This book was SO cute, fun, & steamy! Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. This is very much a fun romance escape read.

Long story short: MMC Beck and FMC Connie are neighbor acquaintances and end up in a long con with Beck’s work colleagues that Connie is his wife. Hilarity and Spice ensue!

Things I loved:

American Ted Lasso-esque MMC x Eccentric Brit FMC
Plus size representation
Forced Proximity
Fake Marriage
Man-maiden MMC
🌶️🌶️🌶️ pretty spicy
Very funny banter

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of the ARC.

This is my second book by this author, and I thought I would enjoy this more than How to Help a Hungry Werewolf (which I also read on NetGalley), but sadly, this also did not hit the mark for me. This book was not what I was expecting, even though the synopsis sounded intriguing.

This book had its moments, just as Werewolf did. I am just starting to believe perhaps that the stories might be good, but this author might just not be for me. There were parts that I enjoyed, and some times when I could stand the main characters.

I want to personally thank NetGalley, as well as the author, publisher, and anyone else involved in providing copies, for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this fake marriage of convenience book! The characters were over the top but in an enjoyable way. The book was also funny.

I was really interested in this book when I heard the premise, but unfortunately it did not hold up for me. I could not take the writing seriously, something about it did not add up. I could not believe I was reading about a grown woman and not a 16 year old. I had to stop reading halfway beacuse the plot was not interesting enough to keep going.

A sweet and super spicy (very graphic) romance develops through fake dating. Beck is the most wholesome MMC. Connie could be a tad annoying but easy to read through the character development. I enjoyed the moments of confidence building for both main characters.


Thank you to Charlotte Stein, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an excellent book!! I enjoyed the character development as well as how the plot was developed throughout the story. The author was able to to do a good job with all aspects of the story. I would recommend to others.

My first Charlottes Stein novel—definitely not the last! I enjoyed pretty much everything about it. Great characters, lovely Indonesian setting, believable romance and sometimes laugh out loud wit and humor. Plus it’s always rewarding to watch good-hearted characters win out over the jerks.

This was a fun, VERY spicy romance book about overcoming all the "negatives" we believe about ourselves & finding someone who embraces them. This is a grumpy/sunshine trope with only one bed thrown in. The sex scenes are graphic if that is or is not your thing. I have not read the previous book that is about 2 side characters & don't think that's a requirement to read this one. Overall, a good, witty romance that tackles somewhat heavy themes in a fun way.

DNF @ 35%.

This book was not was I was expecting and I did not enjoy it due to the characters. I found Connie to be very annoying and Beck talked like an old man in 60s when in fact he’s 35. The vibe of this book was not for me , however this may be a good read for someone who is a fan of the authors works.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e-arc!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I loved how quirky some of the characters were. It was a fun and quick easy read.

Definitely recommend!

I enjoyed this one a lot! The dynamic between the main characters was amazing, and I loved how each of their strengths complemented each other’s weaknesses! I also LOVED Beck and his sweet, wholesome, huge self SO MUCH! He might be my favorite book boyfriend I’ve ever read!

Ultimately, as a reader who tends to skim or skip spice in books, this one had too much on-page intimacy for me. I loved the plot and would give the love story itself 5 stars, but it’s 4 stars for me because it felt imbalanced between a completely non-spicy beginning and a very spicy ending.


Thank you so much to Charlotte Stein, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the free ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was so cute and so funny. I love fake marriages and ate this one up!! I think it was the perfect pallet cleanser

I had so much fun reading this! Beck is such a breath of fresh air as an MMC, with serious Ted Lasso vibes. After the emotional whirlwind of Roy Kent's fanfic (When Grumpy Met Sunshine), this was the perfect light, feel-good read. The only thing I missed was getting a few chapters in Beck's POV—I would’ve loved to hear his thoughts directly.

I didn’t quite connect with Connie, but she was the perfect contrast to Beck. Their communication was so open and healthy, and I really appreciated how quickly they cleared up the misunderstanding at the end. It was a refreshing, drama-free resolution that tied everything together nicely.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the early copy of My Big Fat Fake Marriage! This quirky, heartwarming romance had me hooked from start to finish.

Connie and Beck are refreshingly unconventional—Connie’s tough, guarded nature perfectly balances Beck’s sweet, bow-tie-wearing charm. Their fake marriage setup is undeniably cheesy at times, but it’s the kind of cheesy that warms your heart and keeps you rooting for them. The slow-burn tension and their growing connection felt both awkwardly endearing and genuinely touching. If you’re in the mood for a fun, offbeat romance with unique characters, this one’s definitely worth checking out!

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a contemporary romance that follows two neighbors, Connie and Beck through an unconventional “marriage” arrangement. Upon discovering that Beck needs a fake wife to accompany him on a work retreat, Connie agrees to the trip to help him out. Stein takes us on an entertaining and sentimental venture with the protagonists as they go from acquaintances to lovebirds.

It’s really difficult to not love Charlotte Stein’s characters. They are always strong and slightly quirky in their own way. In My Big Fat Fake Marriage, Connie and Beck are opposites in many ways; however, they bond over offbeat interests and a mutual respect for one another’s unique idiosyncrasies.

Beck is a genuine “cinnamon roll” character type. In the world of romance novels, this term refers to a main male character that is caring, considerate, and generally goodhearted. The type tends to have a strong moral compass, and is a supportive and attentive partner. Beck's character is so important because he highlights positive masculinity by practicing consent and respect throughout the book. It was very refreshing to see Beck and Connie always checking in with each other to make sure they were both on the same page.

Connie’s personality offers a lovely, balanced contrast to Beck. She is confident in the places he is shy, and she naturally adapts to spontaneity. We see a lot of growth in Connie when she realizes how she deserves to be treated through her interactions with Beck. As Connie and Beck learn to leave their past experiences behind, they both open themselves up to self-love and love from one another.

It is worth noting that Charlotte Stein writes and advocates for body diversity in her novels. She normalizes the fact that all bodies look different, and they all deserve the same Happily Ever After. We always need more inclusive representation in romance genres.

I’ve read two of Stein’s books now, and I’ve noticed she has a very distinct style and flow. The pace of her books tend to match the progression of the passion in the romantic relationships in her stories. Things start off slow and steady in the meet-cute stage, and by the time the characters have piqued in passion, the plot is moving fast. I love the way these two aspects mirror each other. I also really enjoy Stein’s ability to write relatable, witty banter between her characters. She mixes this dialogue with emotional, internal monologues from the main character’s point of view that makes the story feel more cerebral and personal.

Overall, I loved My Big Fat Fake Marriage. It’s funny and spicy, with a few big “awwww” moments. It is a great book to take on vacation with you or to the beach this summer. Charlotte Stein writes books that are reminiscent of 90’s movie rom-coms, and she is easily becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors out there.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlotte Stein, and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book in advance.

2 ⭐️

This one was just not for me. The romance between Connie and Beck was hard to believe because 1) Connie was an annoying female main character and 2) Beck seemed very immature at times.

While this might not be for me, it could work for you! Thanks NetGalley and SMP for an ARC!

Connie aka Hazel (FMC) is an interesting character. It seems like every guy is the wrong guy. They start out nice and that never ends well. Enter the nicest man around (MMC) Henry Samuel Beckett. He is the best part about this book and an absolute fresh breath of air.

Honestly, if it wasn't for him, I would have ranked the book lower. Henry is everything and I just love his ability to banter and how seriously funny the author, Stein, made him. Stein does a great job with all of her MMCs in the humor and uniqueness department.

There are a lot of wonder tropes that we get to see in this book: fake marriage, "who did this to you?", one bed, virgins. LOL. It's quirky and fun.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC, all opinions are my own.

Whew! I didn't know I was the cinnamon-roll type, but I'm seriously re-evaluating after this read! The sexual tension was just *chef's kiss* perfect. The contrast between the two main characters was wonderfully done. I especially liked how they supported each other even before it turned to a real romance. The hokey way that the MMC was portrayed as speaking was annoying, but not so much that it interfered with the story. (but really - this was supposed to sound American somehow? I promise you NO ONE in America speaks like that, it's not the 1950's any more).

I received a copy of this for my honest review

This is the most cinnamon roll MMC I have ever read!

Our FMC doesn't really believe that nice guys exist. She's been fooled by 1 too many of them. But when she keeps getting notes and cakes from her nice guy neighbor she isn't sure what his angle is. When she goes to talk to our MMC....she finds some weird things in his apartment. He final explains that he lied to work about having a wife. So she thinks - I'll do it. But what she doesn't realize is that means that they will.be going to the retreat he set up (that she was already planning on going to) as many and wife...in one room, with one bed. She has to play the part - which gets more and more complicated as they spend time together.

This book was hard to get into and I’m so glad I stuck with it because it surprised me in the best ways.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to like our man Beck. He uses phrases like “good golly” unironically for crying out loud. But dammit, as soon as he starts singing along with none other than Sabrina Carpenter on his car radio I was hooked. He’s so wholesome and earnest and just GOOD in a way I was powerless to resist.

Hazel, the main female lead also surprised me. Her initial reactions to Beck aligned with mine and the way the story is written I felt like she and I were both discovering the truth about him at the same time. I appreciated the tenderness with which she handled Beck, even while she thought he was ridiculous. I think the second love story in this book is Hazel falling in love with herself and that was beautiful to see unfold.

Without saying anything that is too close to a spoiler I also really appreciated the reversal of some common romance tropes here, beyond just the standard grumoy/sunshine.