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.

DNF @ 17%. I am not vibing with the writing, the character or anything. Not interested. 🤷‍♀️ I think Charlotte Stein's writing is not for me because this is the 2nd book I haven't liked from her.

I wanted to like this one more. A fake marriage? A cinnamon roll hero? A plus-sized heroine? I'm in! Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. The hero is simply too guileless. He said some of the most ridiculous things for a grown man. It was hard for me to get past. While the open communication in their "relationship" was great, so many of these scenes were truly the most uncomfortable I have read. I so wanted them to stop apologizing to one another. It just felt awkward and not spicy at all. While the narration was great (loved the accent) it sadly wasn't enough to keep me engaged in the way that I wanted to be. I do think others may enjoy this one if you like a hero like this one. I'm going to chalk this one up as not for me but one that may be for you.

As a plus size woman myself, I really went into this book expecting to love it and while I did enjoy it, it was pretty underwhelming. I read someone rate it cute but ridiculous and that sums up my feelings pretty well. I will say though the narration was well done and the audiobook was a fun way to read this.

A spicy cinnamon roll romance.

This book had strong character development as we follow a main character who finds out that maybe her fake marriage to a gentle giant of a man, will end up with real feelings a partner she can share her true self with.

Hilarity ensues at a writer's retreat where our characters find themselves caught in a web of their own (well intentioned) lies. With hot scenes together and heartwarming banter and interactions throughout, this was a romance book I was not sorry that I clicked on for an audiobook ARC.

I decided to give My Big Fat Fake Marriage another chance by listening to the audiobook, and Imogen Wilde's narration was fantastic! She brought the characters to life. However, even with her excellent performance, the story itself didn't quite hold up for me. The same issues I had with the book persisted. The spicy scenes translated well to audio! They were pretty…vivid. If that's your thing, you'll probably enjoy that aspect of the audiobook.

I DNFed 'When Grumpy Met Sunshine' last year because I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing.
Despite that, I decided to give My Big Fat Fake Marriage a try.
I'm still not the biggest fan of the writing but I was able to make it through this time.
It wasn't the worst thing I've read and it was cute at times but the dialogue was a little too cheesy for me and I couldn't really take the the FMC & her love interest too seriously.
I don't think I'll be reading another book by Charlotte Stein.

This spicy rom-com was such a fun ride! My Big Fat Fake Marriage brings the well-loved (and often overdone) fake marriage trope to life with a fresh twist and some seriously quirky, memorable characters. I found myself rooting for them from the start—just waiting for the moment they'd finally get together and watching all the hilarious, awkward, and steamy moments in between. While the premise isn’t new, the chemistry, humor, and charm in the storytelling made it feel different. It’s definitely one that kept me listening and entertained all the way through. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

Book 1 was a fun read in 2024 so is safe to say i was excited to read this one, so thankful for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this rom-com story! I love an adorable cinnamon roll of a man who is sweet from the begining, sometimes I just need a sweet man, as much as I love a Grumpy man, sweet ones give a charm to a story and this MMC gave us just that! I absolutely loved Hazel she was fun to get to know. Overall was a fun and cute book to read

I loved this cute romance with plus size representation and quirky and lovable characters! I'm a big fan of fake marriage and force proximity and My Big Fat Fake Marriage delivered on both. Beck was so sweet and nerdy and I loved that he was an actual good guy. Too innocent for this world. Sweet good retriever energy. Connie on the other hand was a sharp contrast with her skepticism of love and good guys and rightly so with her romantic history. We also have some spice and good banter. Overall, this was a good time and I enjoyed it!