As soon as I read 'reality dating show' with LGBTQIAP+ rep, I NEEDED to read this book. I loved Alison's writing style, her message, and her acknowledgements at the end. I can't wait to read more from her.

The rep in this book is fantastic. I smiled and laughed so much and I adored the tropes and the relationship progression. Charlie and Dev are so stinkin cute and one of my new favorite couples.
I really wasn't sure how the end would go, it waffled back and forth a bit, but I'm glad it ended with the scene I was hoping for. There are a couple of side character decisions that don't really get explained, but I rolled with it for the growth of Dev and Charlie.

I think this book is so special, and I hope everyone reads it and that it gets the hype it deserves.

So, so, so, so good! I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel that’s made me laugh out loud, made me cry, and taught me all about LGBTQ+; asexual, pansexual, biromantic....I learned so much new stuff! All the feels from how she handled the mental health issues, showing that it’s totally normal and totally ok. Our author really covers a lot in such a short time, but she does it so well. I’ve already preorder this to give as gifts to so many people!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! LIKE SO MUCH!!!

First of all I related to the main characters struggles with severe anxiety and OCD SO MUCH. Like,, it was very well written. I absolutely loved the mental health rep in this story as a whole. I grew very attached to the main characters very quickly. They were super likable, and both very charismatic and charming in their own ways. The writing was witty, the storyline was a bit trope-y but still unpredictable, original, and fun to read.

I can definitely see this book get tons of hype on social media. I know I, for one, will be posting about it all the time. It's every aspect of a rom-com that we love, and overall just so *chefs kiss*

This was a lovely and original take on the reality dating show concept that had the two main characters having a real intimate connection that naturally progressed throughout the story. I was fully engaged while reading this story and read it in one sitting. I was enamored with both main characters and their relationship and loved how their bond was explored.

This was a story that touched on many important topics with grace and honesty that I completely appreciated because it elevated the story to a more real and personal tone that made it more realistic. I loved this story and loved how the author took chances that paid off.

I fully recommend this novel and cannot wait to read more from this author.

On the surface, the premise of The Charm Offensive is a fairly simple one: what happens when Dev, a producer on a Bachelor-like reality show Ever After, who buys into all the hype about romantic love, meets Charlie, the “Prince” of the current season, who is on the show looking to rehab his professional image, not find love. Cute, right?

I went into The Charm Offensive expecting on some level to be, well…charmed. And that was certainly true. And Alison’s writing is lovely, sure, and effortless, a true joy to read. What I loved more though was how this story unfurled, how we quickly realize that this trope at the center of the story is way more than that. We see how Dev and Charlie and the lovely, diverse cast of supporting characters navigate relationships, sexuality, and mental health. The discussions of mental health ring true and feel organic and right to the thrust of the narrative. We see real character development, and a relationship that you want to root for. Queerness is at the center here, as is striving to bring our healthiest, most authentic selves to relationships, even when we fail or take the circuitous route.

When I closed this book, I smiled. I was fully invested from start to finish. Yes, this is a romcom. Some parts are really funny. Some parts are steamy and romantic. I knew they would end up together at the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and fell in love with these wonderful, infuriating, perfectly imperfect characters.

Queer folks: we deserve these stories. Not just representation, but stories that present us in complicated, messy, hilarious, and true ways. Thank you, Alison, for giving us a romcom we all need.

Out of all the books I have seen pitched as “perfect for Red, White and Royal Blue fans,” The Charm Offensive was the first one I felt like actually delivered on that comparison. In all honesty, I just want to sob about how much I love this book and how much it meant to me and come September 7th, fling copies out of my window until everyone I know has read this phenomenal story. But before I do that, let me convince you why you need The Charm Offensive in your life.
Meet Dev Desphande, producer of the long-running reality dating show Ever After, who believes in true love conquering all. With each season more elaborate and emotional, Dev knows how to craft a good show. That is, until Ever After casts Charlie Winshaw, disgraced and awkward tech genius, as their prince and all of Dev’s plans go up in flame. Charlie is a stiff and anxious mess in front of the cameras. Ultimately, Dev is ordered to make Charlie loosen up – whatever it takes – and soon, the two of them find themselves attached at the hip, going on practice dates and sneaking the occasional practice kiss and maybe, accidentally, falling in love in the process?! But reality TV has a formula to follow that doesn’t include the prince falling for the producer…yet to find their happily ever after, Dev and Charlie might have to go off-script.
If that synopsis doesn’t convince you to pick this book up, here are more reasons:
For one, The Charm Offensive offers an outstandingly nuanced depiction of mental health and the stigma attached to mental illnesses. Dev lives with depression and though he has a handle on things most days, there are those where he can’t get himself out of bed and where his symptoms are just too overwhelming. Charlie notices when Dev suddenly disappears and everyone at the dating show seems to accept that Dev is “under the weather,” not bothering to look deeper into Dev’s disappearance. This was such a raw and explosive depiction of how mental illness is just glossed over, not only by the ones dealing with it because of the stigma, but also in workplace settings. There’s still so much stigma attached to living with a mental illness and glamorizing ‘the grind’ of overworking oneself instead of actively trying to change the narrative, and I loved how Cochrun exposed this in The Charm Offensive. Cochrun really showcases what a toll mental illnesses can take not only on individuals but everyone around them and also offers the readers ways to combat the stigma. Charlie and Dev’s discussions about their mental illnesses and what it means to take care of your body and your mind, their different coping mechanisms and their stance on therapy were fascinating to discover over the course of the book and made for fantastic food for thought.
Additionally, the way sexuality was discussed in this novel made my heart ache in the most delicious way. Cochrun takes such a delicate and careful approach to Charlie figuring out his feelings and I loved how this became part of the story instead of being rushed by slapping on a label that maybe wasn’t quite the right fit. Beyond showcasing the casual homo- and biphobia individuals have to deal with in a reality dating show setting (though we all know it’s a much farther-reaching issue), this book also included a relevant discussion of the asexual spectrum and how there is no ‘right’ way to be asexual. As someone who’s panromantic ace, I can’t really put into words just how much the exploration of Charlie figuring things out meant to me because usually when these kinds of things are included in books, it often includes casual acephobia or a disregard for the + in the LGBTQ+ acronym. Not so in The Charm Offensive: here, Charlie gets the chance to explore his identity without fear of judgement from his partner and I think everyone can learn something from those moments between Dev and Charlie.
The highlight of the book, of course, are the two main characters Dev and Charlie and their journey to finding love. Beyond a hilarious meet cute and undeniable chemistry, I was also hooked by the “opposites attract” trope. Give me a romantic cynic and a romantic at heart falling in love and I’m a goner. Watching Dev, who truly believes in the power of their dating show bringing people together while also being in the midst of his own post-breakup downward spiral, was incredibly relatable. Pair that with Charlie, who only goes on to the show to save his reputation in the tech world and promptly foregoes all the women competing only for him to fall in love with his producer and you have the forbidden romance of your dreams. Dev and Charlie’s romance arc was wonderfully paced and there were so many moments where I was just overwhelmed with feelings. Charlie and Dev help each other out in these grand ways, but they also do it in the tiny, everyday things, and above all: they stay. They listen. They try to be there for the other in whatever way they can. Rarely have I seen two flawed characters find their perfect match in such an intriguing way. I loved how we got to explore both Dev and Charlie’s past and present individually and then watched as their genuine support, funny banter and sizzling chemistry came to a head behind the scenes of the show. Both characters come with emotional baggage, but together, the load felt a bit lighter.
Despite the amount of important topics tackled in this story, the pacing never dragged, which is a testament to Cochrun’s writing. The dialogue and descriptions flowed incredibly well and thanks to a great, fleshed-out cast of secondary characters (that is super diverse), there was no dull moment to find in between these pages. All in all, I couldn’t put this book down. From moments of outright laughter to chapters that ripped my heart out and had me tearing up, The Charm Offensive certainly delivers all the feels.
With The Charm Offensive, Alison Cochrun delivers a pitch-perfect debut filled with a fantastically diverse cast, an intricate look behind the curtains of reality shows and a forbidden romance that will defy all obstacles. Tender, laugh-out-loud funny and masterfully woven, you won’t want to miss out on this one!

I really enjoyed this book! I have to admit, I am not a fan of dating reality shows, but for some reason the idea for this book seemed really cute. The tension was well built and the relationship felt organic. I do know a few fans of this genre so this will make a perfect gift! Looking forward to being able to share it!

THE CHARM OFFENSIVE - @alisoncochrun
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Heat level: 🔥
CW: OCD, anxiety, depression, homophobia
Release date: September 7th

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for providing this AMAZING ARC.

"Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales and spent his career crafting them on the reality dating show Ever After. Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.

As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants, Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told."

All the feels about this incredible book. I knew the story revolved around two men finding love on a Bachelor-inspired show but what I didn't expect was the discussions around depression, anxiety, OCD and mostly asexuality. I LOVED how this subjects were treated in this book, the inclusion whether it's with the sexuality or with mental health issues. As you can see in the photo for this post, I too suffer from anxiety and have to take meds to help me every day. This book radiates so much positivity around mental health issues, and has a real discussion around it. It made my heart soar and I felt brave enough to share my own struggles too.

Onto the story: I really liked how @alisoncochrun crafted every character with such care, you will fall in love with Jules, Parisa, Ryan, Angie and so many more, so many sidekicks that actually shine.

And last but not least, Charlie and Dev's beautiful relationship. I loved Dev's endless romantic enthousiam and Charlie's fragility. I loved their chemistery, how they love each other, tending to each others needs, being the person in each other's life they never had. I loved their witty conversations, and the tenderness. I loved how real they felt. I whish I could turn on my TV tomorrow night, and watch Charlie's season unfold.

The Charm Offensive comes out Sept. 7th and if it's not already in your TBR list, what are you waiting for ? 🧡

Very cute book about a Bachelor Type program. The contestant Charlie is not your typical prince - he is anxious and uncomfortable and awkward. Dev is assigned to be his handler and finds himself attracted to Charlie.

I enjoyed it.

"Crippling is a bit much. I like to think I'm sort of dabbling in depression"

Dev Deshpande helps people get them happily ever after on a show called Ever After (Similar to the Bachelor). Charlie doesn't believe in true love but agrees to be the bachelor to rehabilitate his image. But things get complicated as Dev helps Charlie open up and get comfortable with the contestants and his idea of love.

This was such a fun, diverse, charming, and unique story. I enjoyed the pacing, writing and thought the plot was so fucking fun. Who doesn't want to see the bachelor realize he's actually gay?! I was hooked from beginning to ending. I'm so glad you get to see behind the scenes and the director's notes, it was added so much to the story. I felt like the author did such a good job at showing only the parts I cared about.

Dev and Charlie struggle with their mental health and I appreciated that it wasn't glamorized and was accurate. It was a joy was watching Dev and Charlie go from confused to in love. The romance is beautiful and focused a lot on growth and understanding the other person. The characters are unforgettable, complex, and show growth and development. I loved all of them! Jules, Parisa, Daphne and Angie are so great and I want more of them!!

It's so charming, hilarious, progressive, thrilling, romantic and I can't recommend this book enough! The only other books I can compare this to is Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch, and this is way way better. This book is releasing on September 7, 2021, so make sure to pick up your copy, you do not want to miss out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those few books that I forced myself to finish even though I didn't really like it, but I ended up being SO GLAD I did, because the ending was all I wanted, and more! 😍


PROS :
• SO MUCH LGBTQ+ rep
• Neurodiversity
• Lots of mental health rep + therapy
• Normalizing not having sex
• Falling in love romantically and platonically
• Your career not being the measure of your worth
• Being in a relationship won't solve your problems aka it won't "fix" you

CONS :
• I wasn't connecting with the characters
• Homophobia and discrimination (it works with the narrative and those characters get what they deserve, but I still had a hard time putting up with them)
• I just felt like the story was dragging on
• Characters felt immature to me

I really loved the ending, how it's about being your true self and not what you think other people want to see.

Love love loved this book! I was invited to read it and was in a bit of a reading slump so I thought "why not?" And now I'm going to have a massive book hangover. This was so well written. Charlie is so perfect... handsome yet awkward and his struggles feel so real. And Dev is just so darn likeable. Set in a Bachelor-esque world, the setting and events change so much that the plot never bogs down and just keeps moving along. All I wanted was for Dev and Charlie to get their happy ending, but I cared about the many supporting characters too. There were times I couldn't pick this book up because it made my heart hurt in the best way; this book stayed with me even when I walked away from it. No faults with this book and it's cast of diverse characters except I want more.

I’ve not only watched The Bachelor franchise since day one, but I also taught a college writing course about reality dating shows calls “Will You Accept This Rose?” If I were still teaching it, I’d definitely have my students read this captivating book!

Bachelor-type “Ever After” casts Charles Winshaw, awkward techie, as their new Prince Charming. Dev Deshpande, believer of fairytales, is Charlie’s producer. What happens when they go off script and develop feelings for one another? It no doubt leads to the most dramatic season ever.

Cochrun’s novel is reminiscent of One To Watch and Lifetime’s Unreal, allowing readers to have a behind the scenes peek at an industry ruled by highly produced, manipulated content. I loved that The Charm Offensive wasn’t afraid to take on the sexuality spectrum and mental health. I was smitten by Charlie and Dev and was rooting for their happily ever after. It was steamy, sweet, and completely charming.

The Charm Offensive is a funny and charming romantic comedy. An awkward tech wiz is the bachelor on the reality dating show, Ever After. Charlie is an incredibly good looking man however he doesn't believe in love and only goes on the show as a desperate attempt to rehabilitate his image. He has created a computer company and has taken it to the top with his partner however, the partner is the charming face of the company. Charlie is the computer genius however he is awkward and emotionally closed off. At an important meeting when Charlie was struggling, his partner accused him of being mentally unstable and encouraged the board to remove him from the company he created. His personality issues do not lead to great relationships with the 20 women that are competing for him. Dev Deshpande is the most successful producer on the show, he has always believed in fairy tales and always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants. The show assigns Dev to be Charlie's handler for the show, Dev works closely with Charlie to open up and have a better relationship on the show for the cameras. As a result Charlie begins to realize that he has a better chemistry with Dev than all of the woman, Charlie has not dated much but he thought he was a heterosexual man. Dev is a gay man that has recently had a breakup of a long term relationship however, he know that the show needs Charlie to fall in love with one of the woman, A lot of drama ensues throughout the production of the show, This is a great story of searching for love.

Not very often in the rom-com genre do I find a story that can make me both laugh and cry, even more rare do I find one with a diverse cast and only shows healthy relationships, The Charm Offensive might just be the perfect rom-com.

Dev and Charlie are rich, full characters from the first few pages of being introduced, each dealing with their own struggles. Charlie comes on the show trying to salvage his tech career planning to fake his way through the romance plot line, Dev on the other hand, is a hopeless romantic having loved the show since childhood. Dev is one of the only crew members that believes in the shows goal of finding true love for the contestants.

I read an uncorrected ARC so the quotes I read may not be in the final copy, but it's clear Cochrun was having a lot of fun with the reality TV show concept with the contestants having such respectable careers as "former student" and "professional cat cuddler".

I have read multiple stories with the Bachelor TV show set up, and to compare The Charm Offensive to any of them only highlights all their flaws in comparison. I kept trying to predict the ending, I know its a rom com, we're getting a happy ending....right? and as I kept trying to guess how we could get to that happy ending, the story kept changing the landscape on me. Nothing ever felt rushed, yet so much happened and there were more twists than I was ever expecting to happen. Somehow in 368 pages the story felt like it could have been 900+ by how invested I was in this world.

Start this book in the morning, you will not want to put it down until you know how it ends and you will lose sleep trying to finish.

This story does deal with mental health.

I give this 3.5 stars.

Charlie is a twitchy Silicon Valley tech genius who goes on a reality romance show to rehabilitate his image. Dev is Charlie's handler, who goes on a charm offensive and takes him on some practice dates to help him settle into being on the show. If you know your tropes at all, you can guess how this goes...

I've been torn about how to review this book. I liked a LOT of things about it, but some things about it really bugged me.

Things I loved: It's both funny and sweet with a lot of touching moments, fun tropes, and a lovely slow burn. I smiled a lot and felt a lot of feelings. I loved the diversity of the cast of characters and the representation of mental health struggles. The plot moves along nicely and has well-managed complexity that balances three layers of action: There's the reality show, with contestants competing and leaving week by week. There's the people making the reality show and their struggles and conflicts. And there's Dev and Charlie's relationship, growing at first without their noticing it and then being kept secret (or so they hope) from the people making the show. Thematically, there's an underlying battle between a starry-eyed vision of romantic love and a more cynical view, a debate within the story about whether that kind of love is even possible. This stuff was all fantastic.

But I also kept finding things that really bugged me and threatened to jolt me out of my enjoyment of the story.

Some of these sticking points were specific to my experience — I happen to live in Silicon Valley, in the same city as Charlie, and I'm familiar with the high tech industry. There were various things about his experience that just didn't hold true to what I know about this milieu, but that won't bother most people.

Some of the other things were more universal, though. Among them: 1. There's a discussion between Charlie and Parisa that makes some very heteronormative assumptions. That makes sense from shy, inexperienced Charlie, but I would expect Parisa, who identifies as queer, to challenge them. 2. There were multiple points where a character with mental health challenges was shown as being able to tolerate something that used to be hard for them, and I often felt that it was being suggested that love or a relationship had just magically healed the issue in a way that I don't think is realistic. 3. There's a character who is initially quite a pill and who transforms into a good guy without the story showing a process or motivation to justify the change. 4. There's a statement about nondiscrimination law (on which some of the plot actually turns) that I don't think is actually true.

None of these things is a dealbreaker; even all of them collectively don't invalidate what is really a lovely book. Seriously, if you like tropey romance, read this — it's a good one that hits all the right beats and is full of heart and well-managed complexity. But I did keep getting jarred away from the story by these missteps. So — a lovely story, but with irritating imperfections.

"You're not obligated to figure it out, or come out, or explain yourself to anyone, ever. But also, labels can be nice sometimes. They can give us a language to understand ourselves and out hearts better. And they can help us find a community and develop a sense of belonging"

I adored this book beyond measure!

Let's just start with all the rep though: Indian-American gay mc with clinical depression, gay mc (possibly on the ace spectrum) with anxiety disorder, OCD and panic disorder, Chinese-American bi character, lesbian character, Black ace biromantic character with anxiety, non-binary queer character, Muslim pansexual side character, Black bisexual character. NO ONE was cishet. Okay that's a joke, but I am so full of love for all of these beautiful queer characters.

This book is about a reality TV show called Ever After. Dev Depshande has been a producer on the show for 6 years and he's put in charge of the new prince, Charles Winshaw, after the other producers struggle to make him fit the mold of the show. Dev believes the show can really help people find love and he works hard to help Charlie open up and work on accepting himself in order to help him find that love. Everything gets a little chaotic from there.

Romance tropes within this book: idiots in love, there's only one bed, fake dating (in a lot of different ways), kind of forced proximity, kind of workplace romance, KIND OF the grumpy characters is only soft for the sunshine character, etc.

There is so much to appreciate about this book. I would say it almost ends up on the side of too sappy, but what else should a romance be? It has my whole heart. There's in-depth plotline about mental health, mental illness, trauma, learning to accept romantic and platonic love, caring about yourself enough to work to be healthy. I appreciated that the mental health issues contained in those book didn't just feel like a plot-device that was quickly dealt with. I really, as the reader, felt seen in these queer characters.

I also trul.y enjoyed how the book was laid out. Each section was an episode of the show and I think this is another book that could easily transition into a movie!

All in all this was a gorgeous debut and I can't wait for more from Alison Cochrun! I would recommend to EVERYONE!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC!

“The Charm Offensive” is the upcoming debut novel from author Alison Cochrun, and I became interested in reading it after seeing the cover and reading the synopsis, so I’m humbled and so incredibly grateful to Atria Books, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read the book early, in exchange for an honest review.

Since he was 10 years old, Dev has always loved happy-ever-afters. They are so incredibly magical, and they’re one of the reasons that Dev loves his job as a producer on the hit reality TV dating series, “Ever After.” His own love-life however is a bit less picturesque, and to make matters worse, he has to continue working with his ex-boyfriend and fellow “Ever After” producer Ryan, after the recent, messy end to their 6-year relationship.

Charles “Charlie” Winshaw is a socially awkward tech genius who comes to “Ever After” in a bid to restore his reputation and repair his image. He has no illusions about falling in love or having a happy ever after, he just wants his career back.

But when Dev and Charlie start going on “Practice Dates” in between filming, in order to get Charlie to feel comfortable in front of the camera on his real dates with the 20 women who are vying for his heart, they find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, and suddenly their “Practice Dates” start to feel much more real. But how can you have a happy ever after when your love story breaks all the rules?

Okay, I literally JUST finished this book, and my heart is SO INCREDIBLY FULL! I absolutely LOVED this book, and Dev and Charlie are both so precious and lovely and they need to be protected at all costs!

This is considered a rom-com, and it is laugh out loud funny on multiple occasions but there’s so much more beneath the “rom-com” surface, and that truly helps to elevate this book beyond your typical romance or rom-com story.

To start with, Dev and Charlie are beautifully nuanced, fully three-dimensional characters. They have depth, and layers and they felt so incredibly real that I almost forgot that they were both fictional. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their relationship is so genuine and supportive, flaws and all. The mental health rep for depression, OCD, and anxiety was handled with such care and realism, and Charlie’s journey of self-love, and self-discovery, as well as Dev’s journey in self-care and emotional health were beautiful to read.

I also loved how Alison Cochrun was able to take the traditional conventions and tropes of a reality TV dating show, and flip them entirely on their head, And the sexy scenes in this book were ACTUALLY SEXY, without being too over-the-top or unrealistic, which I appreciated. Overall, I’d say the balance between the romance, relationship development, and sexy scenes was pitch-perfect, and as I said, the book made my heart feel so incredibly full.

This is a brilliant book, and definitely one of the best that I’ve read this year. “The Charm Offensive” is scheduled for publication on September 7, 2021 from Atria Books, and I’ve already pre-ordered my final copy (I literally took one break from reading this book, to pre-order it) and if anything I said in this review resonates with you on any level, I HIGHLY AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY recommend that you support this incredible release from a debut author, and purchase yourself a copy as well! Trust me when I say, it’s NOT to be missed!

Thanks again to Atria Books, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early!

The Charm Offensive is cute, and while I would say the quality of writing is on par with many other books in this genre (i.e. more of a 3.5, upper-middling), there are so many 'issues' that are touched upon here, and in a non-gratuitious or didactic way, that it elevates the book as a whole.
Okay, but what does that mean?
I mean we have not just LGBTQ+ characters, but also real conflict, philosophical debate, inner turmoil. Who am I? What or who do I like? How do I label myself? Do I even need to label myself? Are there benefits to this labelling, or is it just another constricting box?
Nothing here is black and white; it's all just as messy as the reality show that functions as the background of the story, and I think that's great.
I'm also really glad the author didn't overplay the reality show thing. It would've been easy to spend countless pages describing all of the wacky contestants, the drama, and producer-created obstacles, and while there is some of that, we never get lost in it because Cochrun knows that's not the heart of the story. Sure, most readers will come for that, but they're staying for the relationships and getting some much-needed sexual spectrum medicine.
Also, I should mention, I don't watch The Bachelor and I'm not a purveyor of LGBTQ+ fiction, so this isn't actually the kind of book I'd usually seek out. My liking it is a testament to the author's capable storytelling, as she navigates this heavily-tread genre.

From the first paragraph, I knew this book would be a good one. I immersed myself into the book from the first chapter and I cannot say enough good things about this book! Honestly amazing! The writing is incredible and the plot is just one to die for. I am absolutely obsessed with this book. My favorite part would have to be the character development throughout the book. Character development is something I look forward to and this book did not disappoint.