This was such a stinking cute book. I so loved the main characters D'Vaughn & Kris! There are very few Black lesbian/queer romance stories out there and I'm here for more of these rom-coms!

Not everyone's coming out story is like this, but to plan a wedding that will be televised is another level of stress. Finding love isn't easy, but they journey can be interesting is you're open to it.

D’Vaughn and Kris have six weeks to plan their dream wedding.

Their whole relationship is fake.

Instant I Do could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either.

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is funny, sexy, and relatable and I look forward to more stories like this from Chencia C. Higgins!

Thank you @netgalley.

Fake Dating, Reality TV Show, Coming Out, Big Family, Body Positivity, LGBTQIA.

This was such a fun summer read/listen. D’Vaughn and Kris both sign up for a reality TV show posing as fiancees for two very different reasons, one to force herself to come out to her family and the other to find real love. The result is a fun, quick-witted, smooth story. There were a few hard-hitting moments where Higgins was able to dive into some more serious issues such as racism, homophobia and patriarchal norms but does so in such a way that it’s not forced and fits in flawlessly with the storyline.

In the end, I was a bit let down that you didn’t hear anything from D’Vaughn’s mother with the big reveal but with that being said I still loved the ending. It was fresh and fun and totally fantastic. Also speical shout out to narrator Rebecca Lee who did a fantstic job with all the different voices.

Special thank you to #NetGalley, #ChenciaCHiggins and #DreamscapeMedia for sharing this digital copy, these are my honest thoughts on #DVaughnAndKrisPlanAWedding. Also, a thank you to narrator #RebeccaLee.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All fluff and it dragged.

The reality TV show part wasn't as prominent as I hoped. It didn't feel like a competition. The other couples hardly showed up. And the main couple was insta-love and not believable. The characters were surface-level and I didn't connect with any of them.

The writing lacked details, lacked originality, and wasn't funny. Rebecca Lee's narration was good though. In closing, this was just too predictable and lacked substance.

Thank you Dreamscape Media for the arc!

Loved this novel! Amazing queer representation and I loved the idea of a queer reality tv show! I would recommend this to everyone

I knew that I would like this book but I was not prepared for how much I would LOVE this book. D’Vaughn and Kris are two of my favorite characters and their journey on the reality show and to falling in love was so precious, fun, sexy, emotional, and just amazing! I am obsessed with this type of romance where the two mcs communicate with each other like adults, have healthy relationships with their family and friends, call out problematic bs when it needs to be called out… and there is No. Third. Act. Conflict. WE STAN! I love love love this story and it is a new comfort read. I will be recommending this to literally everyone and reading everything else by Higgins!!!!!!! The audiobook was amazing and I loved the narrator. Such a phenomenal story with amazing delivery!!!!!

This book had a lot of heart with the chaos of a reality show premise. D'Vaughn and Kris need to convince their families they are getting married in six weeks when D'Vaughn isn't even out to her family yet.

Full of growing as a couple, the pains of coming out to religious family, and trying to determine what's real and fake between them, Kris and D'Vaughn are a highly lovable and steamy pair.

I finished this book in two days. The connection between the two main characters was great and made an enjoyable romance.

The only downside to this story was that it was a bit rushed near the end and in establishing deeper feelings between the main characters. Overall though, this was a great queer read for romance lovers.

Overall, I liked this story. The characters were fun and easy to connect with. My main issue was the reality tv show aspect. I’ve tried a few like this in the past and it seems it’s just not for me.

This book was OK for me. There were parts of the book that I really did enjoy. What I like about this book was that The couple was a mixed racist. The narrator did a great job on that in both parts. but it got a little boring towards the end.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is just a wholesome, feel-good romance. It's great for people who think they're not "romance people," because it's hip and contemporary (and both protagonists are people of color and lesbian). There are (very) minor characters who are non-binary, and the story overall is about acceptance and love.

D'Vaughn is 30 and has never been able to come out to her family. Her mom is very active in her church, and D'Vaughn assumes that her mom will disown her if she knows she is a lesbian. Since she's so paralyzed about it, she auditions for a wedding-themed reality show in which the winners are able to convince their families that they've fallen in love and are getting married in just 6 weeks. This way, D'Vaughn figures, she'll be forced to come out to her mom and siblings and the chips will fall where they may.

Kris is an Instagram starlet who's been out since she was a teenager, and her large Mexican family loves and accepts her. She auditions for the reality show because she is looking for the real deal, not just fans sliding into her DMs and just having a physical relationship.

These two are, of course, paired off by the producers of the show, and have to fake date and convince their respective families that they are in love and getting married on a serious time crunch! They're attracted to each other, but what happens when things get serious? Can Kris convince D'Vaughn that she's interested in the log haul, beyond winning the show? Can D'Vaughn pluck up the courage to come out to her family and rally her confidence to believe that Kris has true feelings for her?

You already know how the story will end, but the point here is representation. I don't think I'm spoiling anything to say that D'Vaughn finds acceptance and they both find love. <3 This story has body positivity, Black joy, Mexican joy, lesbian sex (so be aware that it's in there), the works. It's just a really sweet story. The conflicts are believable, the drama exists but is low key.

I listened to the audio version; Rebecca Lee is great at dialogue; she brings lots of emotion and realistic tone to her characters. I could've done with a bit more differentiation between characters, but that's always my #1 complaint in single-narrator audiobooks. She moved easily between accents and made the story flow nicely.

Honestly this was so cute!!! D’Vaughn and Kris are the only girlies that have ever made instant love enjoyable for me!!! I loved the story so much even though I would’ve more moments between them outside of the show. I definitely need to grab the physical copy for this book and if you haven’t you’re missing out!

-F/F
-Multicultural couple
-Reality TV program
-I like you but I don’t know if you like me
-Big intrusive family
CW: Homophobia

This review is for the audiobook version of this book. YAY! I'm so happy this is out in audio. Still cute as EVER. This book is really well done in any version.

I have told everyone who will sit for five seconds about this book because it was.... refreshing.
I told a friend I had romance novel PTSD. I love drama so I pick books with big impossible problems to solve and then critique how the author wrote the characters solving the problem. When i picked up this book about a couple trying to get on a dating game show to fake a wedding and win some money and one of them wants to use the show to come out to her friends & fam, I was ready for the drama, honey!
But this book... this was the hug I want in a romance novel. I read very heavy stuff, so when I want love I want love and I got it.
Moments that made me tear up (not cry because I am a thug and thugs don't cry)- conversations with Kris' Mama, D'Vaughn's entire family, the therapy session and the epilogue.

A good time--so long as you don't think too hard about it.

This book was a fun read, but lacked that extra star power for me. The representation was amazing and refreshing--an all Black cast celebrating queer love and joy? I can't remember the last time I read something like that.

However, to me, the romance in this story just didn't feel earned. Perhaps I have a personal vendetta against love at first sight tropes, but chalking up a relationship to unknowable and unjustified chemical "attraction" just doesn't do it for me.

The book is also told in split point of view, which I think worked well for most of it, but there were many times where I could not tell whose POV we were in. I was listening to the audio version, so this could maybe have been helped by a move obvious change by the narrator or even the use of two narrators.

That said, if you're looking for a fun, low-stakes, and low-effort beach read this summer, this book is still definitely worth your time.

3.75⭐ on 🎧
R for some 🌶️ times

What would you get if you combined Married at First Sight, TLC's Four Weddings and The Bachelorette? I think it would look something like the reality show Instant I Do that D'Vaughn and Kris end up on as they trick their family into believing they're getting married six weeks even though they just met.

The reality show's premise was honestly pretty bizarre, but I loved D'Vaughn and Kris so much. The discussions they had with their family on accepting race and sexuality was so important. Also so many of the side characters--their friends and family--were so fun and unique and I loved them too. I enjoyed watching these two work to break down their walls and come together in a way that was so special.

I feel like this would be a great book to take on vacation this summer to just enjoy a funny story that will entertain you. If you enjoy a good romance that's diverse with a sapphic couple with Latinx and black identities and you love reality TV, this is a great book to pick up!

This was perfectly fine… I enjoyed it but I honestly was expecting more. A quick read overall but I definitely have found better sapphic romances so I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so sweet and wonderful. The chemistry between D’Vaughn and Kris was great and the concept of fake love turned real was fun. This was a fast paced romance and was a great book to listen to.

Where to start with this book? It was wonderful!

Story: This story was an interesting twist on fake dating. The main characters enter a fake dating show where contestants are paired up and need to convince their families that they are going to get married, One character is using the show to come out to her family. The way the author wrote this scene of the story was informative and gave me a different perspective on things. The way we react and the things we say, while we think it is ok, may not be. It wasn't cut and dry, but gave a well rounded perspective.

I liked the way the author wrote the story. The writing was great and I liked the way it broken down. Because it is a reality TV show the story is broken down by weeks. It is told in dual POV including their confessions. This whole story really stands out as a whole.

Audio: The narrator was a fantastic choice for this story. She brought out the personality of each character and made each one feel like a real person. Not just a character in the story.

I recommend this getting this as an audiobook!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this book.

I really enjoyed this one! This was a cute, fun, quick read.

I loved the supportive dynamic Kris had with her family & the effort Devaughn’s family made to support her as well ❤️

Also the reality show romance plot was very entertaining.

The happy ever after trope is always fun & this was a great display of diverse characters navigating the dating world. I would definitely read this again!

A contemporary sapphic romance novel that doesn't hesitate to address issues of homophobia, body shaming, and racism while it delivers a satisfying romance. Framed in a reality show setting.

Reality show contestants D'Vaughn and Kris must plan a wedding without letting their family and friends know that their engagement is fake. If they can work together to convince their loved ones that they are getting married, they win $100,000. Will pretending to be in love lead to real love?

I jumped at the chance to listen to this book and I wasn't disappointed. D'Vaughn and Kris Plan A Wedding was such a great listen! It is a satisfying, feel good sapphic romance. While this is a light-hearted read, Chencia C. Higgins doesn't shy away from addressing some serious issues (homophobic microaggressions and racism to name a couple). I loved how D'Vaughn and Kris had each others' backs whether it was shenanigans thrown at them by the reality show producers or tough conversations with family members. Their chemistry and communication are hallmarks of their relationship. I adored both D'Vaughn and Kris's characters, and their family members add so much to the story as well.

For those interested in the audiobook, I really enjoyed Rebecca Lee's narration. I typically prefer separate narrators for dual POV romances, but Lee does a great job of differentiating the main characters. Plus, Lee brought all of the humor and supportiveness of the D'Vaughn and Kris's families to life. Thanks to Lee, I smiled and laughed as I listened.

This sweet, fun romance is filled with feels, spice, family, and friendship. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic pride month book! I love a great LGBTQ+ story and this one really delivered. A reality TV show casts a diverse group of people who they pair off to try to convince their family they are marrying a stranger. Imagine the premise of that show and then two people trying to decipher what is real and what is just for the cameras.

A great story with one character who needs help coming out to her family and another who is confidently themselves. The two main characters are likable, funny, and romantic. I liked that the whole plot of this book wasn't about coming out but that it played a role. To watch someone who some might call shy come into her own and start to show her true self is fantastic. Trying to figure out if they are in love or what is really happening was fun and flirty but the characters struggle with acceptance and confidence is real and sweet. The dual POV made the love and connection feel strong and the spicy scenes extra fiery. Seeing how both people felt going into a situation or coming out of one was a great.

Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants something fun, flirty, and sweet. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!