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.

——

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

——

Follow @letteredlibrary on Instagram!

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

4.5/5 stars

I ADORED THIS BOOK. When I first received the ARC, I was thrilled as the cover and description really intrigued me. And I was not disappointed. This book is equal parts funny and insightful. At its heart, this book is a new adult rom-com; but Cochrun managed to squeeze important topics within the traditional format. I appreciated the Queer representation that went beyond gay men and extended to asexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality, demisexuality, graysexuality, and non-binary characters. The characters were never defined by their sexuality or gender, but rather as part of larger narratives about their role in the story.

Beyond sexuality, Cochrun does an amazing job with race representation (and not letting race define a character) and mental illness. While mental illness is at the core of the story, it never felt like characters were defined by their diagnosis or "weird" behaviours.

I also just loved the characters. Each character felt interesting and funny and like they were part of the story. I would honestly read sequels/prequels/interquels about any of the characters in the story (even Ryan).

This book is quite frankly incredible, you need to read it.

If Cochrun's next book isn't Daphne's story, I will start a one-women riot. I NEED to know more about her (and Angie too!) PLEASE!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to red this ARC!

Ya'll. I am obsessed with this book. I stay up til four am straight up devouring it because I had to know what happened next, and it was worth every hour of sleep lost.

Charlie is a disgraced tech genius who is looking for a way to make a comeback. He doesn't believe in true love, or love at all, really, and yet he decides to participate in tv's most popular reality dating show Ever After (seriously, they're on season 37!), Charlie is awkward and stiff on camera, with no chemistry between himself or any of the women contestants, and nearly immediately regrets his decision to compete on the show.

Enter Dev, one of the show's producers. Dev loves love and is assigned with getting Charlie to look at least like he isn't going to bolt the minute the cameras start rolling. Despite dealing with a nasty breaking just six months prior, and still having to work with his ex, Dev is fantastic at his job. He goes above and beyond for Charlie, and he knows he can make him fall in love this season.

Only, what happens when it's not one of the contestants Charlie falls in love with?

The characters in this book are just absolutely amazing, oh my gosh. The cast is diverse, there are several different sexualities represented AND Dev and Charlie are not these shining, perfect princes themselves. They struggle with OCD and depression, respectively, and it's so nice to see it done in a way that people actually experience every day.

I wanted to scoop Charlie and Dev up and keep them in my pocket where no harm would ever come to them again. Seriously, I cannot wait for this book to release so I have people to scream about it with me.

Pre-order this. You won't regret it.

tw: anxiety, ocd, depression, homophobia, albeism

Charlie is a disgraced tech millionaire who does not believe in true love. Yet, he has signed on to be the next Prince Charming on the hit reality dating show, Ever After. He’s far from a suave romantic lead when faced with the twenty women fighting for his heart. He only agreed to be this seasons prince to rehabilitate his image in the tech industry.

Dev is assigned as Charlie’s handler when he comes across awkward and stiff on camera. As the most successful producer in Ever After history, Dev is always able to craft perfect love stories and the fairy tale endings he’s desired since he was ten years old.

Sparks fly when Dev works to bring Charlie out of his shell behind the scenes, and their connection grows as filming takes them to New Orleans, Germany, Bali, and the quintessential home town dates of the final three contestants. Charlie realizes that the chemistry he lacks with his female costars is felt with Dev ten times over. Dev and Charlie have both their careers and love on the line when they’re faced with whether to go for the Happy Ever After.


I absolutely adored this story, it quickly became my favorite romance of 2021! Charlie and Dev are so lovable even though they don’t believe they deserve their own happily ever after. This was queer cuteness with chemistry that just kept building.

The role that mental health played was written with such care and the struggles presented were always something to be loved for, and not in spite of, even if the characters didn’t recognize it themselves. No one was written as broken that needed fixing.

And wow, the sexuality representation is some of the best I’ve read in MLM romances. There is gay, bisexual, pansexual, lesbian, ace spectrum, and demisexual rep. This vast representation led to such organic conversations about sexuality, especially with those questioning how they identify.

I will be recommending this book to absolutely anyone that will listen. 5/5 and I’m already desperate for a second book from Alison Cochrun.


tw: panic attacks, depressive episode, biphobia, homophobia, ableism

Dev loves love, and for the best six years working on Ever After he has been able to be a part of other finding it. After a recent break up, he's still right back at it, killing at his job, and they have so much faith in his they make him the current Prince's handler. Charlie just wants his life back, he wants to work doing the one job he's ever known but he can't do this unless he can prove to his old business partner and the rest of the world that he is completely cool and completely fine. For this reason, he decides to be the next Prince on Ever After to look for his future princess on national television, Will Charlie be able to prove to everyone that he's enough, and that he's lovable just the way that he is? Will Dev spend his whole career helping everyone else find their happily ever after while he always sits on the sidelines playing it safe?

This book completely blew me away! I could not put it down and I cannot wait for the release date so everyone else can see what a beautiful story this is. I loved both Dev and Charlie. I think the alternating between perspectives gave us a really well rounded view of what was going on and the scene transcripts definitely provided us with some comic relief.

I think the portrayal of mental health in this story is so important, and I really like the way the author went about it, touching on OCD, anxiety, and depression. We see the ups and downs in life, and that we all deserve love, happiness, friendship, and compassion.

I don't think there was a single thing that I didn't like about this book. It was such a heartwarming story, full of representation and I know it's going to be one of my favorite books that I will read all year!

I loved this book so much, and I am so glad I got to read it ahead of the publication date through netgalley's eArc.
The perfect way to describe this book is what I imagine the Bachelor is like behind the scenes, mixed with Casey McQuiston's Red, White, and Royal Blue, which is one of the reasons I wanted to pick it up in the first place. The two leads, Dev and Charlie, are refreshing in the fact that they are both in need of self-growth, and both work on it throughout the book. Their character arcs work well together but are not dependent on their relationship. I was also thrilled by the issues this book discusses through the characters and those around them, such as mental health, homophobia, and self-love.
I loved the mix of diverse characters that Alison filled the book with, which I've happily noticed is getting more common in the books I've been reading. Dev and Charlie are very different in comparison, from their initial goals in life to the families that they were raised in, but the way Alison writes them is very cohesive and companionable. I loved both of them, and I liked having the two POVs throughout the story. Their friendships outside of their relationship with very fun to read, and I think really helped push the story along.
I read most of this book over the course of 6 hours, unable to sleep without continuing it, and I love having those kinds of experiences with books. It reminds me of one of the reasons why I fell in love with reading in the first place. Falling in love with characters and stories, and living out these romances in my mind.
This book doesn't come out until September, but once it does I think everyone should read it, especially those who are fans of RWB and who also like the idea of fairytale romances.
Please read it. I loved this book so much, and will definitely be rereading it.

Some books are gifts. You might have had a less than stellar day, a terrible week, or an awful pandemic, and you sit down with a romance that you don’t know much about and a few hours later the world has been transformed into a kinder, gentler, happier place. The Charm Offensive, by Alison Cochrun, is that kind of book.
The gist is that the star of a Bachelor-like reality series falls in love with his producer, rather than the women selected to be his bride. Pretty simple set up, right? But the problems facing the star, Charlie, and his producer, Dev, are anything but simple.
There is the inherent conflict that happens when Charlie and Dev fall for one another on a show that is geared towards a heteronormative HEA complete with women in gowns in a castle and a man they’re all competing for to be their prince.
But Cochrun doesn’t give us just another wry romcom that winks at the entertainment juggernaut that is The Bachelor and all the reasons we love to hate it. If she did, that would be fine.
Instead, like I said, this book is a gift. It treats the characters with such tenderness and respect that we fall in love with both of them – with all the characters, really. Charlie is on the verge of losing everything he’s always wanted because he is hiding his mental health issues, even though he receives treatment for them. Dev, on the other hand presents as being on top of everything – including his job as a producer on a show he’s always loved – despite his own unacknowledged problems. Neither man expected a deep and genuine love to come out of a reality tv experience, and the wonderful part is that as wonderful as their romantic love is, it doesn’t solve their problems. They solve their problems along with the help of their friends and family.
Cochrun is phenomenal at writing inclusively without being pedantic. Her description of Charlie’s slow awakening to his sexuality is empathetic, humorous, and unforgettable. The absolute delight Dev and Charlie take in each other is infectious and more than once I found myself smiling widely or holding my hand to my chest at something endearingly awkward or outrageous.
Quite simply, I loved this book. I loved Cochrun’s authorial voice, and I love how much she loved her characters. This book is a gift – go out and pass it on.

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is an awesome, witty, sassy, and perfect contemporary romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I am so glad I was able to read this book. The cover and synopsis drew me in, the wonderfully developed character cast, plot, and pacing kept me coming back for more.

I loved Dev and Charlie. Both come to the table with their own complicated pasts, hangups, insecurities, and imperfections. However, underneath it all both are lovable, likable, realistic, relatable, and charming. They have great chemistry, and both compliment each other remarkably well. Each seemed to help the other heal, move on, find purpose, and find a future within themselves and with one another. I love it when I get to see a healthy relationship.

The author did a great job with balancing out serious issues and diagnoses with humor, banter, wit, and wisdom. A great mix and a great ending.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Atria Books for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

This book was so much fun and super cute. I actually dreamed about it the first night after starting it. A great representation of anxiety and OCD and how it can both isolate and connect us. I really enjoyed this book

As soon as I read the description, I knew it was a story I had to read, and boy oh boy, it did not disappoint. I am absolutely in love with everything about this book.

The Charm Offensive is a heartwarming, queer love story that follows Dev and Charlie as they attempt to navigate a supremely heterosexual environment, while being unapologetically in love with each other.

I don’t think I’ve ever connected with characters as much as I have with them. Charlie is neurodivergent, and Dev struggles with depression. The book captures their struggle with mental health as Charlie learns to accept that there’s nothing wrong with him, and Dev learns that it’s okay to trust others and accept help when he needs it. Their love for each other was so pure, and I wish I could experience it all over again for the first time.

This is a must-read! I will be recommending this book to everyone until they get sick of me. I’ve already preordered it. Seriously, I don’t have the vocabulary to explain the euphoria I have after finishing it. It’s just that good.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC.

Final Rating: 5 ⭐️

CW:
major: mental health issues, depression, OCD, anxiety, depressive episode
moderate: sexual content
minor: homophobia, biphobia, racist comments

Rep:
- Dev: Indian, Gay
- Charlie: Unconfirmed, mlm relationship
- Other: lesbian, bisexual, biromantic, asexual, nonbinary, pansexual

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun is a queer love story that explores the question “What if the Bachelor accidentally fell in love with his handler rather than one of the 20 girls hired to compete for his affection?” and I loved every word of it. This is one of my new favorite books. The characters were incredibly well written and the story kept me so hooked that I read it in a day.

Dev and Charlie were so good as individuals and as a pair. They made me laugh, they made me yearn, they made me cry. Their love for each other felt real.

This book also has a great discussion about mental health. Charlie deals with accepting himself even when his OCD makes it hard for him and Dev is on his own journey learning how to take care of himself while dealing with depression.

If you like queer romcoms that also make you feel like you’re personally experiencing the events hand in hand with the characters, The Charm Offensive is for you.

First off, this book may be 368 pages, but I flew through it, only stopping so I can prolong my enjoyment of it. There was never a point where I felt like something was unnecessary or just filler. It was all purposeful and made the impact of the story that much better.
Mental health and so much effortless rep play a big role in the story-line, and it is handled with so much care.
Now these characters, they truly do live and breathe in these pages, every single one.
Speaking of our main couple- Dev and Charlie are so amazing. Their romance is so cute, but I also just loved them as their own separate characters.
Make sure to pick this up and let it brighten up your day, absolutely great.

Special thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.