A charming, feel-good read about two Black lesbians falling in love on a reality dating show! It was really refreshing to read a story where "lesbian" was used as a descriptor often and proudly. D'Vaughn and Kris were supportive of each other while also honoring their own wants and needs, and also exhibit solid communication with each other throughout the novel that I feel is often lacking in romance.

All in all, an inclusive, fast-paced, sweet story about two women learning how to love each other.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

"D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding": 4⭐

This book was swoon-worthy. The relationship between the MC's was really powerful and we love a good, healthy lesbian relationship represented, which is something we don't see everyday, in books.
This was a delight to read and I absolutely adored every minute!

4.5 stars
The absolute dream this novel gave me! Folks, I have never been so happy with two characters getting their happy ending than this one.

I felt like I was given behind the scenes cuts to a reality TV show, and now I want to dive into every dating show to provide me with the same giddiness, scorn and sweetness that D'Vaughn and Kris plan a wedding gave me. It perfectly captured how I see reality tv but added extra warmth and humanity to it from the storytelling. AND not going to lie, D'Vaughn had ME sweating as she could get it!

My only qualm is that I feel like D'Vaughn and Kris let D'Vaughn's mum off the hook at the start too much; however, they put her in her place and pointed out things asap and she was learning. So Aka, they are better people than I.

BONUS: I want other stores about this show and other pairs from Instant I do now. It doesn't even have to end in love; it can be about the community being better represented on shows. I need more!!!!

I've recently read a few romance books that have featured reality dating shows as the setting, and this is probably my favourite so far. The premise is quite peculiar - convince your friends and family that you're getting married in six weeks, while including them in the planning of the wedding. It led to a lot of interactions and crazy family dynamics, which kept the pace of the novel really quick and engaging. There are a number of supporting characters but they added a lot to the story itself too.

Kris and D'Vaughn are instantly attracted to one another, and the chemistry between them flies off the page. Mix the chemistry with the amazing communication between them both and you're left with a very well-developed romance.

During the six weeks the book covers, their fake relationship develops into a very sweet pairing. They both wonderfully support each other during the complex nature of manipulating their family without ruining relationships, as well as D'Vaughn's coming out. It's gorgeous to read and I absolutely adored the conclusion of the novel. I thought this was done very well.

I really enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from Chencia C. Higgins.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin - Carina Press for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I like the characters. They were cute and quirky and fun. An LGBTQ romance without HEART RIPPING TRAGEDY. The reality show aspect of the book reaaallllllyyyyyyyyyyyy bothered me though. Yes, I've read "One to Watch" and found that perfectly charming. The reality show in this book just felt so mean spirited. LIE to your family for six weeks and get them super invested and BAM! What a twist! I don't have the suspension of disbelief that loving families, as depicted in this book, would be all, "LOL! You got us!" after all that emotional/financial investment.

This is really cute read, though.

I am giving this book all of the stars. This is the first LGBTQ romance novel where I fell in love with a character, Kris was that character for me. We meet D'Vaughn and Kris, they go on a reality show called "Instant I DO" where couples are paired off for 6 weeks, they get 100K each or they fall in love and get married. These two women went into this show with similar goals, so of course they are paired off. I couldn't wait to see how it was all going to turn out.

Kris is an influencer, and she wants to find out, but also grow a following, and she thinks this show will do her good for her image. D'Vaughn on the other hand is a closeted lesbian, and she's doing the show to come out that closet to her family, and boost her self esteem, and also to find love, but little does she know that she will find it in the show as well. They have so much in common it was just amazing to read. I loved how Kris made D'Vaughn feel, how she comforted her, reassured her, and how the families on both ends come together. Their chemistry is WILD, and you can feel it through the pages, the author did an amazing job with that.

I only read a handful of LGBTQ romances, but never this STEAMY! OMG. And did I mention that I am in love with Kris???? Ok but in all seriousness, the characters in this book were amazing, from Kris's family being so accepting and loving of D'Vaughn given the situations, from D'Vaughn coming out and how everything turned out for her, and also how it even ended??? I was brought to tears. Loved this book so much. Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This by far was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Funny, sexy, poignant. This was a home run out of the park. I could relate so much to both DVaughn and Kris as characters. I just don’t want to post any spoilers. Even if you think “Oh an LGBT book isn’t for me”, this book has such universal themes.

This book is perfect, I really have no other words. First off it is such an interesting concept for a book but the way it's executed is so good. For the most part the book is pure fluff and I love that so much. Obviously there is some tension when D'Vaughn comes out to her mom but besides that the book is pure happiness. Also I want to marry Kris.

I received an arc through netgalley.

OMG I loved this story from page one. The chemistry between the main characters was very relatable and super romantic. I also really enjoyed the interaction between Kris and her family. They were absolutely hilarious and reminded me of my own relatives; I laughed out loud many times. This was an enjoyable page turner that had the right amount of drama, comedy, romance and sex to be a well rounded story that will definitely make you blush.

This book was great! Full of wonderful characters and delightful plots! I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

It’s not often I call a relationship swoon worthy, but this book is the embodiment of the heart eyes emoji. D’Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding is one of the most refreshing books I have read all year. We have a delightful queer romance between two black women with NO toxicity to be found! I love so much about this book!

Kris and D’Vaughn are on a reality show called “instant I Do” they are tasked with the challenge of planning a wedding in SIX WEEKS and getting their families on board. Kris and D’Vaughn wade their way through DJs, dresses, forming a relationship, and a cathartic coming out scene.

The love these women have for each other is so sweet it made me want to cry. Insta love is not normally my thing but this book does it so well that I cannot help but root from the sidelines. Along with sweet and fluffy flirting scenes, this book has some SPICE. I have read a LOT of LGBT romance and this is easily one of my favorites.

It is really refreshing to pick up a romance novels, meet the characters and think "Oh so they've been to THERAPY"! D'Vaughn and Kris have incredible chemistry and even when they miscommunicate or get swept up in the game of the reality show they are on, they nip it in the bud RIGHT away. Having characters who stop, look each other in the eye and communicate exactly what they are feeling is such a nice feeling. The format of the show structuring the book is really fun, especially the moments where they get to go their talking head interviews, it presents a really original way to get in the characters heads. And Kris and D'Vaughn love each other... SO. MUCH. Its obvious right from the beginning and it stays strong the whole time. This is an incredibly fun and lovely read that just lets you get caught up in two people loving each other a whole lot.

Thank you NetGalley, HARLEQUIN - Carina Press. and the author Chencia C. Higgins. I decided to request this book because I liked the reality show aspect of the book. I can say I laughed and it was a fun read. The. steam scenes were very steamy more than I really like. I also liked the family banter. It was a good read.

A super cute sapphic (f/f) romance that follows D'Vaughn and Kris as they try to convince their family that they are getting married in 6 weeks when truly they are on a reality TV show to win money.
Featuring:
-A black, curvy, femme MC
-An afro-latinx butch MC
-Fake Dating
-reality TV show
-supportive families

A super cute and fluffy f/f romance!
Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

For some reason the title made me doubt picking this book up and after I decided to go for it, it sat on my reader for quite a long time. Not really sure why it's off-putting, but this is not a book title I am drawn too.
Color me surprised when I started reading this and really enjoyed the road to love D'Vaughn and Kris travel. All the while being contestants in a reality show where 2 people meet, have to convince their family they love eachother and will marry in 6 weeks. I loved both characters and their family, I even got emotional in all the right places. There's also a dose of reality with coming out, racism, bigotry and the fact that one of the leads is a full figured African American woman gets a big thumb up when it comes to diversity in romance books.
The book drew me in and I immensely enjoyed it!

***Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book***

Two contestants on the show Instant I Do must convince their friends and family that they’re getting married in six weeks. If they fail to convince them, they’ll be kicked off the show and lose out on $100,000! These two women, D’Vaughn and Kris, soon realized that their relationship might not be so fake, and they must decide if they want the $100k or each other.
This book was so adorable. My favorite part of it is the relationship between D’Vaughn and Kris. They were so comfortable with each other and had great communication and understanding. They really are goals! I also loved the reality TV aspect of this. I’ve never read anything with that trope before, but after reading this I want more of it! And the ending was just so beautiful. I really loved seeing the love between these two women. I liked a lot of things about this book, but I disliked a lot of things too.
My main problem with this book was that the scenes were way too long! There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue that I assume was for side-character development, but there are other ways that the characters could’ve had personality without having a million different conversations happening in one chapter.
Another thing I didn’t like was Kris. Not because the writer did anything wrong in writing her, she’s just not my type of person. She was too slick and charming for me, like one of those people that you can never tell what’s real with them and what’s not. But I could tell it was written with intention, because it’s explored in the book. Also, I like D’Vaughn, but I feel like when she’s with Kris she has no personality. It’s like her only personality is being anxious and constantly blushing when she’s with Kris. When she’s with her Bestfriend Cinta she becomes the character I enjoy with a funny, smart, and bubbly personality.
And the last critique I have about this book is about one scene that just really rubbed me the wrong way. When D’Vaughn, who is African American, and Kris, who is Afro-Latinx, tell D’Vaughn’s mother that they’re getting married, one of the mother’s concerns is that they’re rushing into this marriage and she asks her daughter has she even met Kris’ family. She says they could be racists for all D’Vaughn knows. D’Vaughn then calls her mother a bigot in a confessional for live tv because she had the concern that Kris’ family could be racist. Yes, I understand that Kris is Afro-Latinx meaning that she’s Black, but I also understand that D’Vaughn’s mother doesn’t know that she’s Black and only had a genuine concern for her daughter’s safety and well-being. Are we going to pretend that there isn’t a history of Latinx people being prejudiced against Black people? It’s still prevalent today. So, I don’t appreciate D’Vaughn calling her mother a bigot for having an understandable concern. That really rubbed me the wrong way.
I enjoyed this book though! It had my favorite trope, fake dating, and had a wonderful relationship between two beautiful Black women! I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves romance!

Thank you Harlequin-Carina Press and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

TW: difficult coming out experience; sexual situations

I really enjoyed this book! The interactions between all the characters were really fun, both between the main characters and with their families.
I also really enjoyed fake dating and the tv aspect, but I would have liked it if the characters thought some of their actions trough a bit more and/or worried about the consequences of their actions a bit more. Everything turns out great in the end as fits a romance novel, but it felt a bit unrealistic these characters didn’t worry about possible negatives of the tv show when they weren’t presented as super carefree people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Do I... like the insta love trope?

This book has expanded my expectations and understanding around what a romance novel can and SHOULD be. The dialogue is chock full of healthy conversations, direct communication, boundary setting, consent, etc. The characters are so emotionally mature and lovely! The development of their relationship is steady and smooth and mutually built upon communication and trust and love without losing the stakes of the unconventional circumstances.

The only thing I felt was missing was that honeymoon scene 😜

TW: sexual content, brief racism, brief discussion of religious bigotry (specifically homophobia), coming out scene

DNF

Unfortunately, I will not be completing this one and giving it a full review. I just couldn’t get into the writing and it was dampening my enjoyment of the story. I did like the characters and the premise! I will definitely still be recommending this one, it just wasn’t the book for me personally. Thank you for the opportunity!

This book. From the cover until the very end, it was a delight. If you are looking for a fluffy romance and a fake engagement trope that features two Black queer women, pick up D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding.

D’Vaughn has decided to audition for a reality show called Instant I Do as a way to force her to come out to her family. Kris has decided to audition because she wants to find love. Instant I Do is a reality show in which strangers are paired and the challenge is they have to convince their families that they are in love and getting married in 6 weeks. The couple who makes it to the alter is offered a choice of going through with the wedding or taking $100,000 prize money each. There were a lot of opportunities for Higgins to lean into the drama, but instead, she chooses to show adults talking through their feelings and conflicts. In 2021, this was exactly what I needed.

Kris is an out and proud Afro-Latina butch lesbian, with lots of tattoos, who works as a PE teacher at a high school in Houston and has a side gig as a social media influencer. D’Vaughn is proudly fat, but privately a lesbian. Both are delightful. With the security of a family that accepts her as she is, Kris is fully prepared to support D’Vaughn in coming out. While keeping the book fairly fluffy and light, Higgins acknowledges the nuanced ways homophobia and bigotry can show up in people we love.

Chencia C. Higgins gives supportive partner lessons in D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding. While Kris has D’Vaughn’s back, D’Vaughn is open and generous with Kris’s family. The two of them are refreshingly adult as they navigate the complexities of falling in love while being fake engaged on a reality competition.

I really loved this book, and think it will make a great start to a romance lover’s reading year. I hope to see it on all the “Best of” lists, next year.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and Carina Press. My opinions are my own.

As a further disclosure, I did contribute an item for a fundraising auction for Chencia C Higgins. I do not know her personally and my participation in the auction did not influence my review.