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First Comes Marriage
Impulsive rock star Charlie Dean isn’t interested in relationships, let alone marriage, but when her reputation takes a dive after an onstage meltdown, she runs out of options to repair her image. With her manager signing her up for reality TV show, First Comes Marriage, where celebrities are matched together and meet for the first time at the altar, she is forced into cleaning up her act once and for all. The problem? Her wife is none other than Tamara Hewitt, a glamorous plus-size model who Charlie could never possibly be compatible with.
At least, so she believes. Tamara and Charlie come to an agreement, accepting that in order to get through the next six to twelve weeks of newlywed challenges and come out of the other side loved by the public again, they must play up to the cameras — but will they fake it till they make it, or is an arranged marriage between two women from very separate worlds doomed to end in tragedy?
Perfect for fans of Married at First Sight.
At least, so she believes. Tamara and Charlie come to an agreement, accepting that in order to get through the next six to twelve weeks of newlywed challenges and come out of the other side loved by the public again, they must play up to the cameras — but will they fake it till they make it, or is an arranged marriage between two women from very separate worlds doomed to end in tragedy?
Perfect for fans of Married at First Sight.
177 pages, ebook
Published February 7, 2023
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Bryony Rosehurst
15 books42 followersBryony Rosehurst is a British romance author and poet dedicated to telling diverse stories of love and happily ever afters — and perhaps a little bit of angst sprinkled in for good measure. You can usually find her painting (badly), photographing new cities (occasionally), or wishing for autumn (always).
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 28, 2023
4.5 Stars First Comes Marriage (audiobook) by Bryony Rosehurst read by Amy Tallmadge.
This was a fun premise for a romance. Two celebrity women are thrown together and forced to get married for a reality television show. There careers could use a boost from the exposure so they are willing to give this a try. I don’t think I’d watch the TV show but I enjoyed the audiobook.
This was a fun premise for a romance. Two celebrity women are thrown together and forced to get married for a reality television show. There careers could use a boost from the exposure so they are willing to give this a try. I don’t think I’d watch the TV show but I enjoyed the audiobook.
April 16, 2023
1.75 (bonus points for the body positivity)
RIDICULOUS, flat, and way too fluffy for me.
The Good:
* Body positivity is always good. One of the MCs is a plus-sized model and that aspect is prevalent.
* Unique premise (or at least uncommon in my lesfic experience)
* Some character growth
The Bad:
* Ridiculous motivations for the MCs to get married to a stranger on reality television. (I'll delve more into this point below 🤦)
* Annoying characters. Neither of the MCs were particularly endearing, relatable, or even that likeable for me.
* The romance felt stilted - the chemistry wasn't really there but the feelings suddenly were 😅
* Admittedly, at times the body positivity felt awkward and forced in ways that made me uncomfortable. It was like the author mentioned it just for the sake of saying, "Hey, don't forget that she's a big girl!"
* Sub-par narration
Their motivations for going on the TV show were my biggest issue with this book. Ultimately, both did it to repair their reputations, and one did it to restore her faith in love and dating 🤣 What the actual f*ck?! In what way does going on a TV show where has-been famous people get married and then spend a few months together only to probably have to go through a completely avoidable divorce help your reputation? One is a bad-girl rock star who wants people to think she has her shit together and is ready to settle down. LOL, sure 😂. The other was already married once to a slimebag who treated her poorly and publicly declared that she cheated (when he was, in fact, the cheater) and she needed to restore her reputation and faith in love. That is an even bigger LOL than the first one.
Call it a PR stunt or a sponsor demand or something like that...anything else would be more believable, honestly. This, for me, really set the tone of the book and I couldn't see the characters (or their managers) as anything but really dumb 🤦
Not one I'd recommend, but do read other reviews.
RIDICULOUS, flat, and way too fluffy for me.
The Good:
* Body positivity is always good. One of the MCs is a plus-sized model and that aspect is prevalent.
* Unique premise (or at least uncommon in my lesfic experience)
* Some character growth
The Bad:
* Ridiculous motivations for the MCs to get married to a stranger on reality television. (I'll delve more into this point below 🤦)
* Annoying characters. Neither of the MCs were particularly endearing, relatable, or even that likeable for me.
* The romance felt stilted - the chemistry wasn't really there but the feelings suddenly were 😅
* Admittedly, at times the body positivity felt awkward and forced in ways that made me uncomfortable. It was like the author mentioned it just for the sake of saying, "Hey, don't forget that she's a big girl!"
* Sub-par narration
Their motivations for going on the TV show were my biggest issue with this book. Ultimately, both did it to repair their reputations, and one did it to restore her faith in love and dating 🤣 What the actual f*ck?! In what way does going on a TV show where has-been famous people get married and then spend a few months together only to probably have to go through a completely avoidable divorce help your reputation? One is a bad-girl rock star who wants people to think she has her shit together and is ready to settle down. LOL, sure 😂. The other was already married once to a slimebag who treated her poorly and publicly declared that she cheated (when he was, in fact, the cheater) and she needed to restore her reputation and faith in love. That is an even bigger LOL than the first one.
Call it a PR stunt or a sponsor demand or something like that...anything else would be more believable, honestly. This, for me, really set the tone of the book and I couldn't see the characters (or their managers) as anything but really dumb 🤦
Not one I'd recommend, but do read other reviews.
June 12, 2023
"Married at First Sight" meets a celeb version of the show! A super way to get the meet cute... not that it's too cute for the MCs at first in this clever opposites attract in forced proximity.
We have a fracked-up rock chick, Charlie, thrown together with a glamorous but senstive model, Tamara. I liked that Tamara is plus sized and has had a journey about her self-image in her back story but is now comfrotable with who she is physically (as she should be as she's A list and Charlie soon has the hots for her!). The girls soon learn about and from each other as they navigate the cameras and the ice-bitch ex also on the show.
Will they last beyond the show...?
A super-fun novella that's a solid 4.5, hence rounded up 😃
We have a fracked-up rock chick, Charlie, thrown together with a glamorous but senstive model, Tamara. I liked that Tamara is plus sized and has had a journey about her self-image in her back story but is now comfrotable with who she is physically (as she should be as she's A list and Charlie soon has the hots for her!). The girls soon learn about and from each other as they navigate the cameras and the ice-bitch ex also on the show.
Will they last beyond the show...?
A super-fun novella that's a solid 4.5, hence rounded up 😃
February 20, 2023
I can already tell this is going to be one of my favourite books this year! This book had everything I love - reality TV, opposites attract and grumpy vs sunshine. Charlie and Tamara are so cute together. At the start even I was sure they would be incompatible, but this book also explores how we see people first at surface level and then below the skin. As I got to know the characters, they became so much more than archetypes. I fell in love with their romance as they got to know one another, and I’m so glad I got taken along for the ride! I would’ve loved even more content for this one but the story is perfect as it is!!! A must read for romance lovers.
June 27, 2024
Delightful and Heartfelt
In a desperate bid to save her reputation, self-destructive rock star Charlie marries warmhearted model Tamara on a reality TV show, and it’s hardly a match made in heaven. But as the two navigate 24-hour cameras and constant drama together, they begin to grow close. Can their connection survive the spotlight?
First Comes Marriage is a delightful sapphic romance with a fun premise, top-notch banter, and a little sprinkle of angst. As main characters, Tamara, who is almost immediately likable, and Charlie, who starts off as a colossal jerk, couldn’t be more different. Yet the author does a skillful job of building their chemistry and unraveling their deeper personalities, until it’s impossible not to root for them as a couple.
If you love funny, sweet, and heartfelt romances set against the chaotic backdrop of reality TV, you’ll love First Comes Marriage.
In a desperate bid to save her reputation, self-destructive rock star Charlie marries warmhearted model Tamara on a reality TV show, and it’s hardly a match made in heaven. But as the two navigate 24-hour cameras and constant drama together, they begin to grow close. Can their connection survive the spotlight?
First Comes Marriage is a delightful sapphic romance with a fun premise, top-notch banter, and a little sprinkle of angst. As main characters, Tamara, who is almost immediately likable, and Charlie, who starts off as a colossal jerk, couldn’t be more different. Yet the author does a skillful job of building their chemistry and unraveling their deeper personalities, until it’s impossible not to root for them as a couple.
If you love funny, sweet, and heartfelt romances set against the chaotic backdrop of reality TV, you’ll love First Comes Marriage.
August 5, 2023
Adored this! My only complaint is I could easily have a three hundred page book of this without getting bored. The characters were instantly real and loveable, and right for each other without having to fall instantly from the start.
June 30, 2023
Quite simply a fun, cute book that will deffo make you smile and fall in love!
March 13, 2023
✔Sapphic Book Bingo Challenge 2023 🌈✨: Unicorn board - Stunning Cover
5 stars. Charlie is a rockstar with a bad reputation and after a drunken on stage mishap her manager puts her on a reality show to clean up her image. Tamara is a famous plus size model still trying to pick up the pieces from her messy divorce that led to her being seen as a cheater by the public and now no one wants anything to do with her. Her best friend urges her to go on the reality show ‘First Comes Marriage’ where celebrities are paired up and meet for first time at the altar and then have to stay together for twelve weeks.
Listen, I don’t pick up reality tv based romances often but when I do I tend to love them. This was seriously such a fantastic read. It’s less than 200 pages but it is a fully fleshed out story and the characters are developed and feel real. There is a lot of miscommunication and hurt feelings between Charlie and Tamara but my goodness were these two perfect for each other! Charlie comes across as rude and extremely cynical and thinks the entire thing is a joke so to watch her open up and fall for Tamara was incredibly satisfying. She showed she cared for her in her own way. Tamara had some insecurities and I loved the way that Charlie went out of her way to let her know that she cared. They both were patient and understanding with each other which was lovely though they definitely had to work to get to that point. The ending was so sweet and yes I did tear up but they were happy tears. I’m such a sap. I loved this book and I can definitely see myself reading it again because it was so comforting and warm.
5 stars. Charlie is a rockstar with a bad reputation and after a drunken on stage mishap her manager puts her on a reality show to clean up her image. Tamara is a famous plus size model still trying to pick up the pieces from her messy divorce that led to her being seen as a cheater by the public and now no one wants anything to do with her. Her best friend urges her to go on the reality show ‘First Comes Marriage’ where celebrities are paired up and meet for first time at the altar and then have to stay together for twelve weeks.
Listen, I don’t pick up reality tv based romances often but when I do I tend to love them. This was seriously such a fantastic read. It’s less than 200 pages but it is a fully fleshed out story and the characters are developed and feel real. There is a lot of miscommunication and hurt feelings between Charlie and Tamara but my goodness were these two perfect for each other! Charlie comes across as rude and extremely cynical and thinks the entire thing is a joke so to watch her open up and fall for Tamara was incredibly satisfying. She showed she cared for her in her own way. Tamara had some insecurities and I loved the way that Charlie went out of her way to let her know that she cared. They both were patient and understanding with each other which was lovely though they definitely had to work to get to that point. The ending was so sweet and yes I did tear up but they were happy tears. I’m such a sap. I loved this book and I can definitely see myself reading it again because it was so comforting and warm.
June 2, 2025
First Comes Marriage is a cute sapphic arranged marriage romance that will appeal to fans of the television series Married at First Sight. Here the author uses a celebrity version of a similar show to bring together the unlikely couple of Charlie and Tamara. Charlie is forced into the show as an attempt to rehabilitate her image as a temperamental rock star after a very public onstage melt down while plus size model Tamara is hoping to find love after a marriage that ended in allegations of cheating. While opposites may attract, for this couple the only thing that seems to be keeping them together is their mutual need to turn around their public image. Neither of them expected to actually fall in love, and when push comes to shove will either of them be prepared to be honest about their feelings.
For a short book this one has a lot of heart and some very wise words about what really matters in relationships. I was really impressed by the amount of character development the author was able to pull off, especially in the case of Charlie, who was really dislikeable at first but like an onion had her layers stripped away as she grew closer to Tamara and finally listened to her feelings. By contrast Tamara was really likeable, and seemed much more emotionally mature and well rounded. I think I want to be more like her when I grow up. There may be some bumps along the way but of course we get a happy ending, and I finished the book with a smile on my face, so what more can you ask for?
For a short book this one has a lot of heart and some very wise words about what really matters in relationships. I was really impressed by the amount of character development the author was able to pull off, especially in the case of Charlie, who was really dislikeable at first but like an onion had her layers stripped away as she grew closer to Tamara and finally listened to her feelings. By contrast Tamara was really likeable, and seemed much more emotionally mature and well rounded. I think I want to be more like her when I grow up. There may be some bumps along the way but of course we get a happy ending, and I finished the book with a smile on my face, so what more can you ask for?
June 4, 2024
Content warnings: references to past toxic/abusive (mental) relationship, fat shaming, alcohol consumption, food poisoning, references to being cheated on.
Rep: Charlie (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Tamara (MC) is cis, white, fat, and pansexual (I am 99% sure she said pan - I was listening to the audio and couldn't rewind as I was busy).
While I do wish this was a longer novel, I did enjoy it on the whole.
The premise was good, the characters developed pretty well for its length, and I truly felt the chemistry between Charlie and Tamara. Even though I really didn't like Charlie at the start.
By the end, I felt this was really sweet.
Rep: Charlie (MC) is cis, white, and lesbian. Tamara (MC) is cis, white, fat, and pansexual (I am 99% sure she said pan - I was listening to the audio and couldn't rewind as I was busy).
While I do wish this was a longer novel, I did enjoy it on the whole.
The premise was good, the characters developed pretty well for its length, and I truly felt the chemistry between Charlie and Tamara. Even though I really didn't like Charlie at the start.
By the end, I felt this was really sweet.
March 4, 2025
Short and Sweet
This was a cute story, and a lovely saphic example of the arranged marriage trope. I would have liked to see a little more emotional development, like Charlie struggling about what she will and won't do for a relationship or more confusion about what a long-term relationship looks like. I would also love to see more of the show. It sounds like they left before the first vote off, and I think it would have added to the tension if they'd stayed a bit longer. I loved seeing Tamara and Charlie talk through some of the difficult things together, and I love plus size rep.
This was a cute story, and a lovely saphic example of the arranged marriage trope. I would have liked to see a little more emotional development, like Charlie struggling about what she will and won't do for a relationship or more confusion about what a long-term relationship looks like. I would also love to see more of the show. It sounds like they left before the first vote off, and I think it would have added to the tension if they'd stayed a bit longer. I loved seeing Tamara and Charlie talk through some of the difficult things together, and I love plus size rep.
April 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. After getting together in an arranged marriage for a TV show Charlie and Tamara weren't off to a good start. Charlie was just there to gain some trust back from the public for her antics as a rock artist. Tamara took it a bit more seriously. Soon things were getting better between them. There are a few ups and downs throughout, will they make it up in the end? Read it and find out.
April 28, 2025
It was a cute and enjoyable story, and ultimately one about healing, for both characters. It touches on a number of sensitive issues, including the impact toxic relationships can have on self esteem, the cost of fame, and the feeling of being unworthy, and also how toxic reality TV can be, and handles them well.
March 17, 2024
(rounded up from 4.5)
Short but enjoyable. The premise is very silly, as is to be expected but if you go with it, the chemistry and growth with the characters and their relationship is worthwhile.
Short but enjoyable. The premise is very silly, as is to be expected but if you go with it, the chemistry and growth with the characters and their relationship is worthwhile.
June 13, 2024
It was sweet but a bit too short
July 6, 2025
4.5 Stars
June 26, 2024
First Comes Marriage is a classic WLW romance story. This books follows Charlie, a bad girl rocker and Tamara, a gorgeous model, who find themselves paired together in a classic “Love At First Sight” reality dating show. This story is slightly predictable, but offers a good distraction and a great plot line that is easy to follow along with. First Comes Marriage is a cute book that I would recommend to anyone looking for an easy summer read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews