This was a wonderful story. Our main characters formed a great pair. The fake relationship trope was very well done.

Okay, so this was CUTE, but also kinda ridiculous—and I mean that in both the best and most unhinged way possible. Fake marriage? Forced proximity? A nerdy, bowtie-wearing book editor who says things like oh fudge? Yep, we’re in rom-com land, baby! 🎩💕

Beck was the human embodiment of a golden retriever—so sweet it gave me cavities 😍. But I won’t lie, the fact that this man made it to his 30s without so much as a kiss?? Sir, HOW?? Connie, on the other hand, has been burned by love too many times to believe that someone like Beck is actually as good as he seems. Cue miscommunication, internal angst, and, of course, one bed. 💘

The writing style was a little much at times (Hazel/Connie’s inner monologue was like a spiral that never stopped spiraling), and the pacing was slow in places 💤. But the vibes? The vibes were fun. The banter? Solid. The spice? Surprisingly good for a book featuring a man who literally says fudge. 😏🔥

If you love:
📖 Fake marriage
🔥 Slow-burn tension
💖 Inexperienced but secretly confident MMC
✍️ A bookish setting
🍬 A romance sweeter than a sugar rush

…then you’ll enjoy this one! Just don’t think too hard about the plot logistics, and you’re set. ✨

I wish I had remembered what I thought about this author's last book before I picked this one up, because I feel exactly the same about this one. This started as a cute, witty rom-com. I liked Connie, and I loved Henry's awkwardness. I can see how his G-rated dialogue could be perceived as cringy, but I thought it was endearing. The fake dating trope was fun, and I liked how Connie was so quick to stick up for Henry with his annoying colleague. However, about halfway through, that all went out the window. For about 8 chapters, the only thing Connie thought about was Henry's "member". Any relationship building ceased. I am not a prude by any means, but this was not even spicy; it was completely cringeworthy and such a turn-off. I almost didn't make it to the end to see how the relationship wrapped up. I do not think this author is for me. If you like spice with no substance, definitely check this one out.

3.5⭐️ I listened to this one on audio and enjoyed the narration of the story. I really enjoyed the writer/editor aspect of the storyline. The writing retreat sounded like a lot of fun and the interactions between the two MCs at the retreat definitely built the tension and deepened the fake wife/marriage storyline.

This book definitely plays into some of the common romance tropes - teddy bear MC (achingly sweet - almost too sweet for me), fake marriage, one bed. Overall, I thought the storyline was good - the interactions between the MCs were engaging - I definitely felt like some of the dialogue was a little cringy and the MMC was almost too sweet for me, but overall an enjoyable and quick read.

Thank you to the publisher for the physical copy as well as the ALC and eARC. Of course, special shout out to the illustrator who is one of my all time favorites!!

This was adorable! What a refreshing read in this romance genre. The hero was written so wholesomely and watching our heroine fall in love with him was believable and went at the perfect pace. It was a lovely story about two charming and lovely people who deserve the world. Bravo!

I'm a sucker for a fake dating troupe! I found this read enjoyable. The in experienced MMC who has made it into his 30's with never being kissed, a bookish backdrop and a slow burn. This one was a good one! I feel like making it that late in age with nothing as much as a kiss is a little outlandish but that's just me. It did become a little slow at times but I enjoyed the banter of the story so i can overlook the slower areas.

Cinnamon roll MMC, sassy FMC and a fake marriage trope (it's in the title 😉). I really enjoyed the consent and message of it being ok to like what you like sexually. The spice was excellent! There was a lot around pleasing each other without it being sex. Beyond that the characters annoyed me a little bit. I don't know exactly what it was, possibly the narration? I'd still recommend for a light hearted, spicy romance.

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.

This book took an old trope and made it new again! I have to be honest I’m a bit over the fake dating trope but I loved this fake marriage story. The characters felt so real and the whole situation was so unreasonable and kept me wanting to read more. Definitely a must read and the narration is done wonderfully!

This was so cute!! I wasn’t sure what to expect for the narration of Beck, but I enjoyed it.

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.

I did not know this was part of a series and I was so obsessed with these dorks that I finished this book before reading the first. I'm normally a big stickler for reading a romance series in order because I have to know all the easter eggs. I don't feel like I missed too much other than their introduction and finding out why they were "set up" together. Is Beck an almost unbelievable character? 100%. There's no way this gorgeous, kind, idiot hasn't been hit on by some equally clueless woman? He was a star basketball player! He is jacked. I don';t care how dorky he is. He is someone's type (mine). As that is to say that I did love the rapport between these 2. I loved that Connie was equally baffled by Beck's entire existence.

I think this will be the last book I read by this author for some time, so take my review with a grain of salt. I love Charlotte Stein's authorial voice, and this book was no exception. She can also be extremely hilarious, and has made me giggle and laugh out loud in all three books I've now read from her. But a couple things that seem to be regular features of her writing I'm realizing are not things I enjoy, namely a focus on very insecure characters, to the point that it makes them act in ways I find unbelievable, and an occasional overwrought overthinkyness to the main character's inner monologue that I do not vibe with. The positives for me are so good they almost make me want to read more of her books, but honestly, I don't like the back and forth of loving things and really disliking them all in one book. This is most definitely a me problem at this point!

This book otherwise, even though I am personally very much not attracted to the type of mustachioed goober that is the male MC, was borderline delightful. But my own personal hangups are preventing me from giving it a higher rating.

All that said, Imogen Wilde is a delightful narrator, so do the audio if you like romance audiobooks.

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.

It was so bloody awkward... but I lapped it up like a kitty at a plate of cream..

I don't know what to tell ya.. The characters were so bizarre as separate entities but together... MAGIC!! The story was a tad obscure but honestly you could not have pried those headphones off my head. I was drawn in and fully invested.

It like unique writers and this one nailed it.

4 stars

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.

Written by Charlotte Stein and expertly narrated by Imogen Wilde, My Big Fat Fake Marriage was a pleasure! Henry Samuel Beckett, with his super sweet exterior, was hiding a secret - he was exceptionally shy. So, when he was questioned by colleagues, he lies and said that he is married.
I love the fake marriage trope, but not always the virgin trope... but Beck was so much fun to watch grow! This was definitely spicy - a quick learner, perhaps? But, overall, a fun and easy read - I read it on vacation and it was great on the beach!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

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.

🎧🎧🎧🎧
The Audiobook narration is performed by Imogen Wilde who does a fantastic job with the story which was written in single POV. She gave the characters distinct voices and kept me fully entertained and engrossed in the tale. It was a pleasure listening to her narrate this novel.

I was so happy to get Charlotte Stein’s next book in her interconnected series following ‘When Grumpy met Sunshine’. Overall, I thought the book was a really fun contemporary romance that kept me reading. Stein's characters are always charming and her use of the single POV is believably frustrating. I think where the book lost stars for me was that the intimate scenes felt concentrated in one spot and were a bit overwhelming to the plot, you lost a lot of the inter-character chemistry between the two love interests and that lead to the final conclusions feeling a bit fast and a bit unearned.

Once again, I have to say, Connie and Beck were the highlights of the book. Connie was relatably pessimistic about the idea of love and her struggle between what she knew was wrong but had been internalized in her childhood and the person she was now left me empathizing with her easily. On the other hand, I need more love interests like Beck, charming and awkward and jolly. The kind you don’t often see in the world of brooding masculine love interests. He was refreshing and lovable and I could read two or three more books of his journey through being a husband!

Imogen Wilde did an amazing job as narrator! I loved her cheek and expressiveness, it kept everything so light and fun and made me want more.

Even though the pacing was heavily affected by the last 30-20% of the book and that ultimately docked it a few stars, the premise and the characters are so cute and fun I’d still recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet contemporary romance with a charming love interest and relatable, if not dramatic, protagonist.

I did not like When Grumpy Met Sunshine, but I decided to pick this one up once I got a ALC on Netgalley.

It was a cute little spicy rom com. I loved their connection, the far representation, and our MMC's adorable self throughout the book.

Was the story line completely believeable? No. Did it have to be? No. But I had a good time throughout the whole story.

I have mixed feelings about the way the narrator was done. It distracted me from the story a few times, but not enough for me to stop reading it.

3.75 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for this audio ARC!

Grumpy sunshine trope
I enjoyed this audiobook and the characters throughout it. Beck is a great book boyfriend but I got weary of the spice as it took over the story for about 1/3 of it and was basically only spice with not enough plot.