Oh my gosh, this was a delight to read! Hazel and Beck were SUCH A GREAT FIT. I shipped them immediately and their journey to one another was so cute. I LOVED the representation with not only Hazel's character but Beck's as well. I had yet to read a book with a character like him and it was beyond refreshing. This was a great blend of silly/fun but also had such grounded and relatable moments. Teachable moments with relevent themes all throughout the book! The awareness Charlotte brought, especially with the power of words and how, if you're not mindful, your words have the power to hurt and shape someone's life. Ugh, I felt in in my soul. I am so happy to have read this and i'll definitely be checking out whatever Charlotte writes next!

3,75/5

What can I say about “Hazy” and Beck besides. . Obsessed!!! They are such a cute surprise couple!

The author does a great job at building up the character development between both of the main characters. Beck, the insanely nice (and large, burly, handsome) neighbor and Hazel, Connie, Hazy, (so many names!) the cautious, been burned too many times before, main character.

I love the continuation of the characters from the authors other book and was so happy to see we were getting more of Hazels story!

The slow burn of their fake marriage turned into white hot passion so fast towards the end of the book. Lots of open door scenes for those that enjoy them! Spicy 🌶️ x10000 after all of the longing for each other in the first half of the book.

While I dislike any miscommunication trope, this one doesn’t go too far and they resolve their feelings for each other quickly after not talking it through to start.

This book will make you smile, laugh, and most certainly blush!

I had high hopes for The Fake Wife, but unfortunately, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. The premise intrigued me—an adorable, sunny guy like Henry Samuel Beckett tangled in a fake marriage ruse with the skeptical, no-nonsense Connie—yet the execution left me a bit underwhelmed. And overall I did not enjoy Becks character at all and he gave me an ick for a few different reasons.
While I can appreciate the charm of a lighthearted romance with moments of tension and growth, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters. Connie’s deep distrust of “nice guys” seemed a little too repetitive at times, and Henry felt almost too perfect to be real.
The writing retreat setting held potential for a lot of fun dynamics, but I felt that the humor and chemistry between the characters never quite hit the mark. I wasn’t as invested in the outcome as I’d hoped to be.
Overall, while The Fake Wife may appeal to fans of quirky romantic comedies, it wasn’t for me.

There is a sweet love story hidden in all the sexual writing in this story. I found the sexual descriptions became overbearing on the story at times but overall I still enjoyed the book.

Oh, boy. Where do I start?

My first and biggest issue with this book is the way Beck talks. As so many other readers before me have described, he sounds like Ned Flanders from “The Simpsons.” I realize Stein even tries to make the point through Hazel (Connie? I’ll get to that in a minute) how strange it is, but it didn’t help. The added point of making Beck American also felt insulting. Does Stein think Americans actually talk like that? It did NOT leave a good impression.

Secondly, the Connie/Hazel “fake name” thing: what was the point of that? It was ridiculous, unnecessary, and truly a throwaway plot point that didn’t even need to exist. There are so many other tidbits dropped that could’ve been - SHOULD’BE been - fleshed out and explored further; Hazel giving herself some random fake name was weird.

The cringe level of this book is extraordinary. You go from vanilla to five-alarm chili spice within the span of a chapter. I don’t mind spice, but this was such a hard pivot it truly made me uncomfortable. I found myself skipping the chapters containing sex scenes because I didn’t find either character interesting or likable enough to want to try picturing those activities.

Finally, close to the end of the book, a nail in my review’s coffin: “…like a really hot Jesus, who doesn’t understand he’s awesome.” WOW, WHAT? No. Absolutely no. That right there knocked an entire star off.

I should’ve listened to my instincts and DNF’d this book. This book is a hard pass, and I would warn any of my friends to stay away from it.

•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 | 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•

This book had such promise. The characters had no charisma. It turned into more sex than story. Can't recommend. Sorry , NetGalley. Not a good match for me.

You can't go wrong with a fake marriage romance. These two neighbours have been keeping secrets and tension it causes is super high. I love these romance lesions and trying to prove how in love they are while not catching feelings. An Adorable and swoony romance. If you love 'one bed' trope this book is for you. This is the top of the line of one bed. With not one but multiple one bed events that are fantastic. Worth staying up late to devour this tension. Throw in some fake marriage and secret attraction and this is a 5 star ⭐️ all the way. I'm definitely the biggest fan of this plus size read. Definitely add this to your TBR.

this was the cutest fake marriage rom com I've read in a while. Charolette knows how to write the cutest golden retriever in a male main character. in Beck and the need to rescue cute awkward Beck is what made me become a fan of Connie.
This was an enjoyable rom com with plus size representation and the wish that Beck was a real person. Add to that that Beck reminds me of a literary editor version of Ted Lasso with his mannerisms and vernacular.

Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.

Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny surface: He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.

When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can't help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

Agreeing to a fake marriage with your hot, burley neighbor while on a writing retreat when he told his crummy coworker he was married? Sign me up! Hazel and Beck compliment each other so well! I could really relate to Hazel’s struggle with dating and family issues. Beck is the ideal nerdy bookish boyfriend. While this is a slow burn, the spice is definitely there!

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 3/5

Not my favorite book but it was decent. It’s a cute romcom just not my cup of tea. This book would have been better if it was dual POV

This was a cute fake marriage/one bed/close proximity romance. I loved the way Beck treated Hazy, esp since it reminded me of my boyfriend minus the inexperience. The tension between the two was great, but steamy scenes left a little to be desired. Didn’t love the virginity arc, but it didn’t take too much away from the story. Just not my thing. This was still super cute and swoon worthy. I’d recommend to romance loving friends!

I love the premise of the book but it was hard to keep interested. The banter between Hazel and Beck was very tedious and confusing. Maybe i just don't get all British humor.

Charlotte Stein really knew what she was doing when she wrote My Big Fat Fake Marriage! This book is hilarious and heartfelt -truly a great time!

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and was sucked in very fast. The tension and dynamic was so good, and the last chapter was very satisfying. I really liked how there was so much opportunity for a ton of miscommunication, but there never really was any. Honestly, a lot of Beck's dialogue felt particularly British to me which was a bit confusing (I am American and Beck is the only American character in this book), I could overlook it enough though, but like when I was reading this, his voice would be the only one in my head with a British accent somehow... I don't know lol. I will for sure read whatever book Charlotte Stein publishes next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC!

I so wanted to enjoy this. The tropes sounded fun, the cover was fun, but the execution was awkward. The characters felt so one-dimensional and constrained to a very narrow range of emotions and expressions. He is sweet and dorky, she's spiky and unable to communicate. They are essentially cartoon characters and it all felt very strange and awkward.

This may be the horniest book I've ever read.
I mean that in a good way.
Poor not-as-cold-hearted-as-she-thinks-she-is Hazel spends almost the entire book lusting (and, unbeknownst to her, yearning with her whole heart) after her big sweet touchingly sincere neighbor Beck. We know every wacky, irrepressible thought that passes through her mind, because the story is told through her POV, allowing us too so see and fall in love with Beck right along with her.
Hazel THINKS she's all sex drive, no romance, but she's so wrong. That soft heart of hers leaps to Beck's defense, landing them both in the position of pretending that she is the wife he has told everyone he has.
Writing retreat with his coworkers, only one bed, etc. etc.
This book and these characters are deLICious. HIGHly recommend. 6 out of 5 stars!
(Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my Advance Reader Copy. All opinions my own.)

From the outset, I couldn’t quite predict what to expect. The writer’s prose was unconventional, which took some getting used to. However, the characters were truly unique and one-of-a-kind, setting them apart from any other similar story.

I loved the gooey sweet cinnamon roll male character in the book. The banter was good and humor was on point. Spicy and sweet!

I think Charlotte Stein would make an absolutely fantastic comedian & I am so grateful for her humor! If you love Ted Lasso, dry comedy and a bit of dark humor from your FMCs, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up!

I absolutely adored the unique and precious relationship that developed in this book & I so appreciated the way that Charlotte masterfully weaves together insecurities with triumph. I can’t wait to read her next book already!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC :)