THIS BOOK WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME! Holy man thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I am so grateful that I got the chance to read this! I can already tell that this is a book that I will read over and over again.

I was hooked from the start and read this all the way through in one sitting! As a queer person who loves reality TV dating shows, this premise was exactly in my wheelhouse and Alison Cochrun DELIVERED with the romance, the excitement, and the well-rounded characters!

I was rooting for Dev and Charlie right from the they were introduced to us. Cochrun does a great job of developing a DYNAMIC relationship between two very real-feeling characters. There is some great representations of various queer identities, racial diversity, and neurodivergences. The compassion that Cochrun extends to her characters comes through in the way that they treat each other.

This book was an absolute delight! I will absolutely be purchasing it when it comes out :)

Alison Cochrun is a new author to this reader and this "The Charm Offensive is a first time story read. Where to start...I wasn't sure whether or not to read this ARC as my typical genre is historical romances . I decided to give it a try and was quite surprised to read a delightful romance comedy. I loved the banter between the characters and frankly, Dev was annoying to me at the beginning but I warmed up to him as the story continued. This was a new and refreshing story that did not take me long to read because it kept my attention to the end.

Although I like reading stories where the characters have flaws to overcome, however this one had more than I anticipated. I do believe both characters had to fix quite a bit in their lives and had to come to the realization that it must be you as the person to work through them to get you to your happiness. Not much into same sex romance stories, however this debut by Ms. Cochrun was heartfelt and a nice comfy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Love it.

I really like this story, it was so fun and sexy and cute. Charlie was definitely my favorite character, I was very pleased to see how he changed throughout the book, how he began to say what he thought and to feel more comfortable with himself.

Dev only started to like me in the middle of the story, at first I couldn't understand his liking for the show or his idea of being a "romantic" but not really being one.
It was interesting to see how with the passage of the pages the other characters, which initially I did not like, began to be more real, a bad work environment can really change a person in a radical way and that is what we see in the book .
This story is about a reality dating show to find a future husband and as is expected of many shows like this, it is much more toxic than we think.

I loved the book.

This was such a refreshing read and I finished it fairly quick since I couldn't put it down. The representation and the diversity among the characters was awesome to see and it was written beautifully. The love between Charlie and Dev was so sweet and how the book portrayed both romantic and platonic romance and the importance of both was enlightening. I recommend this to everyone who wants a fun but significant read.

The Charm Offensive is a perfectly executed achillean romantic comedy featuring two main characters with mental illnesses and a super quirky feel with just enough pining and a refreshing perspective on diverse queer identities.

The novel follows Dev, a twenty-eight year old gay Indian man who just six months ago got out of a six year long relationship with a coworker, and also happens to be a very successful TV producer for the reality show Ever After. Dev has believed in happily-ever-afters as long as he can remember, and he fell in love with the show he would eventually work for at age ten in his parent's living room. He is convinced that Ever After is actually capable of creating real love stories, despite the fact that his own love life has been a disaster that triggered a major depressive episode.

When Charlie Winshaw is chosen as the star and one male romantic lead for Ever After's latest season, the network begins to worry. On the surface Charlie is incredibly handsome, however he is romantically inexperienced and also quite anxious and it shows on screen. Charlie has obsessive compulsive disorder as well as two anxiety disorders which have caused him to display symptoms that people in his past describe as "difficult". Charlie is incredibly socially anxious, and doesn't believe he will fall in love on the show, preferring to use it as a kind of last-ditch effort to fix his image. When Dev is assigned to be Charlie's handler and tasked with making him and the show look good, he is determined to get Charlie a real happily-ever-after. Dev dedicates all his time and effort to helping Charlie become comfortable with the show's girls by "practice dating" with Dev himself.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were flawed but not to the point that they were unlikeable. The mental health issues were handled with care and I very much enjoyed the ever-present message that a relationship will not fix someone, that you are required to do the work for your own happiness. I loved Charlie's exploration of his queerness, and how the asexual spectrum was discussed in such depth, as well as romantic love not being presented as the be-all-end-all of life and love itself. This was a witty and heartfelt debut and I hope to see more from Alison Cochrun!

So good, so funny, so sweet! I love a contemporary romance with a little bit of substance, and this book checked all of my boxes. I loved it's frank portrayals and discussions about mental health, it's send up of "fairy tale" romance and what romance really means away from the fairy tales.

It's fun, it's sexy, I read the whole thing in one sitting.

WOW. I'm obsessed. This is the best book I've read in 2021. It's going to become an instant hit. The Charm Offensive is EVERYTHING you want in a queer rom com. It's funny, charming and full of amazing reps. Dev has wanted a fairy tale romance all this life but never believed it was for him. He works on a bachelor type reality show, he helps people fall in love all the time. Insert Charlie who is the shows next 'Prince Charming', he's trying to rebuild his reputation. Charlie and Dev form a friendship. They confide in each other and eventually realize their bond goes much deeper. I loved Charlie and Dev so much. Their intimate conversations felt so real and vulnerable. I don't wont to spoil too much of this story but I couldn't have loved it anymore. I loved the OCD, Mental health and other representations. The author handled these topics with ease and grace. I loved how easy this book was to read. It was like you were hanging out with your best friends. I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I finished it! LOVE!!!!

I absolutely adored this! In this romance novel we follow 𝗗𝗲𝘃 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲 & 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗮𝘄. Dev has always liked "Ever After," a reality TV show which he goes on to help produce. His job for the newest season is to act as a handler for Charlie. Dev started liking the show in the first place because of it's happy ever after endings so Charlie not believing in love made for quite a challenge. Dev does everything he can to help Charlie with his anxiety. As Charlie opens up more he notices the emotional bond he has created with Dev. Soon both of them have feelings for each other and they aren't sure what to do.

This entire novel made me so happy oh my god. I really wouldn't change a thing about it. The pacing was perfect. There's such a wonderful and diverse cast with LGBTQ+ and mental health representation which amazing. The mental health rep actually did make me feel seen. I hadn't expected it being talked about in the book but it was lovely to find out.

"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘚𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘴."

I really loved the characters. They each have their own flaws and it made me appreciate them even more. The characterization was wonderful. The romance was delightful, they had incredible chemistry, and the banter was enjoyable. The rest of the cast was also lovely. I really hope Daphne gets her own book.

Overall I definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a fun romance novel with a diverse cast, forbidden love, or dating shows!

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 & 𝘈𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!

It's not often I set down a book when I'm two-thirds of the way through it simply because I don't want it to be over so soon, but that was the case with "The Charm Offensive." I didn't want to say goodbye to Dev and Charlie! (Of course, my restraint didn't last very long, because I couldn't resist the urge to find out what happened.)

"The Charm Offensive" has been compared to an LGBTQ+ "One to Watch," another romance which was set in the world of a "Bachelor"-like series. "Ever After" is a long-running show in which "Prince Charming" searches for his princess. Like "The Bachelor," most of the contestants are not there for the Right Reasons (i.e. to find love)--they're seeking to parlay their appearance on the show into social media fame. Charlie Winshaw also has an ulterior motive in agreeing to step into the role of Prince Charming: he's a wealthy tech genius whose career imploded (we find out why later in the book), and is hoping "Ever After" can help rehabilitate his image.

Dev Deshpande is a producer on "Ever After" whose job is to help guide Charlie along his journey to True Love (including a contractually-mandated proposal). He just broke up with his boyfriend Ryan, who also works on the show, and the last thing he was expecting was to start having feelings for the new Prince Charming. Dev reasonably assumes Charlie is 100% straight--I mean, he's starring on "Ever After," where kissing a lot of women is part of the job description--but Charlie doesn't feel attracted to any of the beautiful princesses. He's falling for Dev.

Both Dev and Charlie have some mental health struggles which are dealt with sensitively and empathetically. This book made me smile and swoon from beginning to end.

This book was wonderful. Characters dealing with complex issues like depression, anxiety, and OCD, struggling with identity all while trying to be on and run a bachelor-esk television show? Yes! The complex issues don't make this book too heavy, and the romance and humor are definitely still central to the book. There are elements of this book that definitely did remind me of red white and royal blue, especially in struggling to feel like you can be who you are in public, but I dislike making too many comparisons because this book is its own. LGBTQIA+, romance, set in a reality television backdrop, the Charm Offensive is both charming and a winner in my book. Can't wait for this book to be released in September of this year. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for letting me read this ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun. Loved this book! A tech guy who needs to rehab his image goes on a Bachelor-type show. I don’t want to give away anything, but I LOVE the references to sexuality as a spectrum and how it’s all normal. Lots of characters to love, and I hope the make a reappearance in a sequel! -Mindy


Thanks to @netgalley and @atriabooks for this ARC.

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This is a very adorable romcom. I loved the pretty much everything about this book: the setting (basically the Bachelor, which gave off One to Watch vibes - a high compliment), allllll of the characters, the storyline, the fantastic representation, and how heavy topics like mental health were handled. It's a very smart and heartwarming story, packed with fun banter and dynamic storylines. Basically everything you could ever ask for in a contemporary romcom.

The Charm Offensive is a wonderful fun, queer play on The Bachelor. I’m a casual viewer of The Bachelor / The Bachelorette and find the orchestrated drama hilarious so I enjoyed the book’s clear acknowledgment of how fake the show is while still fulfilling the promise of the premise; that two people will fall in love and get their happily ever after. The fairy tale twist on the show is an added bonus that just adds an extra layer to the ridiculousness.

I adored both Charlie and Dev. I’ve read a lot of queer romance novels and I loved that neither fit into the stereotypes that are often seen in the genre. I love that Dev is a hopeless romantic who thoroughly believes in the show while wearing cargo shorts. I love that Charlie’s naivety despite being extremely attractive and intelligent.

This book is full of beautiful representation. Dev is southeast asian, gay, and has clinical depression. Charlie is still figuring out his sexuality and has OCD and anxiety. It is clear that a lot of love went into the writing of this book. I loved that the discussions of mental health were so open and real. From Dev wanting to conceal his depression to the the idea that therapy is for everyone. I think the thing that touched me most is that everyone had support systems even before they realized they needed them.

I’m honestly amazed that this is Alison Cochrun’s first novel. I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was SUCH a lovely book. It was funny, sweet, and swoony from top to bottom. I love that it was told in dual POV so that the reader gets to fully know and love both main characters equally. They're both wonderful and flawed in their own ways and you really have time and space to get invested in them as a couple throughout the story, which is really important to me. There were many moments that made me smile and laugh.

Also, the sheer amount of queer characters and their varying identities within the story felt like a warm hug. I love how casually and yet lovingly the author treated each of these characters, and the broad cast really helps round out the novel.

I also loved the representation of mental illness within the novel, with one exception--my only complaint. It was wonderful to see struggles with mental illness so thoughtfully presented, but there is frequent use of the word "healthy" in relation to Dev's need for treatment for his depression. It starts with Charlie saying he could never be with someone who isn't "healthy" and then gets used many times throughout the rest of the novel (Dev needs therapy to "get healthy," etc.). Perhaps it's because this just doesn't jive with my understanding and experiences of mental illness, (which I see as closer to the experience of chronic illness, in that treatment isn't always about restoring perfect health but rather about successfully coping and dealing with symptoms) but this bothered me and turned an otherwise perfect book into something I feel the need to give a little caveat. I would be wary of recommending this book to people who have mental illnesses that are heavily stigmatized or not easily "fixed" by treatment, or who have treatment-resistant depression, since I think the focus on "health" could be distressing.

Otherwise, I loved this book and I will absolutely be recommending it (with that mental illness caveat) when it releases, and I'll definitely read any future books by Alison Cochrun.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I feel like I must begin by saying this is the best book I have read in such a long time. I don’t feel like I have been this passionate about my love for a book since Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuinston. This story was an absolute powerhouse and kept me glued to its pages.

Dev Deshpande is everything I want in a character. He is hilarious, empathetic, and just so real. His career is his everything and you just can’t help but fall in love with his character instantaneously.

Charlie Winshaw must be protected at all costs. He is such a sweet character and I feel like he has no room in his heart to be mean/hate anyone. I love him so much and he constantly surprised me.

I love how this book is the perfect mesh of humor, love and honesty. It is almost impossible not to just get sucked into the story and not want to leave it until you are finished. It is such an interesting setting but it is so perfect for the story that needed to play out between Charlie and Dev. This book covers mental health and mental health issues in such a great light. I love how they show helping cope and being there rather than how some other books make it almost like love is a cure all.

In all, you must read this book. I promise you that you won’t regret it. It is worth every minute of your time.

This book is a WARM HUG. I absolutely consumed it in a single sitting and what a lovely time the entire day was.

This was absolutely adorable and hilarious and precious. I smiled the entire time and it was so lovely. Tackles some heavy issues with ease and despite the quick timeline it didn't fall prey to the trap a lot of rom-coms do. Watching the two MC's become friends and fall in love was so wonderful and I fully understood their relationship.

The ending was a bit rushed and the story felt just a touch hasty ; but I laughed out loud and I cannot wait to buy a proper copy of this book.

If you're ever watched The Bachelor (or Unreal), and wished for something a little more...real, then you need to read this book! Thank you to Atria Books for providing a gifted ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review - I loved this one!

Genre: queer romance (with elements of fake dating, friends-to-lovers)
Rating: 💓💓💓💓💓

Charlie is a wealthy tech mogul with an eight-pack - seems like the perfect lead for a show called Ever After. Well, he's not exactly Prince Charming - his crippling anxiety and closed-offness make for awkward TV at best. Enter producer Dev - he's always loved Ever After, and he gets the chance to try to make TV magic with Charlie. As the two grow closer, they'll have to decide if they can write their own script for love.

As I've said before, I love love stories, and the dating show framework here was hilarious! What is special about this book is the bond between Dev and Charlie. I loved how they each accepted the other without question, but they also worked to support each other's personal growth. This felt very authentic and healthy to me.

I appreciated the sensitivity with which the author handled mental health - these characters are not caricatures. There's also some great queer representation here, with discussion of the vast spectrum of sexuality, as well as personal preference for labels/no labels.

If you're looking for a love story that will make you laugh and cry, look no further than this book! I hope you will love it as much as I did.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is engaging, funny, heart-achingly tender, and relatable in so many ways. It is not an exaggeration to say I could not put this book down!

Dev is a producer for Ever After, a popular reality dating show, and and he is a life-long believer in true love and happily ever afters--even if they don't seem to happen for him.

Charlie is a reticent tech genius who is trying to polish his reputation after some work related misfortunes and get himself back in the tech game by being the sought after Prince on Ever After. True love isn't something that's ever seemed attainable to him.

Dev is assigned as Charlie's handler when initial filming reveals Charlie is awkward, distant, and lacks any sort of chemistry with the eager hopefuls on the show.

Dev's never met a work challenge he's not willing to overcome and he knows he can make magic happen this season and find true love for Charlie.

Dev may be right about Charlie finding true love on Ever After, but it might not be the true love any of them expect.

Getting Charlie out of his shell is a delicate process and Dev's enforced proximity to him brings revelations, understanding, emotional intimacy and something even more precious.

There is such chemistry between Dev and Charlie and it manifests in so many ways as the story progresses, with a developing emotional intimacy that is riveting.

The writing is rich and lush. The main characters are well-developed, complicated, endearing. Mental health and neurodivergent issues are woven into the fabric of the story with care and are addressed in a sensitive, realistic and empathetic way.

There is a delicate balance of serious issues, delightful humor, banter, profoundly affecting realizations, and character growth.

The cast is diverse and engaging. Important topics including racism, ableism, overt and subtle homophobia, and the spectrum of sexuality are all handled very well. I think the way the author presented these issues is eminently approachable and will actually be critically important for some readers.

This is an unapologetically queer romance and the representation feels realistic and organic to the story. It hits so many favorite tropes in a fun and exciting way: friends to lovers, secret relationship, there was only one bed, and more. Another device I appreciated was how the author took the frequent romance trope of "misunderstandings" and "miscommunication" and turned it on its head at times by actually having the characters say what they are thinking and talk things out.

The writing is beautiful, the tender moments between Dev and Charlie are a joy to read. The care they have for each other is breath-taking. The observations they make are deep and insightful, their ability to see past the static to the person inside is truly brilliant.

Dev and Charlie will be in my thoughts and in my heart for a long time. They join Luc and Oliver, Alex and Henry, Simon and Baz, Percy and Monty, in a short list of truly engaging, relatable and endearing characters.

Looking forward to buying this book and am already recommending it to friends.

Pre-order this. Have your library request it. Get the audiobook. It is funny, insightful, clever, and memorable. Don't miss it. Highly recommended. I loved it.

My thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

"You have to decide if you love him enough right now to try for forever."

The Charm Offensive tells the story of wealthy, attractive Charlie Winshaw, who goes on a dating show (a la The Bachelor) in an effort to rebuild his image after a very public falling out with the tech company he built. Dozens of women are vying for his attention, so he is surprised to find that his strongest emotional connection on the show doesn't happen with one of the contestants, but with Dev Deshpande, his male producer...

"All kissing Daphne did was verify he does not enjoy kissing Daphne. And not enjoying it induced a panic attack, which forced him to confront the reality that he very much does want to kiss someone else."

This was absolutely everything I've ever wanted from a romantic comedy. I usually walk into a rom-com expecting over-the-top cheesiness and far-from-believable plot lines, but Alison Cochrun has completely flipped my expectations upside down, and maybe even made me (gasp) a new fan of the genre?!

"I don’t think happily ever after is something that happens to you, Dev. I think it’s something you choose to do for yourself."

This book was laugh-out-loud funny with its sarcastic, almost satirical, portrayal of reality television shows (featuring contestants with job titles like "Professional Cat Cuddler" and "Former Student"), but even beyond the humor, there was so much to appreciate.

"Quite frankly, you kissing your producer is the most interesting thing that’s ever happened on this heteronormative cesspool of a shitty television show."

From the approachable, sensitive way Cochrun tackled mental health issues, to the incredible representation that shines through a diverse cast of characters, to the steamy chemistry between Dav & Charlie, I loved every minute of reading The Charm Offensive.

"No wonder Charlie came on the show believing he doesn’t deserve love the way he is. Every single person he’s ever loved has only reinforced his conviction that he’s not enough."

It's a quick, easy read, but it catches your attention and you won't want to put it down! Would recommend for fans of One to Watch, Take a Hint, Dani Brown, or Boyfriend Material.

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A huge thank you to Alison Cochrun, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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oh my god y’all have to read this book.
calling it not - it’s the new red, white and royal blue. I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump because of return to work and this book 100 percent pulled me out of it.
so funny and so well written. pulled me in from the very start. incredibly well paced too. Dev and Charlie, the main characters, are easy to love and to root for. Can’t recommended enough.

publish date - September 7, 2021