I came into this book not having read the first two books in the series. I feel like I missed some background, but overall it was a great book! I liked Penelope and Xander together and the flip of Penelope needing the marriage of convenience. Xander has had a thing for Penelope for a long time, but Penelope was supposed to marry Maddox Xu, a match made for her by her Singapore family. They are married in a small ceremony and then get to know each other. Xander is obviously smitten by her, but Penelope (or Poppy) as he calls her is more cautious.

"i'll follow you to every corner of the world. you know that."

GODS I am GIDDY over this book. head over heels IN LOVE with xander and absolutely in love with Penelope! i love absolutely every second of this book and I ADORE seeing all of the other characters in this book as well. ava rani, you are becoming one of my favorite authors.

This is book three in a series, but the first one I read. It works well as a standalone, introducting the characters without feeling like there was missing information from previous books. However, I felt like their romance was a bit instalove, because their feelings (especially his) were already established from the beginning of the story, and maybe reading in sequence would have allowed me to get glimpses of the earlier interactions and their first sparks.

The pacing was a little off, seeming too fast and too slow at different parts of the books. And for a "marriage of convinience" trope, I wanted a bigger, more emotional moment when they admit their feeling are real (and/or a "my wife" moment from the MMC).

Overall, it's a sweet romance that doesn't make you hate billionaires!

DNF

I do not think this is a "bad" book, but unfortunately, the writing style didn't work for me. It's written in first-person past, and the tense kept pulling me out of the story. I couldn't get into a reading groove.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book.

This is the third and final book in the Biotech Billionaires series and it is such a fun and lighthearted read.

Penelope escaped her controlling wealthy family in Singapore, for a life of independence as a high powered lawyer in NYC. However, when Penelope’s grandfather passes away, his will states that she needs to be married for a year to claim her inheritance. Xander is the billionaire co-founder of an investment firm, who has been quietly pining for Penelope for a few years now. When he discovers that Penelope will need a husband for a year to gain her inheritance, he doesn’t hesitate to this no-strings-attached agreement.

Xander was charming and full of charisma. Behind his playfulness and quick wit, he was emotionally closed off hiding his pain from a childhood trauma. I found Penelope’s struggle to navigate her familial obligations with her desire for an independent life was very relatable. What started off as a marriage of convenience soon spirals into steamy encounters and a growing connection neither of them planned for.

If you loved the movie Crazy Rich Asians, then I would definitely recommend this book. This slow burn romance but lots of emotional depth and amazing locations such as NYC, the Hamptons and Singapore interwined into the story.

Thank you Avon Books and Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book totally gave Crazy Rich Asians vibes—both the MMC and FMC are billionaires! 🤣
The story was sweet and steady, just like a billionaire should be. The chemistry between Xander and Penelope was built with care. Sure, the spark was there from the start, but it was subtle—and I loved that the story didn’t rush it. Their emotional development felt mature and genuine.

The slow burn really hooked me. I kept flipping pages because I needed to see how their feelings would grow and when they’d finally get together—and let me tell you, the wait was worth it. That post-slow-burn steam? Pretty sexy. 🤭

I absolutely adored Xander! He’s a sweet man with golden retriever energy, and I lost count of how many times I swooned over the things he said to Penelope. And Penelope? Total badass. She’s a billionaire, but not the soft kind—she radiates confidence, even while facing her own struggles.

Come for the billionaire drama, stay for the golden retriever man who will melt your heart.
A well-paced romance with mature characters, slow-burn tension, and just the right amount of steam—The Charmer truly lives up to its name.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest review.

WHY did I sleep on this series until now? This book was so much fun and I already want to read it again. Xander and Penelope’s story was absolutely captivating and I loved every moment.

Penelope is an heiress to a high-powered family in Singapore. Faced with a life she doesn’t want, she walks away with no intention of looking back. However, to complete the terms of her grandfather’s will, she must face the life she was determined to leave behind. Enter Xander, the sexy billionaire who happens to have a sweet spot for Poppy. A marriage of convenience comes into play but it quickly gets complicated when real feelings form.

This book was sweet, sexy, and a ton of fun to read. I also loved all of the cultural references and nods to Singapore that popped up in this book. I cannot wait to go back and read the first two books in the series!

Thank you so much to Ava, Avon, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

From the very first page of The Charmer, Ava Rani sweeps readers into a whirlwind of emotions, masterfully blending angst, family dysfunction, corporate intrigue, and the irresistible allure of a fake marriage that blossoms into something palpably real.

The heart of the story lies in the complex dynamic between the protagonists, whose fake marriage arrangement is anything but simple. The chemistry between them is electric, simmering beneath layers of denial, longing, and emotional vulnerability. Rani’s portrayal of their evolving relationship is both authentic and heart-wrenching, making it impossible not to root for them.

The family dysfunction adds another compelling layer, offering a raw and sometimes painful look into how past wounds and unresolved issues shape our present selves. The corporate wars are equally engrossing, filled with sharp dialogues, strategic maneuvers, and high-stakes drama that kept me on the edge of my seat.

What sets The Charmer apart is Rani’s ability to balance intense emotional depth with gripping plot twists, creating a narrative that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The writing is sharp, the pacing flawless, and the characters linger long after the final page.

Ava Rani has crafted a story that’s both a heartfelt exploration of love and identity and a thrilling ride through corporate battlegrounds. The Charmer is an absolute must-read, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

What a joy it has been to watched Ava Rani grow as an author. I've been an ARC reader from the beginning when The Spare was written. I thought that the writing was phenomenal then, but it just continues to get better and better! The Charmer made me feel so many emotions and I needed a tissue at the end. Poppy and Xanders love story was so heartwarming and to see both of them heal and grow through this story made my heart so happy. Also their chemistry and spicy scenes were 🔥. I highly recommend this marriage of convenience, fake marriage, billionaire romance 🔥

5 star rating, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for my honest review.

This is my favorite book of this trilogy! Must read if you love fake relationships, enemies to lovers, and a man who goes out of his way to make her life easier.

Xander Sutton is your new books boyfriend. A billionaire co-founder of an investment group with a heart of gold, amazing humor, and the perfect candidate for fake dating. Penelope Chen-Astor is the eldest daughter who has the weight of the world on her shoulders. From managing her mom’s finances to being an amazing lawyer, the last thing she needed was for her inheritance to have stipulations. She must get married by the end of the summer for her and her mom to receive their inheritances.

Full of drama, finding true love, new experiences, an amazing found family, and reconnecting with blood family, this is a must read this summer.

The Charmer by Ava Rani, this was a new author for me and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the chemistry between Penelope and Xander. In my opinion it was an original story line also. I would certainly recommend to others

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This is the third and final book in The Biotech Billionaire Series and can be read as a standalone.

This follows the story of Xander and Penelope, who found themselves in a fake marriage to save Penelope’s shares in her family business.

This was a celebration of wealth, family, friendship and love. I love how unassuming both main characters are. They grew on each other, took their time to fall in love and had each other’s back.

Like the previous books, I enjoyed the business side of this book- all the takeovers, mergers, acquisitions, contracts were refreshing to read.

I loved the friendship group and I’m glad that characters from the previous books all made appearances.

I love the ending and will miss all of the characters but looking forward to reading more from the author.

So thoroughly enjoyed this! To the point of not wanting to do what I had to do so I can read instead lol. This is the 3rd book in the series (which I did not know, but makes sense lol). And a new author for me. This was funny and witty, steamy and endearing. Xander & Penelope completely won me over. I look forward to reading the first 2 books in the series!

This book honestly surprised me in ways I did not expect it to. First of all, I am happy to say thank you Ava Rani for the lack of the third act miscommunication trope! Most spicy little romance books like this one always have it and I am happy to report this one did not. Secondly, can I just say I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of emotional depth these characters would have? Again, for a romance book like this, to see such depth in both the MMC and FMC is usually seen in other books.

“Not because I need more than one second to know you’re the one. My one. I realized something. Every person that came into my life and every single one that left it was a lesson. I thought it was that I had to hold on tight or I’d lose the person I love. But it was actually a lesson in resilience. Also so when this moment came, I wouldn’t mess it up.”

This quote, and honestly so many others throughout the book, resonated with me. It is a much deeper meaning to the idea of if you love something set it free and if it doesn’t come back then it was never yours. This time allowed both characters to truly find themselves and made this one of the best romance books I have read in a while. Not only that but, as someone else has stated, the whole crazy rich asians meets gossip girl also helped this book be one of the better ones I’ve read in a minute!

"You're my wife," he told me through gritted teeth. "Only I get to play with you."

For fans of Crazy Rich Asians and Suits.

If you’re a fan of big city settings, then this is the book for you as we are literally jet setting between NYC and Singapore (with a stint in the Hamptons).

Don’t be fooled though, in this billionaire romance BOTH are rich. However, the FMC needs to marry in order to receive her inheritance and there are a couple other obstacles in the way…

"But fair warning, I'm a little broken."
"No," she gently disagreed. "Just a bit bent."

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I had not read books 1 and 2 but didn't feel lost at all and it was very easy to follow the story. The side characters were adorable and I really related to Penelope and her estranged relationship with her family and trying to make everyone happy.

I'm a sucker for a marriage of convenience and the ultimate "My Wife" moment and this story certainly delivered. I was actually surprised when the spicy bucket list was introduced and imagine my shock when the sweet golden retriever turns into somewhat of a Dom.

Unlike other billionaire romances, both MCs are rich albeit with a caveat for the FMC.
I do think the lifestyle could've been portrayed a bit more vividly, besides the general locations (NYC, Singapore, Hamptons), it didn't go into details of actual places they might visit, fancy restaurants or stores, It felt like the entire story was either set at the law firm, the member's club or the family home.

Some of the spending felt a bit random, like spending 40Mil on a photograph out of the blue, but I did like that the MMC was secretly pining for her for years and remembered all the small details she likes.

genre: contemporary romance
pages: 350
writing: dual POV
spice: explicit

Themes
-billionaire romance
-marriage of convenience
-Crazy Rich Asians x Suits vibes
-Singaporean/British x American
-forced proximity
-pining and jealousy
-"My Wife"
-Golden Retriever MMC with Dom energy
-People pleaser oldest daughter black cat FMC

Fave quotes
It was like his superpower. Xander collected friends and simply converted enemies.

"No threats? I think I'm growing on you."
"Like a barnacle on a sea turtle."

"You're drunk, Poppy"
"You're hard, darling."

"You ruined my dress."
"It won't be the last."

In comparison to Penelope, every illicit substance I'd misused in the past had the addictiveness of a breath mint.

"But fair warning, I'm a little broken."
"No," she gently disagreed. "Just a bit bent."

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
I entered in this blindly, I am glad it turn out so good.
It was slow in the begining but it was worth of time. Characters and plot every thing was good.
Penelope, She is a character I can relate the most. Sometimes she was frustrating but I know from where she is coming. She is smart and rich atf. She is not dismel in distress. And she communicate maybe not in the beginning but after the marriage she did.

Xender, man , he is whip from th e beginning just he doesn't realized. He will take any chance to make her happy and get close to her. AND never let anyone to hurt her. I really like , he was so good.
Their realtonshi was really good. Their chemistry were fire. And they way thet trust each other, I just liked it.

This book has a solid plot. And I really the storyline. It was so enjoyable, All the family drama and
family feud. Author did a really good job.
The narrative style was a little difficult to comprehend .

I will highly recommend if the marrige of convenience is your trope.

I don't usually pick up books that have MCs as attorneys because having worked in the legal field, inconsistencies really bother me. Something about billionaire marriage of convenience with diverse characters really spoke to me though and I'm glad I picked this one up!

Xander Sutton has it down bad for Penelope Chan-Astor and is only too happy to play pretend as Penelope's husband to help her claim her inheritance. He's wanted her for a long time, so this burn is sloooooow, but it's so, so good. So, yes, there is spice, but with a slow burn, don't expect it immediately - just enjoy that anticipation.

I really enjoyed and loved Penelope's and Xander's characters - they're both fun in their own ways, but each incredibly caring. As the burn starts to build, you'll be gripping your book as you read through their character arcs.

The only thing for me was a plot point or two in the 3rd act that didn't quite do it for me (no, I will not spoil them). Regardless of those plot points, I still really liked this book and now need to loop back to read the first 2 in this series! (I keep doing that! Finding the last standalone, but more fun for me!).

Synopsis: Penelope Chen-Astor has spent her entire life making sure she doesn’t ruffle any feathers. But when it comes time to fulfill the terms of her grandfather’s will, she’s *tired*. There has to be another way - one that doesn’t have her end up married to the man her family has chosen for her. Enter Xander Sutton, who would do anything to keep his friends close and safe. Surely they can meet the will’s terms and separate in a year with no consequences. Right?



My thoughts: I have been thirsty for Penelope and Xander’s story from Book 1 - I could tell there was *something* going on. And this story? It did not disappoint. It is sweet and spicy, and will break your heart then put it back together again. Plus marriage of convenience? Game. Over.



Sweet Penelope. She just wants to be seen and to be loved for who she is; she wants to be *free*. I loved the journey she went on to find herself, her voice, and her ability to make her own choices. And Xander. *sigh* Poor Xander - just trying to hold on to everyone he loves… Including Penelope. Watching these two dance around their feelings, while trying to convince everyone that their marriage is real, while also trying to convince their closest friends it *isn’t* real is just ~delicious~. And then there is the jet-setting across the globe, the corporate espionage, the high-profile & expensive dates, the found family vibes, and the banter. There is no shortage of things to love in this book.



And we haven’t even talked about the *spice*. The tension from page 1 is just so tasty. Their wedding kiss had me squealing, and when Xander finds a certain kind of -list- that Penelope has made? Screaming & kicking my feet. One caution: if you have any kind of attachment to or love of fashion, you’ll need to skip certain scenes.



I need y’all to pick up The Charmer. Please. But read The Spare and The Heir first, so you can fully appreciate the world that Ava Rani has created.

I've been waiting for Xander's book, and he was truly a charmer. I don't think I was expecting dating anxiety from him, but it made sense for his casual approach to dating. Who knew a marriage of convenience would get him the HEA he desperately wanted.

The Charmer was the perfect marriage of convenience story! The love was fast but seemed genuine. Readers of this story are in for a fun ride around the globe and a solid emotional journey with the two main characters.

Though it is the third in the series you do not have to read the first to enjoy this book. Highly recommend!