cute and a bit unrealistic but it kinda works. 4 stars. tysm for the arc. would potentially recommend to readers willing to ignore plot holes.

I’m going to do something that goes against all my training and begin this review with the negatives.

First, the plot of this Stein novel is quite thin. I don’t expect romance novels to be potty, but I like a sensible, thoughtful plot that moves forward. This was….not that. It was pretty flimsy. I also didn’t connect with Connie/Hazel much as a romantic heroine; she often felt more like a caracature and less of a real character. And, this is just a me-thing, but I really need character description and she felt more like a blank slate.

But now the good.

Henry Samuel Beckett has rewritten what my brain now expects from a romantic novel’s hero. Stein’s portrayal of him is so earnest, so soft, so pitch-perfect even in his flaws. He had me grinning like an idiot at my phone (that I was reading on, not just in general). He is both so amazingly tender and gentle but also so incredibly sexy. I honestly tried to read a different romance novel the next day (that had been widely acclaimed and blurbed with a “charming” cinnamon roll hero) and I honestly couldn’t read it because it could not compete.

Maybe in a few days I’ll get back into the swing of things and my entire brain won’t have been obliterated by Henry Samuel Beckett, but for now, I’m perfect fine with it.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Charlotte Stein’s books are always just a little bit off normal-in a fun way- and filled with sarcasm! (Love the Marge & Stencil comment!!). It’s like you think you know whats happening even though the words say something different and then you’re shocked at the end when they go the way they do! A fun book!

I didn't really enjoy the last Charlotte Stein book I read but I thought I'd give her another shot because this one sounded fun but I actually enjoyed this even less. This writing feels like it's trying to be one of those steamy books that takes off on TikTok but it lacks any sort of heart to me. And I didn't even really care about the characters no matter how much I tried so I just found it incredibly difficult to care what was happening or where the plot was going. I think I'll be giving Stein a miss from here on out.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Griffin for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a charming and lighthearted romantic comedy that explores the complications of fake relationships turning into something more.
So funny and sweet! The characters are perfect, and the story was entertaining! Great for fans of fake dating / marriage trope!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Griffin for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever thought that good guys' are just a myth, hiding their true colors behind a polished image? Connie Evans sure did. She’s convinced that perfect, trustworthy men don’t exist—until she meets her neighbor, Henry Samuel Beckett, better known as Beck.

Beck is not your typical love interest. He’s a playful, bow-tie-wearing book editor who brings Connie homemade treats. Despite his sunny personality, Beck admits he’s clueless about romantic relationships. In fact, he’s so private about his love life (or lack thereof) that when his colleagues pressure him with questions, he panics and blurts out a lie—he tells them he’s married.

Of course, that little white lie spins out of control. When his coworkers plan a company retreat and expect to meet his 'wife,' Beck’s secret marriage is on the verge of being exposed. Enter Connie—a reluctant but good-hearted neighbor. She offers to step in and play the role of Mrs. Beck temporarily. What’s supposed to be a fake arrangement turns into something much more complicated when their close quarters start to blur the line between pretend and reality. As Connie gets to know the genuine, thoughtful man beneath Beck’s quirky exterior, she starts doubting her own no-good-guys theory. Could Beck actually be the real deal?

This story takes on a bunch of familiar rom-com favorites—like faking a relationship and forcing two people into confined spaces. Sure, the premise is a bit far-fetched, but that’s part of its charm. It’s not about realism; it’s about embracing the fun, sweet, and slightly ridiculous journey.

Now, let’s talk about Beck. He’s lovable, no doubt, but almost *too* perfect in some ways. His innocent backstory—how he’s made it into his thirties without ever having kissed anyone—might feel a little exaggerated for some readers. Then again, that might be exactly what makes him so endearing. He’s the guy you root for, even if he doesn’t seem entirely real.

If you’re hunting for a book that’s light, funny, and heartwarming, *My Big Fat Fake Marriage* is definitely the book for you.

So funny! The characters are sweet and the story was entertaining! Great for fans of fake dating / marriage trope!

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a charming and lighthearted romantic comedy that explores the complications of fake relationships turning into something more. Connie, a woman who's learned to distrust "nice guys," is thrown for a loop when she meets Henry "Beck" Samuel Beckett, a sweet, quirky editor with a penchant for bow ties. His confession that he’s been pretending to be married, leading Connie to become his fake wife, sets the stage for a fun and heartfelt story.

The chemistry between Connie and Beck is undeniable, with the tension between them building as they embark on a writing retreat where the line between their pretend relationship and real emotions blurs. Stein skillfully blends humor with romance, crafting a narrative that is both playful and emotionally resonant. Connie's internal struggles about falling for Beck, while battling her mistrust of "nice guys," make her character relatable and endearing.

What really makes My Big Fat Fake Marriage shine is its balance of wit and warmth, creating a story that feels light but never superficial. Readers who enjoy the fake-to-real romance trope will find this book an absolute delight, with its quirky characters, engaging banter, and slow-burning romance. It's a perfect read for anyone seeking a heartwarming, feel-good rom-com.

This again reminded me of Ted Lasso (specifically, Ted’s personality). This quite possibly one of the sexiest books I’ve ever read. I’ll read anything Stein writes at this point.

This was such a cute and fluffy romance! This book made me laugh and swoon! It had fake marriage, a cinnamon roll MMC and a curvy FMC in forced proximity! I ATE THIS TF UP

Thanks to netgalley, the publisher & author for the ARC. This was one of the funniest, best and most loving ROM -Coms. I’ve read. The spice is top tier, I loved the whole aspect & you have to read it yourself to experience the best forced proximity & fake wedding tropes.

I loved Stein’s first book, and this review likely mirrors others before this one. Beck is an awkward virgin version of Ted Lasso with extra height. The story goes from zero spice to four chilis in the span of a chapter…and the communication for the entire book feels forced because Beck talks like he’s never used words in conversation before (but writes like he’s just won the Booker Prize?) Hazel is a character who I was rooting for, but eventually, her lack of self-love grated on me a little too much and I didn’t care anymore.

One thing that I thought could use more attention was the background. This FLEW past, and I constantly had to back up to make sure I didn’t skip pages because surely this book didn’t gloss over whatever it just did…it felt like the editor said “no background, as little detail as possible, just keep the basic plot line” which was unfortunate.

To be transparent, I read this in one sitting, no breaks. I enjoyed it, despite the holes—and I would gladly read anything else this author writes!

It was kind of fortuitous that I stumbled across this ARC about 5 days after reading 'When Grumpy Met Sunshine,' and even luckier that I was approved to read and review (-thanks NetGalley, thanks, St Martin's!!!). Stein's writing is funny and warm, and her characters have great banter and chemistry. This book was a joy from start to finish. My only hangup was that the villain was a little cartoonish, but that's not the worst thing to have in a romance novel. I would recommend this to a reader who is looking for something light with a liberal amount of spice.

It’s taken me a while to write this review because I really struggled with this one. The MMC was written in a way that was just unbelievable and the FMC was a little annoying to read, however I was into the story more as it went on. Henry genuinely cared for Connie and he was very sweet to her. I liked how they stood up for each other too. It took me a while to get through the book, I did end up enjoying it.

This is really the sweet, cozy (yet spicy) read I needed while it feels like the world is falling apart. Connie has always been super self conscious, changing herself from a girl with glasses who loves Quantum Leap to a woman with contacts who is always waiting for men to let her down. But when her sweet across the hall neighbour Beck lets it slip that he's been pretending to be married, Connie decides to pretend to be the kind of woman Beck would be married to - who is an awful lot like the person Connie always felt like she needed to hide.

At one point, when it was mentioned the golden retriever of a main character was American, I assumed they must mean Canadian. Beck is far more reminiscent of our neighbours to the far north. But as the book went on, the pure kindness and respect he and Connie have for each other really did shine through. These two deserved to live happily ever after - and we all deserve a little kindness in our lives. I will definitely be checking out Charlotte Stein's other books in a time when I can use to believe we all deserve a kind happily ever after.

2.5 stars. Really fun, quicky fluffy little book. But the sugar sweet MMC really annoyed me with the sickly sweet language. Preferential to a grumpy MMC here. Thank you for access to the ARC, I did really enjoy reading this in one sitting.

A light refreshing read!
I will admit that it took me a bit of time to get started on this book, for some reason I could not get past the first chapter. Once I did get started though, I had a great time! I will always love a book that has great plus-size representation and this book displays that loud and proud! I also enjoyed seeing the character dynamics between Connie and Henry and watching as Connie learns that not all men are evil. I also really enjoyed the setting of this book, seeing characters pulled out of their comfort zone is always an amusing time. I gave the book 3 stars because while it was a fun read, to me it was a fairly predictable story with classic tropes and plot points. This is not necessarily a deal breaker for me but it something to keep in mind, readers should not go into the book expecting a life-changing experience but if it's kept it fun and light I believe the reader will have a great time! It's a perfect read for people (like me) who enjoy the comfort of a book they've already read with slight variations to the story.

First, this is totally a sequel to When Grumpy Met Sunshine. It can be read without it, but Mabel and Alfie show up. So you might want to read them in order.

Connie/Hazel seems to be the attempt at a black cat. However, her mind is so all over the place, that it comes off mostly as disjointed. There was more than one moment I had to go back and reread because I wasn't able to follow the sentence or paragraph. I'm happy to see that there are more paragraphs in this book than When Grumpy Met Sunshine, the formatting of that book was rough for me. Hazel is hiding behind the "life lessons" her parents instilled in her: be normal, hide your intelligence, men don't want the real you. She wants to be a writer, but has been holding herself back. She signs up for a writer's retreat to give herself the push she separately needs.

When it comes to Beck, I love the idea of a man who books like a bear, but is a golden retriever. However, he crossed the line from adorable to caricature for me. Especially at the beginning. How on earth did he get where he is in his career if he has NO ability to advocate for himself? He gets so flustered by Doug's teasing that he invents a wife? He felt too bumbling and hokey. And I wanted to like him SO much. It took until we got to the retreat and we got how he saw Hazel.

For me, what saved this book was the sexual chemistry. I know. That's a very weird thing to say, but once we saw Hazel's libido fall for Beck, and her mind catch up, the relationship really started for me. It was like their sexual longing was the vehicle for me to grasp their emotional longing. I wish we had set with Beck's inexperience a little bit more. It was almost a throw away. I feel like being vulnerable connecting with someone on that level for the first time is a big deal.

This sets up her style for me. While I see gaps in this book, the overall experience of a forced proximity, fake marriage, with a one bed...is usually a big old yes for me.

Sweet romance, if a little over the top

Beck is a big teddy bear, a little on the neuro-divergent end of the spectrum, a genuinely nice guy who has trouble expressing himself to his peers. Connie, on the other hand, appears to be an extrovert but it masks a lifetime of insecurities that have kept her from making a real connection.

Connie is a little hard to read sometimes, mostly because she has no experience with a truly nice man so she doesn't quite know what to do with him. I loved watching her learn to trust her own judgment as she gets to know him and is able to be her authentic self with him.

This was my first book by this author, and while I genuinely enjoyed the story I did feel that a lot of the descriptions were a bit too earnest, but if that's what you're looking for you'll feel right at home. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This was a classic feel good romance where the main character has to learn to love herself before she can truly accept love from others.

It was a beautiful story, watching Connie’s journey of slowly trusting “nice guy” beck. I can definitely understand this book may not be everyone’s favorite, but it is sweet and easy to read.

Personally, this hits all the marks. Fake marriage, forbidden romance(self-inflicted), golden retriever. The only thing I don’t always enjoy is the FMC tearing herself down so much she almost refuses to see the love in front of her(until she does!).

This had great comedy and some really sweet moments. I’d definitely recommend this book for a quick, wholesome read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for providing me with an Arc!!