3.5 stars.

Hazel helps out her neighbor with a fake marriage in this cute, forced proximity read. Agreeing to attend a writing retreat posing as the wife to her neighbor who is a book editor. A ver cute cinnamon roll love story.

I really like how the author writes. The story moves fast, even if the premise for it is a bit much. The start was rough, but quickly builds. As a friend says, “it’ll make you feel things.” It was a quick, fun read. I’d definitely read others from this author.

This book had an excellent meet-cute and gives so much character depth with just a misunderstanding between neighbors--it's actually a masterclass in show don't tell. Connie sees something that leads her to believe Henry is a murderer when in fact he's a run of the mill editor who has backed himself into a corner at work by making up a wife. This is a romance novel so you know what comes next -- Connie decides to agree to pretend to be said wife on a writing retreat. I really enjoyed the premise and the beginning of the book, but somewhere along the line Henry turned a bit too cartoonish for me. He's written as a Ted Lasso type from mustache to golly gees and it became a bit too much for me. I wasn't able to see him as an object of lust and it kind of took me out of the love scenes. As a follow-up to When Grumpy Met Sunshine, this missed the mark, although I would give it 3 stars for writing, banter, and pacing. I just didn't connect with the couple like I hoped.

Beck is the cinnamon roll I never knew I needed. Big and sweet and unabashedly himself, nerdy and thoughtful and I want to wrap him in cotton and tell him he's doing a really good job. And Hazel is so wonderful, even if she is a bit cynical and hides herself and doesn't know how to trust. Watching these two find their way to each other was BEAUTIFUL. I was crying by the end. Also, lots of heat....like, so hot. Also, I literally laughed out loud throughout the whole thing. I was getting looks, y'all, and I just didn't care, it is so funny!

Charlotte Stein is quickly becoming a new favorite of mine for romance. I am absolutely loving the banter, wit, characterization, and representation. The characters spend so much time together in the best way, and I would honestly follow them through whatever if the author ever wanted to write a sequel.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!!

I don’t normally read this genre, but that’s all about to change!

I absolutely loved this book, I’ll definitely check out more from this author!!

Thank you to Netgalley and to Charlotte Stein for sending me this arc!! I was so excited to get it! After reading three of her books now, Charlotte is one of my favorite authors because she always seems to write characters that are so inherently good. I’m usually such an enemies to lovers girl, a grumpy/sunshine girl, but Charlotte can sell me on a golden retriever like no other. I will fall for her characters and their big mushy hearts every single time! And LAUGH!! Gosh, her books bring me so much joy. So this book was no exception, it was a delight to read.

Cute cover!

I thought the setting was pretty fun with the writing retreat. Beck was so sweet in [book:When Grumpy Met Sunshine|127281421], but his characterization took a turn in this one. I do not personally want to have sex with a Ned Flanders/Ted Lasso hybrid man, but I do not want to yuck anyone's yum... Still, I wanted more from the heroine, our Connie turned Hazel. I got that she had mommy issues, but some of her choices were extremely wild. Including when she cared even slightly about Beck's macho coworker's opinion and thus the reason for this fake marriage. We kept getting scenes where they <i>had</i> to act married for this random, powerless guy when they could have just said, "Go away, you meanie!" The conflict wasn't there for me, I fear. I really loved Charlotte Stein's other book, so I do look forward to more of her work!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC. This book comes out March 11, 2025.

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this early release of My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein

This comes out March 11, 2025, so put it on your list of TBR. Spicy, love story!

Hazel is going to a writer's retreat and ends up in a fake marriage with her neighbor Sam Beckett, aka Beck. Beck has a nemesis at work and to avoid the pressures of explaining his home life, he creates a fake wife. Craziness ensues that allow Hazel to step into the role. Only one problem at the retreat, one bed, shared cabin with the nemesis and thin walls. I was laughing so hard in spots! Spicy book, but I loved it. These two unlikely individuals end up falling in love for real. Will they both recognize it? Or will the nemesis sniff out the ruse?
#crazybooknerd
#NetGalley
#MyBigFatFakeMarriage
#CharlotteStein

DNF at 34% unfortunately that was the same time I dnf'd this authors last novel as well. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, just not for me

more men with mustaches in contemp rom coms please!

5/5 stars, Charlotte Stein is crushing it these days and everyone should grab this one!

This book was super cute! I went into it knowing I like Charlotte Stein's writing and I love her inclusion of plus sized MCs. This book was a cute, quick read. My one critique is that Henry's constant positivity kind of annoyed me at parts (but it also annoyed the main character, so maybe I was supposed to be annoyed!).
I would definitely recommend it to people looking for a cute, writerly romance with plus size representation.

This was a fun and funny story. Hazel/Connie does not trust nice guys. In her experience, it is all a facade, and the nice guy will eventually reveal his true selfish self. Her neighbor across the hall in the apartment complex, Henry Samuel Beckett (Beck), is the quintessential nice guy. Hazel keeps waiting to be disappointed, but it never happens, because Beck really is a nice guy — kind, considerate, caring; he apologizes if he does anything that might be seen as rude or inappropriate, puts the needs of others first, etc. He cannot even lie without becoming physically ill. Which means he has been downing antacids like candy because he told a jerk of a coworker that he is married, and now he is leading a writers’ retreat that the coworker will be at and expects to see the wife he doubts exists.

Hazel finds out Beck’s secret and offers to pose as his fake wife. This will lead to many of the comedic moments in the story, as Beck scripts a backstory and tries to set very clear boundaries on what will and won’t happen, as he does not want to do anything that will make Hazel uncomfortable. For even the slightest bit of affectionate behavior, like a hand on the back or a chaste kiss, Beck wants explicit consent. And if he thinks he has said or done anything inappropriate, he is profusely apologetic.

But beneath his innocent teddy bear exterior is a very horny man (who is very embarrassed that he is having such thoughts about Hazel). What he does not realize is how much his consideration, kindness, etc. affects Hazel, in ways even Hazel finds surprising. She is very much in favor of dirty thoughts and deeds and fears she will corrupt his innocence.

thank you Net Galley for an ARC of "My Big Fat Fake Marriage" in return for my honest review!

throughout the first 40% of this book, I struggled a bit. it felt more cheesy than I am used to, and I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters. then, the 50% mark hit, and completely changed my mind!!!!!! I binged it from that point on.

was it cheesy? yes. did it have some millennial phrasing that was slightly jarring? yes.
did I love it? YES! I was so entertained!!!!! genuinely laughed out loud multiple times.

here are a few of the things specifically I loved:
1. the fact that they were 31 and 37 years old! I love to see some more age representation as I get older.
2. Beck is a consent KINGGGG!! I seriously smiled so big every time he did anything!!! an angel
3. extreme golden retriever energy - he was so thoughtful, gentle, and kind with her! (and it was cute how nervous he got around her!)

because of the first 40%, I feel like I can't rate it higher than a 3.75 stars, but I truly enjoyed it and would recommend!

After reading this book I can safely say a few things. Firstly, Charlotte Stein has solidly landed on my favorite authors list with this book and I absolutely need more. Secondly, I think I found my newest book boyfriend. Beck is the ideal cinnamon roll teddy bear human being; gentle, sweet, honest, observant, avid reader, a little nerdy, a good listener, maybe a little naive, and great in bed. His counterpart Connie is a lovely balance for his character with her insight, experience, warmth and own insecurities that really become a great equalizer for the two characters. I was immediately invested in Connie and Beck’s story from the first shy interaction as well as jumping right on Connie’s side in defense of Beck against his office bully Doug. The witty banter and pop culture references had me smiling at the pages or laughing out loud. Whereas the steamy scenes had me biting my lip and telling my husband to take notes. I quickly finished this book and then went back for a re-read immediately.
If you love yourself some good grumpy/sunshine, fake marriage, forced proximity romance, then I highly suggest you pick up My Big Fat Fake Marriage.

I really enjoyed this book. Beck is one of the most refreshing MMC's I've read in a while, clearly inspired by Ted Lasso. He was so sweet and kind and yet oh so dirty! The only thing missing for me was his POV- would've appreciated a couple of chapters in his voice.
I didn't connect as much with Connie but I think she was a perfect foil for Beck. Their communication was open and solid and I appreciated the very quick resolution of the misunderstanding at the end. Four stars from me!

I recently discovered that I kind of like the Grumpy Sunshine trope a lot. I do think the timeline was quick, but the book was enjoyable. For a couple that took a good percentage of the book to be physical, it still felt steamy. I loved the hardened heroine and cinnamon roll hero. I love how they brought out the best in each other as partners should. I liked it enough that I'll be looking for the previous book in the series.

This is the Ted Lasso-inspired Fake Marriage romance I never knew I needed. I just...I thought When Grumpy Met Sunshine was the top tier of "two dummies in love but they don't know it yet," and yet here I am, squealing and kicking my feet AGAIN.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein.

Connie and Beck are neighbors and she ends up posing as his fake wife. Their arrangement culminates in both of them attending a writing retreat together. Their fake spouse arrangement and forced proximity lead these two to need to confront their misunderstandings, approaches toward relationships, and their feelings toward each other.

I found Beck to be endearing and enjoyed him throughout the story. This story is definitely for someone who enjoys misunderstandings, fake relationship, forced proximity, and there’s only one bed tropes. I felt the story really picks up once they get to the writing retreat. There were definitely moments once it reached that point that had me smiling big for these two.

This is definitely a book one can pick up for a quick and easy read with plenty of spice.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is an absolutely sweet novel of two neighbors who are the most unlikely of companions, but when he needs a fake wife, she steps up to help out and sparks fly! I thoroughly enjoyed the slow burn of this novel! Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This one was not for me. I'm all for a cinnamon roll hero, but that's not what we had here. The MMC, Beck, gave Ned Flanders in the body of Peter "Sugar Bear" Wisdom vibes, and I couldn't get past it.