The Big Day Deceit is a delightfully clever and heartfelt romance full of humor, tension, and unexpected warmth. Ann Fairway spins a unique twist on the marriage of convenience trope, bringing Annie and Conrad together in a story that feels both fresh and emotionally rich. I loved the witty banter, the slow burn, and the genuine chemistry between the leads. It was engaging from start to finish and I happily gave it five stars.

3.5 stars

This was a cute little story. I did have to keep reminding myself that the entire point of the plot was that it was all a big misunderstanding / misinformation, every time I started to get annoyed that the characters were on two different pages, but that's a me issue haha. The premise of Annie taking her sister's place on the day of her wedding to a complete stranger so she could protect her sister's assets and happiness - only for things to go more wrong than ever and Annie to end up actually married to the guy - was too fun. Their chemistry was great from the start, and I couldn't even blame him for not really recognizing that she wasn't her sister as he had only met her the once. I can also appreciate that what seemed like a third act breakup really was more about them finding out each other's truth, and Annie forcing him to actually talk to her instead of just running away. Talking about your issues is hard, especially when you barely know the person, but I know they'll be stronger for it.

And that ending was also very cute - very Hallmark - but sometimes that's a good thing. A little more of an epilogue would have made my little romantic heart happy, but I'm good with how it all ended.

3–3.5⭐ Romance

I have mixed feelings about this story, which is always a little hard to admit in a review. Still, I hope my comments can be taken as encouraging and constructive, not discouraging.

I read the entire novel and was pleased with the happy ending. However, I found it difficult to stay fully connected during the first half of the book. The writing felt uneven, almost as if the two halves had been written at different times. That said, the second half flowed much more smoothly and was easier to engage with—perhaps a sign the author was growing in confidence or craft as the story progressed.

Annie and Conrad were both interesting characters, and I appreciated the complexity of their circumstances. That said, some elements stretched believability for me. For example, the fraudulent signing of marriage paperwork would likely carry serious legal consequences in Australia, including possible jail time, which made it harder to suspend disbelief. Still, I was intrigued enough to keep reading to see how the characters would resolve their challenges.

One minor detail that repeatedly pulled me out of the story was the similarity between Conrad and Colton’s names. If Colton had been given a name starting with a different letter, it might have helped me keep the characters straight—especially early on. That said, I really enjoyed Colton’s character, as well as Annie’s interactions with her sister and the pub staff, which added warmth and depth to the story.

My biggest concern, however, lies with the book’s marketing. As someone who primarily reads sweet and clean romances, I was surprised by the inclusion of strong language, including an f-bomb near the end. Many readers who seek out sweet/clean romance expect no profanity, and this could potentially alienate or offend those readers. If the book continues to be marketed in that category, it might be worth reconsidering the use of language to better meet reader expectations—or adjusting the marketing description accordingly.

I say all this as someone who understands how hard writing and publishing can be. With the help of a skilled editor and a little more polish, I think this story has real potential. I admire the author’s creativity and hope this feedback is helpful as she continues her writing journey.

I’ve read the other reviews so far available and frankly, I don’t get it. The characters were all pretty messed up with significant caricatures when it came to the parents and I didn’t really enjoy the prose. This one, sadly, wasn’t for me.

I just finished The Big Day Deceit. It was a cute little romance that I could absolutely see in the Hallmark Channel. There is an arranged marriage for financial gains but emotions actually come into play. I loved the small town pubs that the characters visited. It was an easy read that kept me entertained.

3.75 Stars!

A cute and sweet romcom. A marriage of convenience, a marriage none of them wanted yet it turned to something deep and meaningful. Annie and Conrad story started off as a slow burn, yet their forced proximity brought them closer. The domestic feeling in their relationship that was so cute. How much of a green forest Conrad was for Annie.
I say i enjoyed the book vibes. It was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions.

This was a sweet marriage of convenience story that was simply delightful.
Slow Burn but worth the wait.

3.5⭐️



Annie Simmons nunca quiso decir "Si, solo estaba reemplazando a su hermana en el altar. Pero un desliz de lengua, un astuto plan parental, y de repente está legalmente casada con un hombre que nunca ha conocido. Atrapada en el campo, compartiendo una acogedora cabaña con Conrad, está decidida a arreglar el desastre e irse antes de que los sentimientos se involucren.

Conrad Brenman pensó que se había casado con Louis, un tranquilo, tímido y sin retensiones. En cambio, consiguió un compañero feroz e ingenioso en este arreglo de comedia romántica involuntario, uno que lo mantiene nervioso y cuestiona todo lo que creía que era seguro. Estuvo de acuerdo con el acuerdo para asegurar su futuro, pero el espíritu desafiante y la chispa de Annie hacen que el trato sea mucho más complicado.

Tienen una década de diferencia y se ven obligados a compartir un techo, un arreglo cargado de tensión tácita, bordes afilados y una química que se niega a permanecer enterrada. A medida que las identidades ocultas y las viejas heridas afloran, la lenta atracción entre ellas se vuelve imposible de ignorar.

¿Podrán dos extraños vinculados por el engaño descubrir un verdadero amor de segunda oportunidad antes de que los secretos familiares los separen?

this was a book i happily dived in to. a fun, sweet and heart filled with love book. i was full involved an fully invested. Ann manages to balance the wit and lightness you want from a book like this with the emotional depth and deeply moving moments woven throughout too. it was a refreshing take on the genre and i loved it all the more for that and making it work.
the characters were deeply human, flawed but also able to learn, give back and move forward. there is so much more to this book in the layers you come across as you read on. so many more themes and moment of thought we meet along the way and i loved how this was never too much but also felt important, like we were also learning and possibly healing too.
two people with an arranged marriage. two people who becomes a different two people when it gets to the alter. but two people who still want what marriage results in. but can there be something more that grows here than just houses and dowry's?
Annie certainly hasn't been lucky in love. ugh thats an understatement the ****! and Conrad was here for one reason and possibly got a whole lot of other. their chemistry and interactions were gold and i was here for every moment of them. watching them call each other out, heal, grow and take care of each other was just heart warming and heart tugging.
what we come to is a pair that have been hurt and have built walls to stop it happening again. but oh do they both need to let the other in. because what they find when they do is something bold, beautiful and real.
this is a compelling story with equally compelling characters. watching there time together was a pleasure. i smiled, i felt emotional and i felt my love for this book just grow and grow as their feelings or each other did. brilliant.

Such a sweet romantic story where forced proximity makes Annie and Conrad fall for each other. Loads of family drama and scheming, but Conrad was incredible despite them all. Had a lot of fun reading this!
Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the e-arc!

A well thought out clean book, with two people merging their lives, after the bride fakes her identity, to forgive, to live, to love.

Conrad and Annie have both been hurt but their forced proximity has them pealing emotional layers to create a relationship that's genuine.

Well written, thoughtful and fun.

#netgalley #TheBigDayDeceit

I really enjoyed getting to read this book, it had that slow-burn element that I was wanting and enjoyed how good the romance was. It blended the romance and comedic elements in a way that I was wanting and thought the characters were so well written and I cared about was happening. Ann Fairway has a great way of telling the story and thought the overall feel was so well done in this genre.

I could talk about The Big Day Deceit for hours! Beautiful writing, a gorgeously romantic plot, characters who will steal your heart. How absolutely adorable. A new favorite.