☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: March 11, 2025

Cover: Adorable.
Title: Adorable.
Concept: Adorable.

But unfortunately, the writing style was not for me. I found it entirely too slow. Also the FMC, was unbearable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martins Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

“My Big Fat Fake Marriage” by Charlotte Stein had all the things I love. These things included tropes such as fake dating/marriage, forced proximity, only one bed on a road trip writer retreat etc. I loved the chemistry between Beck and Hazel and it was neat to see this extreme form of acceptance of someone,quirks and all, as Hazel struggles to accept herself all while showing Beck unconditional acceptance for the first time in his life.

The miscommunication trope was strong in this book and overall it was well done but felt a bit over the top at times. I loved the fierce protectiveness of Beck toward Hazel and the way he was able to really see her. This coupled with his aversion to this idea of toxic masculinity was really refreshing to see in an MMC. The spice was super steamy and fun as well. I did find the way Hazel sometimes responded to Beck to be a bit hard to read even though I get that it came from her past trauma. The secondary characters were fun especially Mabel and Alfie. A fun read overall and one that I would recommend if you like some serious spice in your life 😝.

5/5 ⭐️s
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - heavy spice

LOVES:
- The commentary on “Nice Guys” is pretty spot on 😑 and holy cow, Hazel’s trust issues run far and deep! Seeing Beck shatter her assumptions and just be the nicest guy with no expectations is tremendously heartwarming 💖
- As much as Beck makes you laugh and be a little confused, he is so incredibly endearing. I love him 💗
- They both end up reassuring each other into being comfortable with their true selves 🥰
- The absolute torture and agony Hazel (and Beck) is in is all at once hilarious, pitiful, and 🔥 This book is dirty, dirty, dirty 😏
- The ICP reference is iconic 😂 and I love a man who reads smutty books 💙
- That basketball game is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever read!

This is the horniest, sweetest book ever written. It feels like your hilarious best friend is just telling you a story - so easy to read. If you’re looking for a quirky, sexy writer, Charlotte Stein delivers.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC 💝 Releases on March 11th!

[ARC review]
MY BIG FAT FAKE MARRIAGE by Charlotte Stein is a ton of fun.

If its predecessor (When Grumpy Met Sunshine) is about a thinly veiled Roy Kent, this one is a thinly veiled Ted Lasso. Which, y'know what? I don't hate. I did briefly cover my face laughing when I realized it, but it's a great premise, especially given the two books together.

I've been very burnt out lately, having a hard time even getting through books. But I flew through this one. Beck isn't exact Ted Lasso (he's much taller and harrier) but he has that middle America "gee whiz" innocence, while also being incredibly intelligent. I think I needed to read something with that kind of wholehearted wholesome earnestness.

The premise is that Beck and Hazel live across from each other. She finds out he lied at work about being married, and through a series of hijinks, is now going on a two week writing retreat with him...pretending to be his wife. But whoops, they are very attracted to each other, the sexual tension heats until it boils over.

It's sweet, it's spicy, it's all about letting people see who you really are. I really enjoyed it.
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#NetGalley #ARCreview #MyBigFatFakeMarriage

"My Big Fat Fake Marriage” by Charlotte Stein is an absolute gem that had me laughing out loud from start to finish. This delightful romantic comedy is a brilliant blend of wit, charm, and heartfelt moments that make it an unputdownable read.

Stein's impeccable dialogue is one of the standout features of this novel. Each conversation between the characters is laced with humor and authenticity, making them feel real and relatable. The witty banter, especially between the protagonists, adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the already captivating storyline.

The plot is refreshingly original, revolving around a fake marriage that spirals into a series of hilarious and unexpected events. Stein masterfully crafts each scene with a perfect balance of comedy and romance. The chemistry between the characters is palpable and their journey is both entertaining and heartwarming.

What I truly appreciated about this book is its ability to make me laugh out loud while also tugging at my heartstrings. Stein has a remarkable talent for blending humor with emotion, creating a narrative that resonates long after you've turned the last page.

Charlotte Stein's writing reminds of Olivia Dade's books. I tried reading Stein's first book, but I ended up setting it aside. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one, but My Big Fat Fake Marriage totally redeemed Stein for me. Let's start off with Beck. He is the cinnamon roll of cinnamon rolls, and he really just seems like the sweetest guy. From the beginning, the reader just wants everything to work out for him. I also liked Connie's character. I was rooting for her and Beck the entire story and I was completely invested in their happy ending. I like how Stein's writing is inclusive of different body types. Add in a fake marriage trope and I am completely sold. Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital coy of this book.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the eARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts!

Charlotte Stein! OMG. This book was... something! LOL

I actually had a lot of fun with this fat girl book about Connie and her neighbor, Henry Beckett, who end up in a fake marriage and on vacation on a writer's retreat. Connie's concerned about her nice neighbor, Henry, because his mustache isn't as perky and his hair is a little out of place. Turns out? He lied about having a wife and now needs to go on a writer's retreat with the colleague that likes to bully him mercilessly about everything.

Connie, an aspiring writer herself, is scheduled to go on the retreat, and ends up proclaiming she's his wife at a random event where the bully is present.

THEN HENRY ASKS HER TO FILL OUT A SURVEY, and he buys her cute pajamas in her size, and he does loads of things to make her more comfortable and to feel seen.

I just loved Henry a whole lot. He's a respectful horndog. And I loved it.

The final 40% of the book is very chemistry/physically focused. I think that's just what Charlotte does... and I had a fun time listening.

This is book #2 in this universe, and we get to see the characters from When Grumpy Met Sunshine, so that's FUN.

Read if you LOVE:
- fat rep
- body positivity
- superhero references
- a nice guy book editor who has read *all* the things in fiction
- a brazen fmc
- a MMC who is both kind AND kinda naughty (secretly)
- forced proximity
- fake marriage
- British FMC x American MMC
- LOTS of references to pop culture/books/etc. INCLUDING QUANTUM LEAP, which my mom loved

4 solid stars on both the ebook and the ALC front. I love the British narrator who brought Connie to life.

3.5/5 - My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a fake marriage, forced proximity, one bed rom-com between neighbors Connie and Henry. After being burned by love one time too many, Connie Evans became suspicious of "nice guys," thinking they were hiding some nasty secrets. That conviction gets flipped when she meets her neighbor, Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck for short. Beck is a cheerful, nerdy, bow tie wearing, book editor who leaves baked treats at her door while says things like “oh fudge.” Though he seems super friendly, Beck tells Connie that he’s been single forever despite telling his coworkers that he’s married; in order to avoid the office bully. While at a company writing retreat Beck’s lie gets close to being discover when Connie comes up, pretending to be his wife. While sharing a small room with one bed and participating in the retreat's activities, their fake relationship starts to feel real; forcing Connie to confront her trust issues and consider that Beck might be nicer than he seems. Between miscommunication, internal angst, and, of course that one bed, nothing could go wrong; right.

While a fun read you will probably enjoy it more if you avoid thinking about its believability while reading, as it will affect your interpretation of the story. Beck, a major golden retriever or cinnamon roll, while being a charming character, felt more fictitious than real; a man in his thirties, who is a virgin and has never kissed, seems almost unreal. His interactions with Connie were enjoyable.Their relationship was a slow burn, but this book does have some spice.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #StMartinsGriffin

Henry Beckett is a nice guy. He leaves treats for his neighbor Connie and she isn’t sure why. The story is told entirely from Connie’s POV. It turns out that Henry is an excellent editor but his big secret is that at work he has claimed to be married and that she is his wife. Connie, an aspiring writer herself, agrees to go on a writing retreat and pose as his fake wife. Henry is essentially a tall, mustached, bow tie wearing Ned Flanders. No curse word is slipping through his lips. Connie doesn’t trust nice guys because past experience says they will let you down.

At the retreat they are sharing a room and a bed and lots of firsts for Henry. The tropes are fun, closed proximity, fake relationship, quirky character, he’s less experienced. But this came off as more a fantasy story than realistic romance. I do like the curvy girl representation. I remember the author had that with her last book as well. Fun storyline with lots of spice. (3.5 Stars)

Add an adorable leading man in need of a wife and a plus size leading lady who is skeptical of his motives for his attention. Add some spice and we have a lovely romance. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book. The opinions are my own.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is brimming with charming and endearing characters, accompanied by a captivating romance that kept me eagerly flipping through the pages.

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this one. A fake dating story about a jaded woman and her lovable dork of a fake husband sounds right up my alley, but unfortunately I just didn’t love it like I thought I would.

The story is silly, sweet, and sexy, but seemed to focus more on spice than anything else. The fake dating premise was flimsy and the main character is so aggressively horny that it became distracting.

The plot and characters were simply not realistic, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still have fun reading those and cheering for these two goobers to get together in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

An easy fun read, going into it knowing it’ll be a fast smutty little joyride. Enjoyed the characters too!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for my advanced copy

Connie had bad experiences with so-called nice guys. Henry Samuel Beckett is single but told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when she defends him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have. Together on a retreat, it might not be as fake as they believe.

Connie was burned by a number of Nice Guys (TM) that only wanted sex after dates as if she owed them. We get a rundown of this all in chapter one, seeing the paranoia and prickly surface she projects to the world. This makes her suspicious of her neighbor Beck, but he's actually the bumbling himbo type, unable to lie convincingly and socially awkward. She comes to his defense when a smarmy coworker puts him down, and the two perpetuate it for the retreat because Beck is running it and he'll be there.

Beck and Connie get along very well once they start talking with each other. They have some common interests and a matching sense of humor, which is really fun to see on the page. It gets steamy in close contact, and the two reveal a lot about themselves and their desires beyond the physical. At the same time, they fear that the connection isn't entirely real. It's a fun romcom with a cinnamon roll hero that has hidden depths. Connie faced her fears of being good enough in a relationship and in writing, and we get a lovely happily ever after.

3.75/5 rounded up

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reading copy!

Another sweet and spicy story from Charlotte Stein! I really enjoyed WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE and was excited for some cameos from Mabel and Alfie in this book.

Beck was the BEST -- sweet cinnamon roll angel and I loved him so much. He started out sweet and turned into spicy which is the most fun thing to witness in my opinion. Our FMC -- who I will call Hazel, because the Connie/Hazel thing felt odd and unnecessary to me -- was great, as well. We hear this entire story through her stream-of-consciousness perspective, which I can find annoying but loved in this case. It's so believable and well-written, you truly feel like you're right there with her. It could be frustrating to hear her not believe in herself and their feelings for each other, but I know that's just part of the book and, ultimately, made her more loveable.

This book was definitely fun to listen to. I enjoyed the story thoroughly and the spice was super sexy and well done. I don't totally buy-in to their romantic feelings for each other, rather feel that this was wrapped up in lust and sex more than anything else. I guess you just need to go into this book knowing that you're getting something fun and raunchy and not anything super deep -- and that's totally okay if that's what you want! I would absolutely read more by Charlotte Stein and hope for more books like this in the future! The writing retreat setting was great and that basketball scene -- IYKYK. I love a fun story and this was definitely that!

I came to Charlotte Stein from When Grumpy Met Sunshine and loved how fun and sexy her book was, and My Big Fat Fake Marriage delivers the same. I also loved the cameos of Mabel and Alfie from WGMS.

Hazel is jaded and cautious, but also pure-hearted so when she learns her neighbor, Beck, lied about having a wife because of a bully at work, she decides the best solution is to claim that role and show that bully what’s what. Unfortunately what she thinks can be a quick turnaround of “oh we got divorced after all” turns out can’t be the case because the writer’s retreat she’s been looking forward to? Beck is the one running the whole thing and now there’s only one bed.

I really enjoyed how obviously smitten Beck is from the beginning, and Hazel’s complete inability to recognize it because she’s never been treated with care or the manners that Beck gives freely. I also loved how horny this book is, and how sexy things are between Beck and Hazel. The way Hazel describes both her own fat body and Beck’s large figure brought extra layers of delight to me reading the book.

This was a really fun, lighthearted jaunt that brought joy to a stressful week. I love Stein’s humor and look forward to more books from her!

Connie has always been wary of nice guys, believing they often hide unpleasant secrets. Then she meets Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck, a cheerful and sweet editor who loves bow ties. Despite his sunny demeanor, Beck reveals he's been single his whole life but has told his colleagues he's married. Connie, an aspiring writer, steps in to play his fake wife. During a writing retreat, surrounded by skeptical colleagues, their act starts to feel real. As they share intimate moments and grow closer, Connie begins to wonder if their relationship might be genuine after all.

This may be the quirkiest book that I have ever read, but I devoured it and loved every second of reading it. The banter and tension were on point this whole entire book, and Connie's inner angst was just so good. I don't think I was expecting the level of spice that came from this book.. We went from very wholesome to very spicy, quite quickly. I really think the tension added to the spice here and I enjoyed it all.

I LOVED Beck and Connie so much- both full of many insecurities of their own but so supportive and caring towards one another, and it was sooo wholesome. You could truly see their growth throughout the book. I felt so many emotions while reading this, but I also laughed out loud so many times. If you need a good, quirky, romantic comedy read- definitely give this one a read!

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 4/5

Tropes:
Fake Marriage
One Bed
The BIGGEST Freaking Cinnamon Roll MMC
Forced Proximity
Curvy FMC

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Charlotte Stein for a chance to read this gifted ARC. All thoughts are my own.

What happens when the guy who has trouble lying, and the person who distrusts everyone end up posing as a married couple?

I enjoyed this book which explores that situation. This is a sweet read with some spice. I would recommend to anyone looking for a quick beach read.

I received a free advance review copy through from St Martins Press through NetGalley and my review is voluntary.

This book fell between 3.5 and 3.75 stars for me, which I've rounded up to four for this review.

Connie is maybe convinced that her neighbor, book editor Henry Samuel Beckett aka Beck, is a serial killer, I mean someone can't just greet his neighbors everyday and drop off baked goods out of the goodness of his heart right? It doesn't help that she's convinced that no nice guy is ever actually just a nice guy. And it really doesn't help that he's mentioned a wife that Connie can see no evidence of. After noticing he's had a bad day, by seeing that he didn't iron pleats into his pants no less, she goes to his apartment only to find what she considers evidence to confirm everything she suspects. However, it turns out Beck has made up a fake wife to keep a cruel co-worker off of his back and he's trying to keep every lie he's been telling straight. This wouldn't be a romance if Connie didn't end up assuming that role herself. Their fake marriage is further complicated as Connie will need to attend a two week writing retreat planned by Beck and share a retreat cabin with Beck and cruel co-worker. And of course there's only one bed.

This was my first foray into Charlotte Stein and I really enjoyed myself! I think i will definitely be jumping into her back list sooner rather than later. I appreciated Connie's growth as a character and her journey to accepting herself for who she is and what she likes, not what she thinks will make her seem "cool" and interesting. I also liked how sweet Beck was and his sense of justice. However, I did find that I had a hard time with a lot of Beck's dialogue. There were points where it felt like he was speaking as a caricature of an American who is uber polite and considerate, but not actually how a person would talk. I found that that eased up the further we got into the book, but it did make some portions of the first 40-ish percent of the book hard for me to get through.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the ARC!

Connie has always distrusted nice guys, because she expects them to turn out to be awful guys - experience has taught her as much. When she meets her adorable, bow tie-wearing, American neighbor, Becks who also happens to be an editor who works with her friend, Mabel.

Underneath the golden retriever exterior, Becks suffers from self-doubt and he panics at work by telling a lie - that he's married! Connie is an aspiring writer herself, so she offers to play the part of his fake wife at a writing retreat. It stays fake until their first kiss and they have to share a bed and interact like a married couple would.

There are 2 tropes I adore and this romance has both of them - fake marriage & only one bed! It also has sexy times and moments I laughed so hard that I scared my cat awake from its nap.

Charlotte Stein is a master of writing the awkward character who doesn't realise how loveable they are & this romance is no exception to that rule.

My honest review is given in exchanging for receiving the eARC from Netgalley - thanks to the author and publisher.