Have you ever wanted to read what it’s like to fake date the MOST cinnamon roll man possible? If so, this book is for you. Beck is such a sweet and innocent human, and Hazel is volunteering her trusts-no-man self to help him look good in front of his workplace bully. Their fake relationship was cute, and I loved the end of this book!

Sometimes it felt like Beck was way too innocent, like there is no way a six foot five 37 year old man is too embarrassed to use a single innuendo or is constantly putting himself down while he’s talking. It got old after a while. Fortunately this was part of his character arc, I just wish it happened a lot sooner than it did.

Overall a cute love story, very horny, and the note writing scenes were some of my favorites.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the early copy!

I honestly could not get in board with the MMC. I DNF’d 20% into it and this is only the third or fourth book I couldn’t finish in 3 years.

I thought his mannerisms were a bit childish and his vernacular was very immature as well. And I just could not move past that. Also I thought I was very stereotypical of what a midwestern American would sound like.

Connie was a great character and the writing was not bad by any means. Henry just gave me the ick and I couldn’t finish it

All I could think the whole time was that I should DNF because I keep thinking it'll get better and it just didn't for me. I love a plus size FMC but I felt like no connection to her or the MMC.

I enjoyed this book, despite the fact it took me a little bit to get into it. I had a hard time getting past Connie’s *everyone is terrible and no one can be trusted* mentality. Gave me some anxiety reading it at first because it felt like a never ending mental spiral. And our MMC was a cinnamon roll, which I love, but had to get through the way he talks for the first few chapters. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

Courtesy of her best friend, Connie (aka Hazel) has a new male neighbor. who is an editor But given past experiences, Connie isn't very amenable to even a friendly encounter. One thing leads to another and Connie finds out that Beck has told everyone he's married when he isn't. Plot twist #1 is the bully at the publishing house who makes Beck's life miserable. Plot twist #2 is a writing retreat which is organized by Beck. Connie ends up inserting herself as the fake wife. All is fine and good until life gets all too real. Great read that will be hard to put down!

Charlotte Stein’s My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a playful take on the fake relationship trope and adds forced proximity and slow-burn romance. The story follows Connie, a jaded aspiring writer, and Beck, a kind but socially inexperienced editor, as they navigate a fake marriage that quickly becomes more complicated than either expected. When Beck impulsively lies about being married at work, Connie steps in to maintain the illusion, leading them both to a writing retreat where their act is put to the test. One of the novel’s strengths is its humor and lighthearted tone. Beck is a refreshingly earnest male lead, and his unwavering kindness contrasts with Connie’s skepticism, but the book struggles with pacing, particularly in the first half, where Connie’s inner monologue often slows the story’s momentum. While the dialogue and banter are engaging, some sections feel repetitive, and the characters' reluctance to communicate drags out the conflict unnecessarily.

DNF at 44%

I'm really disappointed that I could not get into this book. The beginning had me smiling and laughing so I was really looking forward to reading it. But as I kept reading, the book just felt weird to me. The writing seemed almost disjointed to me. It also felt like I was speed reading and not absorbing where we were going or how we were getting there.

I just had a difficult time with both main characters in this book. Beck is clearly a Ted Lasso-like character, but it seems incredibly disingenuous. Or like a caricature instead of a person. I also had a difficult time with Connie/Hazel. I didn't enjoy how she talked about herself or Beck. Like, there was a moment when she was finding him attractive, but she kept referencing him as a "beast", really amping up their size difference but in a way that seemed very cringe and uncomfortable for me as a reader. I just couldn't keep rooting for her as the FMC. And Beck was a little too "golly gee willikers", "shucks", and "gorsh" for my tastes.

First and foremost as always thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! I really loved this one! I loved the plus size rep and I love the fake dating! You can never go wrong with a fake dating trope! Definitely worth the read!

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a sweet, awkward, and completely heart-squishy rom-com that made me feel *all* the things. If you’re into nerdy characters who are just a little bit emotionally constipated but have hearts of absolute gold? Yeah. You’re gonna want this one.

The story follows Connie—sarcastic, cautious, relatable Connie—and Beck, the human equivalent of a golden retriever in bow ties. He’s shy, kind, and the kind of cinnamon roll hero who makes you want to wrap him in a blanket and protect him from the world. I connected with Connie in a big way. Her reluctance to trust the “nice guy” felt real and honest, and watching her slowly let her guard down as she fake-married her way into Beck’s life? *Chef’s kiss*.

The fake relationship trope is one of my favorites, and Stein nails it here. There’s so much awkward tension, sweet moments, and a slow burn that has you *screaming* at them to just kiss already. And once they do? WHEW. The steam sneaks up on you in the best way. It’s tender, it’s hot, and it’s got that perfect blend of “we shouldn’t” and “but we totally are.”

Now, I won’t lie—some of the side characters and world-building felt a little undercooked. I would’ve loved more depth outside of Connie and Beck’s romance bubble, but honestly? They were so adorable together, I didn’t care. If you’re in the mood for a cozy, funny, fake marriage story with lots of heart and a virgin MMC who will melt your soul, this is it.

I think I stepped outside of my preferred genres for this one. I definitely anticipate a rom-com book but did not expect the spice level in this. Unfortunately, to me it felt like the majority of the content was spiraling inner dialog and soooo many bedroom scenes. I enjoyed the beginning and end but the entire middle felt like lots of sex that didn’t move the plot along. In my option it was over the top in the spice department. So if that’s your jam, this one is for you. I really did love Becks character. He was kind and endearing in a nerdy sort of way, which was refreshing to read about someone who seemed more like a real person than your typical romance book hunk. The truth is I put this book down for a long time because I was annoyed that they rarely left the bedroom. I wanted to know more about the writers conference they were at but that was not talked about much. All in all, I like Beck and think he steals the show but wouldn’t pick it up again.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I may have a toothache from all the sweetness but I can’t be bothered to care. I have been looking for a light, spicy, fun romance novel and I was so thankful to have found this one. I normally love a dual POV for my romances but I wasn’t even missing it for this one. Beck is such an honest man that I felt the same relief as Hazel to just have a man be so genuine. There was no need to doubt him or his intentions.

I love when traditionally rugged looking men are written to be cinnamon roles and Beck truly was the best example of that I’ve seen. I also really enjoyed the respect the author gave to how hot consent can be. The lack of instant gratification by wanting the other person to be clear with what they desire? Chefs kiss. Overall this novel was so fun to binge read. Thanks Netgalley!

This book was just ok. It was cute in some ways but mostly just unlikely. I appreciate the idea behind it but just didn’t connect the way I hoped.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage started off totally bonkers and just kept going. And I loved it! Connie is a aspiring writer. She has a distrust of nice guys because in her experience they always turn out to be losers. Her neighbor, Beck, is an editor and the ultimate nice guy. But he has a problem, he told everyone at work he’s married.

Connie sees Beck getting treated poorly by his coworker, she steps in to defend him and says that they are married. Next thing you know they are off to a writers retreat for his work, as a married couple. And you can imagine where this goes….

I loved what a sweet cinnamon roll Beck was and how he brought out Connie’s impulse to protect him at all costs. I also enjoyed how they communicated through writing - notes passed under the doors and emails. We also got to see Mabel and Alfie from When Grumpy Met Sunshine. I enjoyed getting an update on how they are doing.

Read this if you enjoy:

🩷 fake marriage
🩷 only one bed
🩷 opposites attract
🩷 open door romance

Rating ~2.5

I wanted to love this. An adorkable giant of a man and a slightly jaded curvy female lead faking a relationship? Sounds promising. Alas, this book did not deliver anything great.

In fact, at times, it is downright preposterous. If you read the book you'll understand why I use that adjective. Anyways, onto the review.

The pacing felt off to me. We went from the FMC thinking the MMC was faking niceness to wondering if he offed his non-existent wife to her stepping in to defend his honor in a few quick chapters. From there, it felt like there was a lot more lust than there was love.

Beck is a sweet guy. He is both considerate and thoughtful. His past honestly had me appalled over the fact that no one ever stepped in to defend him when he was mistreated, but I also could not understand why he never did so himself. He's clearly capable. He proved time and time again that he is capable at just about everything.

Hazel is her own unique brand of confusing. Her thoughts were like watching an amateur trying to juggle. Somewhat amusing, a bit unfortunate, and leaving you wondering if you want to applaud them simply for the effort. She fell for Beck so darn quickly. Every tender act had her falling into a tailspin and I just wanted to tell her to sit, calm down and breathe.

I finished the book convinced these two definitely liked each other and had sexual chemistry, but I definitely wouldn't go as far as to say I believed they were in love.

And to me that is the main marker of a good romance book: I believe the couple is in love by the end of the book.

Sadly, that isn't the case here.

This is a light hearted romp of a book. The MMC is adorably unrealistic in the best way possible. There is a lot more spicy than I was expecting but I had fun. If you need a nice, palette cleanser of a book, this is it.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the characters in this book, it felt like such a beautiful read overall. I read it quickly and felt so smiley afterwards.

Thank you to #NetGalley, Charlotte Stein, and the publisher of the book for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Connie has always distrusted nice guys because they usually end up revealing a big, horrible secret. But, then she meets big, adorable, Henry. He is an editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, and is so sweet, it is hard for her to believe that he is real.

Until Henry or Beck, as he’s known—tells her the secret underneath his always happy attitude: He’s been single all his life, but in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his job that he’s married. Connie, a writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t have.

They soon head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be fake, and they both kind of agree. Until they share their first kiss, first touch, and the first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.

A great romcom if you are looking for something that is charming and lighthearted. It was also nice to see two characters so nice to each other.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a fun, flirty read with great banter and plenty of chemistry. The fake marriage trope is always 10/10, and the humor keeps things engaging. While I wished for a bit more depth and development, it’s still an enjoyable, easy read for contemporary romance lovers!

This was a fast enjoyable read for me! I requested it because the title pulled me in as I loved “my big fat Greek wedding” movie. It was a light romcom that was a perfect palette cleanser between the heavy books I usually read, will be recommending!

I enjoyed this.. the second half more so. Being in Hazels head felt very chaotic at times. She kept talking about how big his hands were. Beck was the cinnamon roll expected from these books with a FILTHY mouth. Overall, a good time. Thank you for the arc!