Charlotte Stein's *My Big Fat Fake Marriage* is a delightful romantic comedy filled with humor, heart, and a dose of absurdity. It follows Connie, a witty aspiring writer wary of "nice guys," and Henry "Beck" Beckett, a cheerful editor who claims to be married despite being single.

Their dynamic is the heart of the story, showcasing sharp banter and moments of vulnerability that make their connection feel genuine. Stein expertly blends humor and heart, crafting snappy dialogue and tender romantic moments set against the backdrop of the quirky publishing world.

While the fake marriage premise isn’t groundbreaking, Stein’s execution brings freshness, exploring themes of vulnerability and self-worth. Although some secondary characters could use more development, the story remains charming and engaging.

Overall, *My Big Fat Fake Marriage* is a heartfelt and laugh-out-loud read, perfect for fans of lighthearted, emotionally resonant rom-coms.

The "Fake Relationship" trope is one of my all time favorites, so I requested this book right away.

The amazing bits:
* Plus sized main characters, which is referenced, but not focused upon.
* My favorite kind of MMC- Professional nerd on the street, sleeper agent freak in the sheets.
* Low angst conflict, there is a minor third act blip, but it resolves quickly.
* The spice was spicy, like even hotter because it was well written. At least twice I made this face 🫢 and had to put the book down while I basked in the glory of Stein's writing.

The questionable bits:
* You have to really suspend that belief. The series of events and "facts" that had to happen to make this "fake marriage while at a criminally romantic retreat" happen is a stretch even by fiction standards.
* At first blush the characters are not super tolerable or even into each other. The chemistry really doesn't smolder until a bit later on, so you do have to have faith.

Overall though, this was a fun romp that is an entertaining five-star read for me.

Here’s a blended review in your voice, emphasizing the tropes and excitement about the book:

After reading this book, I can confidently say two things: Charlotte Stein has solidified her spot on my favorite authors list, and Beck might just be my ultimate book boyfriend. He’s the perfect cinnamon roll hero—gentle, sweet, a little nerdy, an avid reader, and so thoughtful it hurts. And let’s not forget he’s great in bed. His dynamic with Connie is everything I didn’t know I needed. She’s warm, insightful, and carries her own insecurities that balance Beck’s character beautifully, making their connection feel authentic and deeply moving.

From their shy first interaction to Connie jumping to defend Beck from his office bully, I was hooked. The witty banter and pop culture references had me grinning like an idiot or laughing out loud, while the steamy scenes left me biting my lip. I couldn’t put this book down, and the moment I finished, I found myself diving back in for a re-read.

If you’re into grumpy/sunshine, fake marriage, and forced proximity romance, My Big Fat Fake Marriage is your next must-read. It’s like Ted Lasso meets When Grumpy Met Sunshine—a top-tier "two clueless dummies in love but they don’t know it yet" romance that had me squealing and kicking my feet the whole way through. Seriously, don’t sleep on this one!

I had a lot of fun with My Big Fat Fake Wedding! The fake-marriage premise hooked me right away, and Connie and Beck’s chemistry was pretty charming. Beck’s sweet, bubbly personality contrasts nicely with Connie’s more cynical side, and I liked watching them gradually open up to each other.

That said, the story felt a little predictable at times, and some of the conflict felt forced. While the setup was cute, the secondary characters and the retreat setting didn’t fully come to life for me. Still, if you’re into rom-coms with lots of humor and light romance, this one hits the mark. It's sweet, but not without its hiccups.

Actually 2.5⭐️

I really wanted to like this book more, but it was too unbelievable for me.

Beck’s character didn’t seem real at all and Hazel’s (Connie for the first few chapters?) annoyed me.

Neither character had strong backstories and everything felt rushed.

I probably would not recommend this to others.

Connie and her new neighbor, Beck, end up in a fake marriage to help Beck get his terrible coworker off his back. Connie has only ever had bad experiences with men, so while Beck seems like a sweet and wholesome guy, she is waiting for the other shoe to drop. It turns out that Beck might actually be just as sweet as he seems and might actually really like Connie. But she knows this is all fake and there's no way they could work in real life. She is too jaded and used up for someone like Beck. Beck has no experience and obviously wants a perfect wife. Connie can't be that and she won't corrupt him. However, when they realize they may have to practice kissing to help make their fake marriage believable, they find there's an unexpected connection there they can't deny no matter how much they try. Ultimately, Connie has to decide if she's worthy of someone like Beck and Beck has to realize he doesn't have to be "cool" and experienced to be with someone like Connie.

I typically like fake dating and forced proximity tropes, so this book could've been right up my alley. However I think it fell too much into telling and not showing the relationship grow between Connie and Beck. The beginning of the book felt weighed down by overdone dialogue. Beck was supposed to be an American from the Midwest, but spoke like a Brit from the 1930s. There were lots of loose threads that I wish were explored further. Connie mentions not feeling like she lived up to her parents expectations, but there are no specifics on what these are. She mentions bad dating history but it's all very vague. She seems to want to be a writer, and is going on a writer's retreat after being encouraged by her friend, but we don't know her specific goals. The spicy scenes were not my style personally, again the author is fond of lots and lots of lengthy dialogue.

Overall, just not to my particular taste. I did think Beck was sweet and wish we had gotten to know him a little better, and that some of the physical interactions could have been traded for more depth in the characters.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC for review.

This book was adorable & sexy all at the same time! Beck is such a sweet cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs. I really enjoyed how Hazel grew more comfortable with her likes/interests throughout the book & that it wasn’t focused on her being comfortable in her body - I love that was never a question or a doubt. Overall, I enjoyed this & would recommend!

I think I’m getting old…. This was such a fluffy read. However, I find myself getting the ick in certain phrases that they have used…

Thanks to Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for access to this E-ARC! So cute! Loved the plus-size rep & the characters. Fast-paced & fun concept too. Will definitely read more from this author.

Overall ok.
What worked for me: more experienced FMC showing the MMC the dirty talking ropes, cinnamon roll MMC who likes the FMC for exactly who she is. Pretty spicy once things get going.

What didn’t: The set up for the fake marriage didn’t feel compelling to me, the OTT “aw shucks” of Beck: I know he was modeled on Ted Lasso (which I’m down for) but some nuance or realism was missing here, possibly due to lack of Beck’s perspective.

Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

3.5 stars
This is a spicy, fun, entertaining read. Beck and Hazel are interesting, wounded, strong, relatable, intriguing, entertaining characters. The path to their HEA was not easy, but enjoyable to read. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story. I enjoyed the growth and acceptance of the characters through the course of the story. What didn’t work for me personally was that from the middle to the end, it was chapter after chapter of sex scenes – that became the focus of the story. The story is easy to read and get into.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Connie Evans has always been suspicious of "nice guys," thinking they usually hide some nasty secrets. But that belief gets flipped when she meets her neighbor, Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck for short. He is a cheerful book editor who wears a bow tie and delivers baked treats to her door. Even though he seems super friendly, Beck tells Connie that he’s been single forever. To dodge questions from his coworkers, he impulsively claims he’s married.

Beck's lie is close to being discovered at a company writing retreat. To help him, Connie pretends to be his wife. As they share a small space and participate in the retreat's activities, their fake relationship starts to feel real. This situation pushes Connie to face her trust issues and consider that Beck might be nicer than he seems.

The book offers several romantic tropes that I like, such as the fake marriage trope and somehow the close proximity. It was a fun read, and you will probably enjoy it more if you don’t bring logic into the equation. The believability factor of the story is not its strength. Beck, despite being such a charming character, felt more fictitious than real. A man in his thirties, who is a virgin and has never kissed, seems almost unreal.

If you are seeking a light and enjoyable read, this book may be worth exploring. However, it's important to keep in mind the believability aspect, as it ultimately hinges on your personal interpretation of the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

This was so cute and funny!
Connie’s neighbor Beck is kind, burly, thoughtful, a little shy, and like Connie, a huge nerd. He’s seemingly so perfect that Connie assumes he must secretly be the worst man on the planet. I can’t say I can blame her since we’ve all been fooled by a “nice guy” before.
Once she learns he truly is a nice as he appears and has gotten himself into a pickle by telling the office bully that he has a wife she decided to help him by accompanying him to his work’s writing retreat. She discovers sharing a bed with this perfect man and pretending to be his wife is going to harder than expected. Not only for practical reasons but because she is quickly falling for him.
Beck is so adorable and considerate. I loved seeing him gush over Connie’s love for sci-fi and how nervous he got around her. I’m such a sucker for a shy book boyfriend. Connie is not only funny but fiercely protective of her friends. He is just the kind of friend and partner Beck needs. Bonus points for the forced proximity/one bed and body positivity.

Trigger: Co-worker bullying

This is a hilarious romantic comedy with a gentle giant who is a cinnamon roll. This has a HEA.

Henry Beckett (Beck) is an American who is being bullied by a co-worker that leads him to create a fictional wife. Beck is the nicest, sweetest guy who some may think is a little gullible because he tries to see the best in people.

Hazel, FMC, is very skeptical of Beck because she hasn’t had good experiences with men in her past. After learning of Beck’s situation she pretends to be his fake wife.

I couldn’t stop laughing at some of the banter between characters. Beck was such a gentle giant and I enjoyed how protective Hazel was for him. Overall , I would recommend this book to friends. This author is a must buy for me.

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to provide feedback. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am often SO picky with plus-size FMCs, and this one did not disappoint! There was lovely character growth and development and fantastic banter. My girl was loved on fabulously by our MMC and that's always wonderful to see. I love seeing plus-size ladies as full (pull intended), complex characters who think about things other than their weight and this was a great example. Definitely reccommend!

A second Ted Lasso inspired rom-com that's as much as a winner as the first. It has wonderful plus size representation, and also a good level of spice. The MMC is such a cinnamon roll that you root for the two of them to make it from the start. It is a swoony and sweet romance that draws you in and leaves you wanting more!

I normally love Charlotte Stein (I LOVED HUNGRY WEREWOLF, for example), but this one didn't hit for me. It felt like it was relying more on character archetypes than characterization and thus the overall arc felt underdeveloped and didn't catch my interest very much.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for premise. I love a cinnamon roll MMC, especially when he’s built like a lumberjack. And I love a bada$$ yet insecure (#relatable) FMC!

2 stars ⭐️⭐️ for execution. Oh the banter was excellent! But it was 90% of the book and repetitive.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

This book surprised the heck out of me. I was not sure what to expect and I certainly did not anticipate enjoying this one as much as I did. Charlotte Stein's writing is phenomenal and I am blown away by the refreshing and memorable romance story she gave us. I found myself laughing out loud, swooning, and kicking my feet over Connie and Beck. So good!!!

Thank you so, so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for the arc <3

I really wanted to like this book but I just could not bring myself to find any redeeming qualities. I could not get past the way the MMC spoke. “Gosh golly” and “dilly of a pickle” were some of the few phrases I could not move past. It seemed like it was meant to be quirky but it didn’t truly fit the story. Out of respect for this book and the author, I will not be posting my review on public sites until after the publishing date. I think this book was sadly just not for me but the right audience will love it.