So many hot scenes, so much love and wondering and flirting... they are adorable together! This book made me smile and laugh and cry; it's so wonderful written and just bursting with goodness.

I do think Charlie probably could have gotten a new job in tech without going on a reality show, but oh well. Overall, this is such an excellent read. It's a wonderful blend of serious and fun and flirty and a great exploration into love and what happily ever after really means.

DRC provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Representation: gay Indian protagonist, gay protagonist on the asexual spectrum with obsessive-compulsive disorder, bisexual Chinese secondary character, asexual bi-romantic Black secondary character, bisexual Black tertiary character, pansexual tertiary character, lesbian tertiary character, queer tertiary characters.

Content Warning: anxiety, vomit, violence, misogyny, depression, panic attacks, homophobia, trauma.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is the spectacularly brilliant love-child of UnREAL and The Bachelor. A queer romantic comedy that deals with mental illness and health in way I have never seen.

Charles Winshaw is exactly who most people picture when thinking of Prince Charming, but sometimes looks can be misleading. The tech-savvy millionaire is an anxiety-riddled mysophobe who does not like unsolicited touching and Dev is seriously questioning his boss’ choice to pick him for their fairy-tale-themed reality show Ever After, especially when Maureen assigns him to be Charlie’s handler throughout the production of the season. Everything becomes even harder when both start developing feelings for each other.

I must admit I almost hate reviewing books I really adored because I can never manage to express coherently how great those books are. And The Charm Offensive is among those novels. I loved the writing, the characters and especially how mental illness and health were depicted in the story. I loved Dev’s bear-ish energy and Charlie’s cub-ish one and it was hilariously cute that their energies did not match their builds. Another character I particularly loved was Parisa, the mastermind behind the only-one-bed trope, and Charlie’s best, fiercest and only friend.

The Charm Offensive was not what I expected, but it was exactly what I did not know I needed and wanted in my life. An instant favourite.

Slow build romance, a bit too slow for me😕

3-3.5🌟stars
I thought this romance started well but then it flagged for me and went on for too long. The mental health issues discussed in relation to the main characters gave the story depth and heft but, for me, they also took away from the romantic bits. I was expecting something lighter. I also wondered why none of Charlie's family members, not one of them, ever made an appearance.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I really love when a book sneaks up on you. Like you’re enjoying it, it’s entertaining, and then all of a sudden it just wallops you over the head with magnificence. That’s what The Charm Offensive did and honestly, everyone should have this book on their TBR.

Dev is a producer on a very Bachelor-esque reality dating show, and not one of those jaded ones (Dev, not the show). Dev joined the production team of one of his favorite shows because he is the kind of person who believes in true love. So even though his ex also works on the show and they will have to be together for the first time since breaking up, he goes into his new season with a positive attitude. Charlie is, on the outside, everything the show looks for in a lead. He’s handsome and wealthy, and really what more does a reality TV show need? Charlie also has OCD and anxiety, which no one knows about before casting him. He’s only doing the show because his best friend/PR manager thinks it will help him find a new job after he was ousted from his own company for being “mentally unstable”. Dev seems to be the only one who can get through to Charlie, so he becomes his designated “handler” and the two are suddenly forced to spend hours and hours of time together. What starts as a partnership to help Charlie find love with one of the women and rehab his image becomes so so so much more. And of course, in the end, it all manages to work itself out.

Okay, where to even start with this one? First, I was so on board for a light and fluffy Unreal meets Red, White and Royal Blue romcom. I am an unabashed fan of the Bachelor franchise and so I was here for the concept from the get. And then I absolutely fell in love with Dev and Charlie because the two of them together are truly just magical. And then I found myself completely wrapped up in a story about so much more than finding love. It’s about identity and sexuality and labels and mental health and loving yourself first and found family and gender roles and honestly, I don’t know how Alison manages to balance all of the amazing threads of this story without it ever once feeling overwrought. Like the whole thing is just beautiful? I had actual tears streaming down my face at multiple points? And yet I also laughed out loud and got to indulge in my love for trash reality TV? It’s been a few days since I finished this one and I am still thinking about it. Hopefully that’s enough of a rave to convince you to buy it because you need to read it. Period.

Thanks to Atria Books for an advanced copy of The Charm Offensive.

While I don't watch The Bachelor, I do love books or shows about the show so I was looking forward to reading The Charm Offensive.

I'm loved this gay bachelor rom-com. Dev and Charlie are so well written and you can't help but root for them! The ending was absolutely perfect!

I love so of the behind the scenes drama and this reminds me so much of the TV show Unreal!

Highly recommend this!

Holy moly… This book charmed me completely!

Dev, a lover of fairytale romance and a producer, meets Charlie, a sexy tech mogul, on the set of Ever After- a popular reality dating show. Charlie is a very, very awkward and Dev is assigned to be his handler. As the two work together, they soon realize they have a lot in common. Dev is determined to help Charlie find true love by the end of the show, but suddenly their “practice dates” seem more intense than Charlie’s dates with women! The Charm Offensive is an absolutely lovely read!

Read this one if you enjoy:
- Fantastic writing.
- Sweet characters.
- Romance with a focus on important issues such as mental health.
- A book that feels a bit like a hug!

Five stars! I highly recommend this one to fans of Red, White & Blue!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Charm Offensive Publishes on September 7, 2021.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Charm Offensive is just wonderful! I devoured this story and can not recommend it more. A reality dating show with a hot tech-nerd contestant and an LGBTQIA twist, the great characters and romcom hilariousness make for an engaging, fun read in this debut novel. The attention to mental health and the diversity of characters just add to the terrific premise and the fantastic writing. I cried multiple times reading this - mostly happy tears! Definitely check this one out - I (nearly) guarantee you will love it!!!!