Thank you to St. Martin's Press/ St. Martin's Griffen/ Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. I truly do appreciate it a lot.

Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her mind, they always are always waiting to reveal some horrible secret. Then she meets this adorable big guy Henry Samuel Beckett. He's a book editor, he loves his bow ties, and he's also sweet and cheery, she almost assumes he's not real. That is until Henry Samuel Beckett or Beck, tells her his secret underneath his sunny surface. He has been single all his life, but in a moment of panic, he's told everyone at his publishing house that he's married. When Connie who is an aspiring writer herself, she can't help but defend him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn't actually have.

When they both go to a writing retreat, surrounded by people that assume that this is fake, both can't help but agree that is until they share their first kiss, first touch, and first time sharing one bed together. Laying side by side every single night on this retreat. She starts to wonder if this might be real after all.

This man was just tooo soft in my opinion. Going into this book I did not know that he would be a cinnamon roll type of character. I just did not like him or his personality. I also didn't like her personality. Also the way he talked made it sound like she was dating a 80 year old man or Ned Flanders from the Simpsons, I hated the way he talked so much. Also do we even know her actual name it's either Connie or Hazel or something else, she just had to many names and it was a bit annoying. The way there relationship was felt kind of like a college romance. I had to use the audiobook for this because I could not read this on my own I needed some help from the audiobook.

I picked this up because of the cover and when I read the little blurb it sounded so good, but honestly it just fell flat. I also think that cinnamon roll men are for me, they are just to nice and to too sweet. I felt like the characters had no connection with each other, almost like they didn't like each other and she was just doing this too help him to not be caught in his own lie that he made up. While reading this book I just didn't connect with characters or anyone in this book for that matter, not even the side characters, which usually their are some good side characters but there was absolutely no one.

Happy Reading!!! Hopefully there are better cinnamon roll characters out there. I just don't think that I will ever be a cinnamon roll girly.

Honestly, this book is a testament to the fact that you can come back and love a book. I tried to pick this book up in February and I couldn't get into it. I wasn't in the best head space at that moment, so I decided to hold off and come back to this book. Well, this time when I picked it up, I fell head over heels. I'm obsessed with the couple in this book Connie's cynical side softening by Henry's absolute cinnamon roll sweetness was just what the doctor ordered. This man needs to be protected at all costs. He was just so sweet, and I loved how obsessed he was with Connie. Their entire relationship, while incredibly horny was also just so heartwarming. I loved how they both went to bat for each other and how they cared for each other in their own ways. Also, when Connie called his summer camp shorts "Hot little murder shorts" I snorted and nearly died.

All in all, I'm obsessed.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for my e-arc!

Connie is an aspiring writer who is attracted to all the wrong men. Beck is a bear of a man who's never had a girlfriend. The problem is, he's told his work colleagues about his fake wife. Somehow, Connie ends up stepping in as Beck's fake wife at the writer's retreat she was supposed to be attending (and that he was coordinating). But as each reflect on all the reasons why a real relationship between them couldn't work, they also start to be drawn more and more into each other's dearest fantasies.

The question is, can they take a fake relationship and make it real, or would it be the biggest mistake of their lives?

I really enjoyed the development of these characters and their relationship, but felt it relied much too heavily on the open-door, physical connection. I don't need to be in the room with them as they're experiencing each otehr. Honestly, it feels awkward. So, while I would have loved to have given this a higher rating because I did enjoy these characters and this relationship and I appreciated having plus-size MCs, I was too distracted by the significant number of steamy scenes.

Thank you to Charlotte Stein, the publisher and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein was one of my favorite reads so far this year!

A little bit about the characters and story: Connie is an aspiring writer and Beck is an editor. Beck is the adorable, kind of awkward, cinnamon roll guy in this story while Connie is well skeptical due to past experiences. Connie and Beck, aka Henry Samuel Beckett, are two people who have to fake being married after Beck let slip to everyone at his publishing house that he is married. Connie swoops in to defend him and well their story begins.

I loved Connie and Beck's story. I want to say it took me a day and a half to read it, only because of well life and other responsibilities getting in the way. I enjoyed their interactions as they got to know one another under the guise of a fake marriage and Beck, whew, he brought the heat during the spicy scenes.

This was one slow burn romance that was well worth the read!

Beck, the MMC, is an adorably awkward “cinnamon roll” type that readers likely would not expect to steam up the pages. But you wait. My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a slow burn but worth it. You see, Beck fibs to everyone and tells them he’s married when, in fact, he’s very single and never even kissed anyone. Connie, the FMC, covers for him and says she’s his wife. Of course, they have to make things believable. The more time they spend with each other, Connie realizes she’s been dating the wrong type of guys.

Beck is such a sweetheart, and the awkwardness between him and Connie getting to know each other and faking their marriage was funny. My Big Fat Fake Marriage was a sweet story. I still need coffee, though.

I wanted to like this, I really did. Inexperience can be hot but not Ned Flanders hot and with the way Beck talked that’s all I imagined. I get both Hazel and Beck just wanted to find someone that accepted them fully as they are and I was rooting for them but god was it hard. I almost DNF’d a handful of times. The story was boring and didn’t hold my interest for long.

18+

The plot sounds great but the execution …. Didn’t hit for me.

As others mentioned, the way Beck speaks is different and I wasn’t a fan.

But basically the book just ended up being sex scene after sex scene. We went from somewhat of a plot to super spicy!

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I may have to give up on Charlotte Stein's books... her newest titles just don't seem to work for me. I didn't click with the characters or the story

Thank you for the title to review early.

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.

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.