Thank you for the arc copy of The Charm Offensive. It was a sweet story and I loved that it highlighted minority groups. The cover is perfect and the title is spot on.

My feelings about this one are complicated! I ultimately ended up enjoying this book, but I didn't *love* it the way that I had expected to.

Very fun!
I enjoyed the TV production situation, confirming things I've suspected.
The different locales were fun, too.
And I really liked the protagonist--such a normal person with normal parents.
A great flip on the "traditional" modern romance novel.

I was so hyped for this after seeing so many friends loving it but sadly it just didn’t click for me. I understand it’s a romcom but it just was a little TOO unbelievable for me - I never really understood the chemistry between the love interests and the hyperbolic tropes had me eye rolling. I do know lots of others who enjoyed this one though so it’s just a me thing and i’d still recommend it!

The Charm Offensive was a phenomenal book. I will be reading everything this author writes, this book has fantastic characters and a great plot. I definitely will be gifting this to some friends.

The Charm Offensive take places on the set of a reality dating show. I don’t watch The Bachelor but I am a big fan of Love is Blind. The book does a good job of discussing what we all know about these shows. While we all love watching people “fall in love”, we also in the back of our mind question how it could possibly work like that.

The two main characters of this book are Charlie and Dev. They both struggle with different aspects of their mental health, which was really great to see represented. It’s great to see the support the two have for each other and their romantic connection is swoon-worthy. I’m rooting for a sequel to this one staring Daphne! IYKYK

As has been said by many more elegant writers before me, this book is such a delight to read. It has a wonderful unfolding of the characters to each other, taking them from early first impressions to really seeing the other person. And I think as readers we fall in love right along with them. I started this book when I really desperately needed something positive and fun, and this was both of those things. And I adored having the ace rep of Charlie's journey to finding this unexpected puzzle piece of himself. I wasn't sure going in if a story with a reality dating show front and center would be for me, but it provided such a terrific foil for both Charlie and Dev's views on love, and created the perfect space for them to find each other. I'm certain this is a book that I'll revisit again and again and enjoy every time just as much as the first reading!

I really enjoyed this behind-the-scenes look at reality TV and the funny, charming MM romance at its heart. Both the guys were believable and fun to spend time with. Great writing and atmosphere.

This was a cute rom-com and I enjoyed the narrators of the audiobook. I'm not a fan of The Bachelor or reality shows but I did like the element of fun that it added to this particular storyline. I didn't love the ending (I'm not a grand gesture type of person) or the conflict/drama leading up the finale, but it was a cute story overall.

I am now a massive fan of Alison Cochrun! What a fantastic author and a sweet story. I am definitely purchasing for our branch because I already have a list of patrons in mind who will love it. Thank you!

This is one of the best romance books I have ever read. Period. PLUS it is queer, culturally diverse, and explores multiple mental health issues. AMAZING. READ THIS.

This was a cute book but I had high hopes for it based on some of the reviews. There was some great representation on in this book, but it just fell a little flat for me. Overall, I do have some students who will really enjoy this book. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Because there is nothing more terrifying than standing up in front of the world and declaring that you deserve love.”

Listen, I feel like it’s been a hot second that I’ve yelled in a review so here we go:

THIS BOOK IS PURE GOLD AND IF YOU DON’T GO READ IT RIGHT NOW I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!

🥲🥹🤩🥰😭😮‍💨🥹😍 got it?! Okay, good!!

I am FURIOUS with myself for putting off this booksta darling for so long! Shout out to @kaykaysbookshelf for gifting it to me for my birthday 🫶 so I would finally read it! This book has it ALL! A charming romance, mental health and race representation, all the queerness you could ever wish for, and a globetrotting behind the scenes look into a (fake but no so fake) reality TV show! I was literally squealing and smiling from excitement and adoration the entire time I was reading it.

OBVIOUSLY this gets 5⭐️s from me!! One of those books that couldn’t be anything but 5 stars and makes me question every other 5 star rating I’ve given because shouldn’t they all be this easy to rate?! Lol clearly I loved it! One of my favorite books this year and all time?? I mentioned it in my stories when I finished it but prepare yourselves to be SICK OF ME recommending this one.

Perfect for lovers of romantic comedies with a bit more. The most adorable sounding couples and the best setting - a reality dating show?! Yes and yes please. We need more LGBTQIA romances to swoon over!

Wow... so, going into this book I had no idea just how much i was going to love it. I expected this to be just like any other romance book and it quickly proved me wrong. I knew about 25% in that this was going to become a new all time favorite. I saw myself completely in Charlie, in Dev, even in many of the side characters. Up until this moment I don't think I've ever felt so seen in any form of media before? I saw so much of myself in this book. From Charlie's anxiety, and his struggle with his sexuality, to Dev's depression and his belief that he's not deserving of love and a "happily ever after" that he's always so busy trying to make happen for other people. These struggles that Charlie and Dev go through during the span of the book with their mental health is what I deal with everyday, and to see myself reflected in these characters and to see them grow so significantly from where they started was so touching and inspiring for me. I am so happy this book exists. The conversations about mental health (and sexuality) throughout are so important and they are done so respectfully and with such grace. And im so happy that others who have similar struggles can see themselves here too. Besides the mental health discussions, the relationship between Charlie and Dev really got me. They were so respectful with each other from the start and that carries all the way through the book. Their love was so tender, and soft, and sweet. I mean, they cried in front of each other many many times and bared their entire souls even though it took a lot of strength to do and each of them just accepted the other wholeheartedly. It's the way both Dev and Charlie saw the darkest parts of each other and said, "I see that, and I'm going to love you anyway. I'm going to be here no matter what happens. I see you, all of you, and I want to stay." I was punching at my pillow so many times reading their scenes. I want their love. I want it so bad! And you know what? This book makes me believe that someday maybe I will. And im so grateful that it gave me that. This beautiful book is forever going to be a favorite of mine.

I REALLY liked this one- it was just short of loved for me. If you’re a Bachelor fan or enjoyed Red, White, and Royal Blue, definitely pick this one up!

It’s a heartwarming (+ a bit steamy) romance that explores learning to love someone or yourself and all the nitty gritty, unique, sometimes dark, flawed, and non-sugar coated parts that make a person who they are

The characters are all unique and loveable and delivers major Bach vibes but features very diverse representation. There’s also a large focus on mental illness (specifically anxiety, depression, and OCD), which I love to see!

DNF at 18%.

The premise is cute, but Charlie is somehow simultaneously over the top (sweating and puking and unable to carry on basic conversation and flinching at all human touch despite somehow running a company for years - like he never had a business dinner? Or had to shake hands with anyone? ) and so very boring.

I get that this book was supposed to have mental health rep, but this is absurd and is unreadable.

The Bachelor + LGBTQIA rep + mental health awareness = great all around rep! This story was cute, cozy, and a tad steamy! I enjoyed getting to know the characters and think it has great visibility and transparency.

I know I’m super late to this read - but I can see why it gets all the hype! As a self-proclaimed Bachelor Nation stan, I loved the twist on the reality love show. The love story was both tender and fierce; starting from supportive, professional relationship to the slow blossoming of love was a delight to read.

I'm eager to see Cochrun's next release - because if it's half as adorable, I know I will love it!

I don't read a lot of romance because it typically can't keep me super engaged, but I absolutely loved The Charm Offensive and devoured every word of it. Alison Cochrun's writing style is playful and witty. She also creates impeccable characters. Charlie is adorable and so charming and vulnerable and Dev is relatable and complex. I loved how diverse the representation was from the bisexual and lesbian princesses to the nonbinary and asexual best friends, as well as the discussions about sexuality, sometimes race, and of course, mental health. It's hard to not offend when writing about a lot of these topics, but Alison's efforts worked so well. This book was quite literally charming. The bachelor concept did not feel overdone, in fact, Cochrun made me want to be a part of it. A delightful read!