You know what? This book was awesome. It answered the question I never thought to ask and probably still don't really want the answer to: what would happen if a porn star was cast in a Hallmark Christmas movie? The answer is in the form of a delightful little book with everything I love about Hallmark Christmas movies but better???

What I loved:
-every moment of dramatique drama was resolved within a few pages
-there was a lot of casually accepted queerness including both main characters being disaster bisexuals
-it explained how "fat" is a neutral description and not an insult (the female main character Bee describes herself as fat)
-similarly, the sex work wasn't used as a way to make Bee and the other porn industry characters less than
-it was a book about the making of a Hallmark Christmas movie but the Hallmark Christmas movie romantic beats were between the two actors falling in love! Like a Christmas movie inception of a romance within a romance within a romance book.
-including the characters saying I love you after two weeks lol classic Hallmark movie
-but with also explicit scenes I guess

My one critique is I got really confused about who the side characters were but this might be a me problem because I took forever to read the book and forgot stuff.

Overall, a fun and festive Christmas book with a dash of porn. Tis the season or whatever.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #AMerryLittleMeetCute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone for an honest review.

I went into this one not knowing what to expect and I'm so glad I did because it was a fun read. I've read Sierra Simone before but never read anything by Julie Murphy so I expected the steaminess and it was there. I started really worrying about how the HEA was going to happen and this book delivered it to me with a huge bow on top just like a great Christmas present. If you are looking for a fun and steamy romp this holiday season, look no further.

Nolan and Bee totally captured my heart in this Christmas Meet Cute story. If you love a “hallmarky” story you will totally love them. Plus size heroine meets football player has won my heart.

My recommendation is to read this story!!!

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a successful plus-size adult film star with a huge following, Bee Hobbes couldn’t be happier. But when her producer offers her the chance to star in a Christmas movie—for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take on a more family-friendly direction. Forced to keep her adult film work under wraps, Bee quickly learns that that’s a lot easier said and done. Especially when her new co-star turns out to be her childhood crush Nolan Shaw, the ex-boy band member infamous for his bad boy attitude and now in desperate need of career rehab. But things heat up quickly when Noah gets his first glimpse of his new co-star—and realises it’s none other than the ClosedDoors adult film star he’s been following for years. Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off during set and trying desperately to find a way to stay together, despite their respective managers telling them to keep it in their pants. The stakes are high if anyone finds out about them—Bee could lose her film deal and be exposed as a porn star and Nolan’s last chance at earning enough money to take care of his family could be squashed within minutes. If their secret’s exposed, can the two of them withstand the media’s attention and find a happily ever after all?

As a huge fan of both authors, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story and what can I say? This co-written novel absolutely delivered. I loved how both authors brought their individual strengths to the table and how their writing styles just seamlessly intertwined. Murphy’s talent for writing confident plus-size characters who take no shit morphed together beautifully with Simone’s gift of writing steamy, intimate encounters that leave you fanning yourself. Not to mention that this romcom had so many elements that worked together perfectly: discussions of fatphobia in the media paired well with Nolan’s goal to keep his image clean so he could provide for his family, Bee’s sex-positive attitude clashed wonderfully with the traditional image of “clean” holiday movies that we all have cringed at before—and yet still can’t get enough of. Overall, all the elements of the novel and different plot strings made for one unputdownable read!

A Merry Little Meet Cute is also trope galore: from forced proximity to celebrity crush to forbidden romance all the way to pining and hidden identity, chances are that there’s a trope in here that you’re a sucker for (god knows I like every single one of them)! Much of what makes these tropes work so well together is the undeniable chemistry between Bee and Noah. They’re incredibly fleshed-out on their own with goals and fears and family to consider but together? Dayuummm. All of their encounters (not just the steamy scenes that were to die for) are filled with tension and so much chemistry that you can’t quite believe these characters are fictional. Meanwhile, they also struggle on their own. Nolan is desperate to find a solution to help his ill mother while being hundreds of miles away and Bee is questioning whether she could ever move over into “clean” movies completely. So whether you’ll keep flipping the pages because you’re desperate to learn more about what incident blacklisted Noah in the media or because you need to know what happens when Bee’s and Noah’s secret inevitably blows up in their faces, I can guarantee that there are some twists and turns no one will see coming.

Really, the only thing that bogged down the pacing a bit was the plethora of secondary characters but I can’t even be mad about it because I would read entire books about Noah’s fellow INK bandmates and Bee’s colleagues from the adult film industry (Sierra and Julie, if you’re reading this, please give us more!!). Honestly, I’m just (im)patiently waiting for these authors to give us more co-written content!

Spicy, sexy and charmingly cheerful with two self-proclaimed bi disasters that you can’t help but fall madly in love with, A Merry Little Meet Cute is the sexy, unputdownable holiday romcom that will make your days (and TBR) merry and bright this holiday season!

🎄💌 Book Review 💌🎄

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
3/5 ⭐️

Let’s call Hallmark and make it spicy. I know it’s officially Fall and I skipped spooky Szn for a second but I’ll be right back to it.

This book follows Bee Hobbs, a plus-sized adult film star on ClosedDoors (think OF), who gets casted in a family friendly Christmas movie opposite Nolan Shaw, an old boy band member trying to fix his image and save his career. AND they’re fans of each other’s work before even meeting.

It has:
💌 Plus-Size heroine
💌 LGBTQ+ representation (both MCs are bisexual!)
💌 Secret Romance
💌 Sex-positivity
💌 Mental Health Awareness
💌 Exposes sexism in media

I requested this book because I LOVED the premise and all the representation; however, the story for me fell flat. It was chaotic and didn’t flow well. It’s like when I try to tell a story but get distracted by 10,000 side stories and forget to tell the main story.

And then there’s Nolan Shaw. Even with fancasting him as Calum from 5SOS, I still could not stand him. You have the wonderful Bee who is so unapologetically herself. An advocate for embracing women’s sexuality and self love… and then you get this annoying ringing in your ear with Nolan.

He is undeserving of Bee and the conflicts that arise in this story (mostly his fault) felt immature. Given the character Bee is, it did not make sense for her to end up with him.

Anyway, there’s a horse named WhitNEIGH Houston and they bring up the terrible CGI with Renesmee in Breaking Dawn. I did laugh at some scenes and loved the christmassy hallmark feel. If they just took Nolan out and replaced him with a Harry Styles replica, I think this book would’ve killed it.

Thank you to @netgalley, @avonbooks , and @harpervoyagerus for this arc in exchange for a honest review! A Merry Little Meet Cute is out now 🎄💌

This was so delightful! The perfect steamy Christmas rom com with a fun twist that I have never read before. It kind of reminded me of the Shameless duology by Rosie Danan because of the adult film star angle. It was so interesting to see into a mind of an adult film star in a 2022 setting. I loved the conversation about the double standards in Hollywood between female and male actors, and I loved how the MCs were so supportive of each other's careers.

The writing was also so fun and engaging and kept my attention the entire time. the story was very well fleshed out and kept me reading further.

The romance was so sweet. it was forbidden because not only were they co-stars but they were both told not to fool around on set by their agents, so the forbidden aspect and the "we just can't help ourselves" was so fun and a steamy good time.

I think this will be a series eventually and I am so pumped to read anything else the authors put out in this universe.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an unconventional Christmas rom com. Set within the backdrop of the making of a Christmas movie. Sounds normal enough until the female lead and a good chunk on the crew have to be replaced. The producer returns to his original genre to hastily recruit replacements. The show must go on!
That's how Bee Hobbes, aduIt movie star finds herself female lead for the latest Hope Channel movie set in Christmas Notch, Vermont (self styled Christmas town). Doing her upmost not to let her secret slip. Harder than it may seem when she meets her costar. Ex boyband badboy Nolan Shaw. Her number one fan on adult site Closed Doors and her teenage crush.
This is a very unusual Christmas story. An entertaining, witty read with lots of steamy fun. Hallmark meets OnlyFans!

Not only was this holiday romantic comedy a merry read, but it brought a bit of that bright(ness) that I didn't realize I needed on what had been a rather gloomy day. Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have managed to strike that delicate yet delicious balance between sweet and spicy, creating their own bit of sugary spiciness that had me eagerly flipping pages. Both Bee and Nolan were main characters who were easy to like, with a spark that was just begging to burst forth and engulf them both--in all the best ways, of course. I loved that Bee was someone who was secure in her own skin. Her confidence was a refreshing change from the usual insecure-dampened heroines that are faced with their celebrity fantasy. As for Nolan, he was exactly as I expected him to be, although surprisingly a tad dirtier, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Kudos to these two embracing their bisexuality but not making it an overly bigger deal than it had to be. This was an immensely fun read, one that kept me entertained from the very beginning till the much deserved and quite happy end. Overall, whether you're new to either author or have read their work as individual authors in the past, A Merry Little Meet Cute is cute, Christmasy, and completely worth the read. I'm giving this four stars.

I have to admit I was a little nervous to crack this book open because I've heard such amazing things. Needless to say, it did not disappoint! Bee is a refreshing change to the typical rom-com heroine. I love her open attitude towards her career and ambition to try new things, such as the movie. I admired her bravery through the scandal and how she didn't let the haters keep her down. I also enjoyed the serious undertones that they used to discuss the differences between Bee and Nolan during the media blitz. I thought that it added a sense of seriousness that was relatable to today’s media. To add on to the cuteness, I loved the names of the horses. I mean Whitneigh Houston? COME ON!
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a change in the typical Christmas rom com and a plus-size heroine who owns her sexuality.

Definitely a fun read. The idea of a porn star in hiding and a former boy band member making a "wholesome Christmas movie" together..... just that premise alone had me more than ready to read it. Bee and Nolan had me captivated... it did take a bit for me to get into it, but once I was, I could not put it down. And the side characters were also quite amusing! I kinda feel like I may need a bit more about some of them! Absolutely recommend this for someone looking to get into the holiday spirit.

The premise of this book seems like a madcap story.
You have the Christmas holidays, a Hallmark type holiday movie being filmed, a former boy band member trying to clean up his career by doing the movie…then throw in a few porn stars.
It made for a really original, hilarious story. It worked for me so well.
It was so funny, warm and really clever. It does have bit of a zany vibe that I really loved.
All of the secondary characters are a tad eccentric, they were so amusing.
The steamy/sexy factor is great, it’s mild considering the porn aspect. I loved the tension of Bee and Nolan’s attraction because they aren’t supposed to act on it. Serious consequences for their careers if they do. So, that added a great layer to the story and romance.
The characters are amazing, both are really good people, smart, caring and open minded.
I love the body image positivity and the sex positivity. Nolan’s non-judgment of Bee’s porn work was awesome to me. I adore him so much.
It was a full story with romance and serious emotions and issues for Bee and Nolan.
A lot of real life issues I feel are important are addressed in the story, it never felt forced or preachy. It flowed along with the natural progression of the story.
It’s such a fun story with big heart.
I loved the way various sexual prejudices were handled and the inclusion of so many different types of people.
Such a refreshing romance. I loved everything about it.

At first I wasn't sure how I felt about this book, it felt like "too much" over the top I couldn't wrap my head around it. But then it fell into a more comfortable rhythm and by the end I liked it. I liked the messaging about body positivity, sex workers and even tabloids and famous individuals lives.

There was quite a bit of explicit sex, so if that is something you aren't looking for maybe look somewhere else. There was a diverse cast of characters with their sexual preferences.

It wasn't necessarily my favorite romance but it had some very endearing moments and some very funny moments.

Thank you to netgalley for my e-copy!


This was cute!! It felt winter-y but not Christmas-y which I really enjoyed! I also think the authors did a great job normalizing fat rep within the porn industry and also having the discussion of normalizing and de-stigmatizing sex work as a whole. I got a little bored in the middle of the book, but besides that it was a pretty easy and enjoyable read!

I loved Julie Murphy's previous adult romance, so I was extremely excited to pick up this collaboration between her and Sierra Simone. My excitement was only furthered when I read the synopsis; I don't think I have ever read a romance with a plot even similar to this. However, I was quite disappointed when I finally read the book. The characters did not feel like real people to me, but rather devices to convey a message. Their personalities felt extremely shallow, with each only having two to three traits to speak of that were repeatedly mentioned. The page space used to harp on the male lead's sordid past could have been used to further develop his current personality or the chemistry with the female lead (which was lacking, in my opinion).

I do, however, appreciate the conversations that were had in this novel regarding sex workers, fatphobia, queerness, and privilege, especially how these topics relate to celebrity status. I also found the humor very funny and the writing easy to read. For these reasons, I will likely recommend this novel to regular romance readers looking for a new title. I do not see myself recommending this to those not already looking for another romance read as, in my opinion, this is not a notable title in the genre.

I wanted to love this so much. But something about it just fell flat.

I love the characters. I love that Bee was a plus sized porn star and she absolutely loved herself and made no apologies for her body. I love Nolan’s character and he cared for his family.

I truly did like the premise of the book. But for some reason it just don’t grip me like other books have. I adore Sierra Simone’s Priest series so I was super hopeful but it just missed the mark and I can’t exactly pinpoint why. Idk. I’m sad.

The perfect feel good, festive, and fun story. Just adorable- gobbled it right up!

There's so much fun here- a delicious Bridgertonesque, ex-boyband hero meets a curvy, plus-sized actress (and porn star)- his new costar? Ah, I just loved Bee. I loved see a plus-sized heroine that owns all parts of herself, who's confident and secure and whose life doesn't revolve around body insecurity. And I loved how Nolan falls for her. They have such a steamy connection, but also a really sweet one. I was charmed by them both, and I loved the mix of humor and heart- some subtle layers here around sexuality and entertainment and self-actualization. And the festive isn't too strong (though I love all the festive)- it's the right balance of romance and holiday.

Such a fun idea, and I just adored it. Plus- could this cover be any cuter?! But don't be fooled- this one def is still full of holiday spice. Oh what fun it is!

A Merry Little Meet Cute is the perfect spicy romance to warm up your winter holiday!

Brimming with humor and hotness, Bee and Nolan are sure to win your hearts and make you beg for more!

I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw that the dynamic powers of Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone would be combined!!

Everything but the kitchen sink!

Ok - I love some meet/cute romances and it's even better when it gets a little raunchy. This was too much! It wasn't really a meet/cute. The erotic factor was there, but the authors tried to tackle so many social issues here that it was just over the top.

Bee Hodges/Bianca von Honey - Main character. She is plus-sized, has two mom's, does porn films and has her own erotic channel, oh and she's bi-sexual. She gets cast in a Christmas movie from a Lifetime type production company.

Nolan Shaw - Former bad boy of a boy band. Recovering from a scandal involving an Olympic figure skater and 2 Dutch male speed skaters as well as other extravagant sexual behavior. Has a mother who has bi-polar disorder and a much younger sister. Father died and Nolan has to be responsible for his family.

Teddy - Also known as Ray-Ray. The producer of most of the porn films that Bee does. He has a gay son and is divorced. He is trying to find another income stream and ends up as the producer on this Christmas movie, which is how Bee gets cast.

Bee had a crush on Nolan when he was in his boy-band --INK. Nolan has a crush on Bianca von Honey. Sparks fly when they are both cast in the same film. But because the production company is all about wholesome family values - no one can find out about Bee's regular work. Nolan is trying to rebound from his previous scandals, so he cannot afford to be caught in another one. Thus, nobody can know when Nolan and Bee get together.

Of course, things go wrong, but just like in a Lifetime movie everything works out for the best. There wasn't anything really wrong with this story, but there was so much EXTRA that it just goes off the rails. There is something to be said for sex positive, fat positive, let everyone be any kind of sexual positive however it didn't all need to be said here.

💭My review🐻
I was soo excited about this book I love anything, Julie Murphy. The book was absolutely perfect. I love everything about it, The plus-size character that does sex work and the smut of the book was soo hot!!. I love all the backstories of the characters and the setting of the Christmas village. It's nice to have plus-size characters in books, something that I can kinda relate to. It was a fun read. It was funny and a perfect balance of everything. Totally not your typical Christmas story. But you won't regret reading it.

A Merry Little Meet Cute is the perfect book to lead us into the holiday season. Bee, a plus size adult film star and Nolan, a bisexual former boy band heartthrob find themselves cast alongside one another in a wholesome film. Throw a suitcase full of special toys, secret hookups and a strip club named the North Pole into the mix & things get steamy on the set!

Holidays reads can be hit or miss, especially when reading 'out of season' but this was such a great read. It's festive & funny (without being over the top) but also super sex positive (which I love but sometimes isn't always the case when we have a plus size lead). Both of Bee's moms support her 100% and Nolan is a HUGE fan of her work too ;)

I definitely recommend adding this one to your holiday reading TBR - you won't be disappointed. I have read and loved every other book of Sierra's however this was my first book by Julie & I am eager to check out more of her work.