The fake marriage trope is absolutely one of my favorites. Right next to one bed and forced proximity - which this book has so really it’s perfect. I had such a fun time reading this! The characters are so cute I want to pinch their cheeks and I love the plot. I feel like it’s easy to get stuck in the rut of reading the same book over and over again but this book had wonderful elements that kept it fresh and sitting at the front of my mind for weeks after finishing it. Yay!

This was funny and cute but the plot behind our main characters was flimsy at best and I didn't really believe the set up. However discussions around sex were really interesting here and I think that could make it worth it overall

4.5/5

This was so cute!!

I was really glad we also got a little glimpse at Mabel and Alfie because I love them so much!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review.

This is a really fun, fake relationship look. I love strength of the heroine and the banter with the hero. You really see when and why they start falling for one another and it’s not formula because I was interested in this book from start to finish.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

3⭐️ This is an adorable story of two people struggling to find someone to accept them fully. Connie doesn’t trust nice guys as they always disappoint her later. Her neighbor, Beck, is the epitome of a nice guy. But one day, Beck tells all to Connie. He needs her help. Thus begins a fake marriage between the two saving Beck from a lie with his coworkers. As Becks secret of never actually being in a relationship comes to light, Connie proceeds to help him understand what being in a relationship is like. But is she really just helping him or are the lines blurring for them both.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Charlotte Stein for the advanced reader copy.

This book breathed life into my soul. Beck is the definition of a cinnamon roll hero and Hazel reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger - always putting on a front to seem less smart & less awkward to be more “attractive”. It was only after I embraced my true self, quirks and all, that I found happiness and the same is true for Hazel, who thankfully had Beck to help her get there

This book is all about awkward & quirky interactions. It may not be for everyone - but it was perfect for me. And once the heat started building, it erupts into a raging bonfire so be ready for that too. Also, that hot tub scene will likely live rent free in my head for some time. So hot, while also relatively tame…sheer genius in that depiction.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin & NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my personal feelings after reading this book.

A story about a hairy, dorky virgin man who is a total cinnamon roll and his pretend wife at a readers conference. I do love a good cinnamon roll/golden retriever mmc but this was missing the mark for me. He had never been kissed. He said the cheesiest lines I had ever heard. It just wasn’t attractive or something I was rooting for. Parts of it were cute and there were some sexy scenes, but I wasn’t a fan of this particular trope done in this way. Overall, there wasn’t anything wrong with the book and if you like a fmc who sort of leads the really sweat naive male main character along this might be for you,

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

This book is an the epitome of a fluffy, lighthearted read! The romance is super sweet (to the point of me wondering if I have cavities now!) and just completely uplifting, the characters are incredible sweet and wholesome. I also now have a thing for a guy in a bow tie!! Because, who ever thought that a bow tie could be sexy? But, Beck makes it work and he REALLY makes it work well.

The pacing was a bit up and down, and I did find myself skimming a few parts where it just seemed to be non-stop inner monologue but overall I just really enjoyed this one!

Recommended for: readers who love spice heavy romances that have a nerdy MMC

Summary: Connie meets her strong, broad chested, shy, nerdy neighbor, Beck, one day and can’t understand why he is single. While talking with him, he lets slip that he’s been single his whole life. He also adds that he has lied to his coworkers about his relationship status. She finds this odd, yet none of her business. Until, she meets one of his coworkers and blurts out that she is Beck’s wife, in an attempt to stand up to his insults. This becomes a problem because Beck is going on a work writer’s retreat and Connie must now pretend to be his wife throughout the week, in a one bed room.

Review: This was a really sweet story. I am a sucker for a nerdy MMC. And this MMC does not disappoint! He throws up when he lies, wears a bow tie, and truly cares about Connie. I don’t mind some spice in my romance novels, but it seemed like sex was the main storyline and I was uncomfortable reading it at times.

A pleasing low stakes romance novel. The pretense for the fake marriage scenario is a bit weak but that's no biggie as the main attraction is the simmering chemistry between the two leads. A little slow to get going but then ramps up for a spicy second half. A good read for those who love a cinnamon roll male lead and quirky characters.

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

Beck is a jolly good man who would rather cut out his tongue than say an unkind word about anyone. He’s always wished to be married to someone who understands him and his polite, mannered ways.

Hazel is an optimist, always hoping “this time” will be the one where a partner puts her and her needs first. She longs to be seen and valued as she is.

So when the world of these two collide, sparks slowly fly and things get super spicy!

This is the first book I’ve read by Charlotte Stein and I look forward to more adult romcoms by her!

Thank you NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Charlotte Stein for allowing me to enjoy this spicy four star read in exchange for a review!

This book has already been released so go support your local library and check out the novel or audiobook! The audiobook did a brilliant job bringing the characters to life and the bringing the story off the page thanks to voice actress Imogen Wilde.

“You arent afraid of commitment, you just havent met anyone worth committing to” 🤯 This book was a slow burn but when it burnt it never stopped 🤣 I feel like the last quarter had no plot just smut 🌶️ And I was a-okay with that! I loved how polite and sweet Beck was to her. He knew the real her the whole time and loved her for it.

⭐⭐⭐💫
🌶️🌶️

"𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦"

so in this book, nice guys do finish. first.

i really enjoyed these characters in a way that even surprised me a bit. i did find the self-deprecation a little bit much at times. beck is such a sweet man, but such an unrealistic character. he's almost too sweet so i like when he gets a little protective and fiesty about hazel.

def recommend this one to someone who likes a book where the mmc is a virgin and he finds a more experienced jaded lady to fall in love with.

This book was just so much genuine fun to read. I fell in love with the MMC from page 1 and wasn't able to put the book down.

I couldn't find anywhere where this was specifically noted as being part of a series, but it is in the same universe as Stein's When Grumpy Met Sunshine and we do get some cameos from those characters in this book. If the first book was based off Roy Kent, then this one is 100% giving Ted Lasso vibes. We have an overly adorkable and mustachioed MMC who was so polite and easily flustered. Now listen, I love me an alphahole MMC at times but Beck (the MMC) was *chef's kiss* perfection. I absolutely adored the chemistry between our two MCs and how their opposite personalities actually worked together perfectly. There's something about their dynamic that most opposite attract trope books don't quite get to where they really feel like puzzle pieces snapping together. The fake marriage portion of the plot was fantastic and just the right amount of ridiculous for this sort of rom-com. This is the third book I've read from Stein, and she is quickly becoming a must-read author for me.

Tropes: Fake Marriage, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract

Standalone

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC. Publication date was March 11, 2025.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a sweet endearing rom-com I loved. This is Hazel and Beck's fake marriage tale.

Beck's was the definition of a cinnamon roll MMC and I fell in love with him from the start as he was so attentive to Hazel. These two were wonderful together and although they went from awkward to steamy, I enjoyed the process of seeing them get to their HEA and I was rooting for these two characters througout the story.

I really wished we got more of their relationship after the retreat however it was still an entertaining read and I would recommend it to romance lovers.

This was such a cute book! Way more spicy than I was expecting, but I ate it up. I completely enjoyed it from start to finish.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage was a read by Charlotte Stein. It was probably not my cup of tea as it was primarily constructed around spice. This book is plenty spicy, but definitely lacking in plot. Read this if your crush is Ted Lasso. Mine is not, so this was not for me. In theory I wanted to LOVE this book, but it was just not what I was hoping for. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was really fun! Cute and steamy. I enjoyed her WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE more, but found this romcom to also be adorable. Very high spice. I think some of the interiority could be trimmed, but otherwise a great read. 4.5 stars.