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A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you Gretz Corp for this arc.

Here’s another fun beach read from the Paradise Bay series. This one is a bit more convoluted than a standard beach read. Parts of it annoyed me but overall I enjoyed it. I actually like how all the various moving parts of the plot fit together. Actor Dom is willing to play his part in order to get a shot at Broadway which has always been his dream. True he’s gay but everyone will act according to the script and he’ll get a green card.

The fly in the ointment is Dom's brother Ben and his son Henry who stole my heart. Ben never planned on being a father but he discovers he’s a father and his brother gives up his dreams for five years to help raise Henry. Ben is Not Pleased about Dom playing the part of a hetero groom (Ben wants Dom to find his perfect guy) as well as panicked at the thought of losing his backup for raising Henry. Yes, there are moments when Ben does come off as a teensy bit selfish but deep down, he really does want the best for his brother. Henry is not a plot-moppet. He is a delight. Ben, despite his moments of pure panic, is a pretty great dad, too.

The person who makes me silently scream the most is Vivian. As her mother tries to tell her, be your best single self but Vivian can’t stop chasing those “views” and “likes” and doubles/triples down on her mistake. Then once she finds Dom (a miracle) and begins to fall for Ben (he really is a good guy), she still won’t admit her mistake, change gears and live a true life. Lose her followers? Start from scratch? Oh, no. I get that her swag is fabulous but as the story progresses she admits that making “content” each day is a drag now and that’s before she paints herself into a corner for years with a husband who, though he won’t disappoint her the way her own dead-beat dad betrayed her and her mother, will not ever be “the man of her dreams.”

Will the truth of Vivian’s and Dom’s relationship remain a secret? Well, not really and when wisps of the truth begin to float across the internet, they trot out a lie that props up a nice feeling – which is that love comes in many forms and can look many ways – which is a great message. But still The Truth is obviously headed towards them like a freight train.

Poor Vivian keeps her head deeply in the sand and refuses to communicate to the bitter end. She just won’t be honest about her feelings beyond wanting hot sex. Ben won’t say anything either so, yeah without family members pushing them together, I’m not sure these two would have found their way. I was happy that Vivian finally tells her father what she thinks of him and Henry is a doll but there’s a fair degree of frustration here. B-/C+

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This was a fun little read. I am drawn to books with great characters and the characters in Big Fat Beach Wedding are so cute and fun. I absolutely love Henry the most, but all of the characters are vibrant. I really love the support the characters give each other. This book isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it is a good summer read. I’d say a 3.5 star read.

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Benjamin James, 25, has his brother, Dominic, living with him right now, They awaken early one morning to find a baby on the doorstep with a note that the baby’s father is Benjamin and his name is Henry. Five years later, and Henry is an adorable little boy with round red glasses and ready for Kindergarten. Benjamin works as a contractor and Dominic, who is gay, works at night entertaining guests at a luxury resort.

Vivian Whitlock is staying at a resort with her friend Paige trying to keep Vivian’s job as an influencer from crashing. Vivian has been saying for some time now that she has a wealthy boyfriend who treats her very well. However, her followers are starting to not believe her as they have not seen a picture of him. They’re right. He is a myth and now Vivian has to find someone ASAP to fit the bill. That’s when Dominic overhears their conversation and volunteers. Now, Vivian is moving in with Dominic and Benjamin is not happy about that. But before long, Henry is falling in love with Vivian and Benjamin finds himself drawn to her as well.

As wedding plans are made the Vivian’s followers increase with excitement about the nuptials, Benjamin realizes that he is truly in love with her and Vivian returns his feelings. How can Vivian and Dominic go through with the wedding now?

There are a lot of laughs and a lot of honest emotions in this book. I loved all of it and look forward to reading more books by this author. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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My Big Fat Beach Wedding was highly entertaining. I would like to read this again, on the beach with a mocktail in my hand. This should be your first summer read of the year!

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If you are looking for an easy, breezy, laugh out loud rom-com with all the beach feels for your summer reading list than look no further! My Big Fat Beach Wedding has all the beachy feels with a cast of characters that leap off the page. Lighthearted, humorous and romantic, this book had everything I look for in a summer romance. Melanie Summers is a new to me author and I am officially obsessed! Her writing transports her readers right into the heart of the Benavente Islands.

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My Big Fat Beach Wedding is a fast-paced, heartwarming romance featuring an FMC who gets caught up in influencer fame.

With the hustle and bustle of NYC, it’s easy to see how Vivian could get carried away, especially with the life she’s known for the past decade suddenly at risk of being taken away.

Enter Ben and Dom. Their brotherly banter was one of my favorite parts, especially seeing how they put their lives on hold to make sure Henry had the best.

The introduction of Dom and Viv had me cackling, and I absolutely loved how on board he was for this lavender marriage. I also appreciated that Ben’s concerns were valid. Even though he was just worried about his brother, it was his vulnerability that made him even more attractive.

I do wish Ben and Viv had more time to develop their relationship as it felt a bit rushed. But overall, this was a cute, quick read, and I would definitely love to check out more of the Paradise Bay series.

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I actually weirdly loved a lot about this story and it was an easy read as a result but removed a star for the lowkey use of AI + the fact that despite liking Ben and Vivian at first, their relationship quickly felt rushed and extremely underdeveloped (almost like the timeline should’ve been longer? Then we could’ve learned just a little bit more about both of them?)

Also, didn’t feel this needed to end in a marriage like at all and I skimmed the last 20% but like extra star for adorable Henry + Paige who if I was her, at the end of the story I would’ve been like “okay sooo what am i, chopped liver?”

finally I do have to complain whenever a story could’ve been better improved with just a bit of open doorness bc their chemistry felt very tame and like clinical ? but regardless, I loved the tropes that were employed in this and it had some really lovely moments + I did immediately love Vivian even though I wished we got a bit more from her

thank you so much to netgalley and gretz corp for this arc to review!

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I would like to thank Netgalley and Xpresso book tours for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was enjoyable, but the gay characters felt like stereotypes. I also didn’t like the outing or the casual transphobia.

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An influencers desperate attempt to revive her popularity she lied about having a boyfriend. Everyone of her peers and fans were on another level in their life getting married and having children and she was steadily losing followers. She thought if she just lied about having a camera shy boyfriend she would be able to regain her popularity and it worked. But after a while people were starting to call her out on her lies She needed to prove to her followers that she had a boyfriend and soon. In comes the perfect fake boyfriend that would also benefit from a fake marriage. PERFECT... everything was working out except one complication, his brother.

This was a fun read.

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I enjoyed reading My Big Fat Beach Wedding by Melanie Summers. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

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Vivian Whitlock, influencer en decadencia, idea un plan desesperado: fingir un compromiso para salvar su carrera. Para ello, recluta a Dominic, un actor encantador que busca abrirse camino en Broadway. Todo va bien... hasta que aparece Ben, el reservado y atractivo hermano de Dominic, y su adorable hijo.

Entre playas soleadas, enredos románticos y corazones confundidos, Vivian se enfrenta a una decisión: ¿seguir con la mentira que construyó o arriesgarse por un amor inesperado?

Una comedia romántica ligera, moderna y divertida, ideal para quienes buscan una historia de amor rápida, con toques de humor, ternura y un poco de caos.



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La razón por la que tenía que casarse me pareció superficial.
Tenía curiosidad por ver cómo se resolvería la situación, porque sentía que Vivian saldría perdiendo ya fuera si se casaba con Dom o si lo dejaba todo por Ben.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

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oh Melanie thankyou for a scrumptious time of a book. i loved this. it had me feeling cheerful from the get go. some writers just have the knack for injecting that flow and seamless uplift throughout their stories. and this doesnt mean the topics are fluff and insignificant. oh no. its just a touch some authors have. a touch of making the reader feel involved and warmed by the characters and the plot.
this book was a humorous and outrageous and brilliant book.
i mean what could go wrong. weve got an influencer who has built her following by showing the perfect boyfriend. but people are catching on to her. so what else could she do but take on the gay wannabe actor Dominic as her fake fiancé. easy peasy right? nothing could go wrong right? well, aside from the fact this was never going to happen, what Vivian didnt factor in was her fiancés brother. gorgeous untouchable Ben and his little boy. Ben has been living with his brother so he can have support with his young son after a tough few years. and when the two meet all their beliefs and all the walls they both built to protect themselves start to feel weakened. but is this a bad thing. can love and letting love in ever be a bad thing?
errrrmmm it might not be so bad but we do have the fake fiancé and so she cant exactly marry her husbands to be brother now can she! read on to find just how this plays out and you wont regret doing so. this is a fab book. i couldnt have loved it more.

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This is a short and sweet, cute little read on a take I love. It is book 8 in the series which I didn't know, but I could still read this and really like it no matter what. A perfect read for a summer vacation

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The synopsis promises a great read but unfortunately the book doesn’t deliver. The writing is so poor that it was a chore to finish.

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I’ve read a few Melanie Summers books now and I really enjoy her writing! Vivian and Ben were great together, and this book is also in competition for one of the cutest kids in a romance novel in recent memory. I also really liked Dom and was rooting for him too!

As a lifestyle influencer, Vivian is a little cringey at times with how much she relies on what her image looks like (which makes sense for the story), and I didn’t like those parts as much as I did reading about her actual life, especially after she moves in with the brothers.

The spice level was pretty low, it was more on the sweet side. Would recommend!

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Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #MyBigFatBeachWedding by Melanie Summers!

I didn't know that this book was an interconnected standalone, so I'm going to read Tide Together as per the author's suggestion. I will edit my review after!

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Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the chance to read My Big Fat Beach Wedding! I am always to thankful to read and provide my honest feedback. This book has a fun vibe and promising setup, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me. The the characters felt a bit flat, and the love story came off more staged than real.

Vivian is an influencer on the edge of irrelevance and fakes an engagement to stay relevant. She ends up enlisting a charming resort actor to play the part. It’s a classic rom-com with a modern twist, and there’s a lot to like here: the setting, the son, the mom, and some funny moments.

However, the book struggles to make its characters feel real, at least for me personally. Vivian, though ambitious and vulnerable on paper, never fully came to life for me. Her relationship with Ben seemed rushed also. The connection between Vivian and Ben sparks suddenly and without enough buildup to make their chemistry strong. The love story, while sweet in moments, needed more development.

Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read with a lot of potential. With more character development and a slower burn romance, it could’ve been a standout. If you want a quick read with a quick love story, you will enjoy this one!

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My Big Fat Beach Wedding by Melanie Summers is a fun and engaging romantic comedy packed with charm, humor, and amazing banter.
I liked the author’s writing style, as well as the people we encounter in the tale.
Overall, My Big Fat Beach Wedding is a perfect read for anyone who loves a smart, funny, and heartwarming romance. Melanie Summers has once again delivered a story that’s impossible to put down!
Super cute and fun read! Melanie Summers never misses.

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✨ARC Review✨

My Big Fat Beach Wedding by Melanie Summers

✅Small town
✅Grumpy x Sunshine
✅Fake marriage
✅Single dad
✅Found family
✅Forced proximity

My Big Fat Beach Wedding is a fast-paced story that is full of witty banter, funny scenes, and heartfelt moments. I finished the book in one day!

The story revolves around Vivian who is losing followers as a major influencer. Her solution? Find a man who will fill the role of Mister X - her imaginary boyfriend. She finds Dominic who is willing to play the part of the fiancée. As Vivian gets to know Dominic more, she is also introduced to his brother Ben. Sparks fly, and now it’s up to Vivian to decide if she will choose her career or heart.

I loved the dynamic between Vivian and Dominic. They understood each other and how their dreams and career were important to them. They know that they will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Their partnership in the book was fun.

Meanwhile, Vivian and Ben’s relationship is interesting. I liked how Ben eventually treated Vivian. However, I wish there was more time to develop their relationship. In the end, it felt too rushed and forced.

The other characters especially felt flat in some ways. It seemed that they all just went along with everything that happened. I understand that the book is not that long, but the circumstances resolved themselves too quickly. The main complication in the story - Vivian’s lie was conveniently fixed as well.

If you like fast paced romance stories that do not have complicated stories, then you will enjoy this book. It was a fun read overall.

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