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My Big Fat Fake Marriage: A Novel
Something has to give... Could it be her heart?
Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.
Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.
When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can't help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.
Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.
When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can't help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
381 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
143 people are currently reading
25770 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Stein
117 books2,129 followersCharlotte Stein is the RT and DABWAHA nominated author of over fifty short stories, novellas and novels. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks. For more on Charlotte, visit: www.charlottestein.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 985 reviews
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April 23, 2025This is a remarkable book, in that I was absolutely persuaded by the heroine's feelings of both love and lust for the hero, while finding him to be a total turnoff myself. It's not that the character is badly done or flawed, but rather a purely personal response: he says "Gee willikins" and is super wholesome all the time in a moustachioed way and I'd literally lock myself in the house and pretend not to be home, or maybe emigrate. But I 100% bought Hazel falling wonderfully in love with him, which given it's first person caused me to have a hugely mutually contradictory lot of feelings. Romance is a marvellous genre.
The writing is lovely (Charlotte Stein, of course) and the UST / sex scenes quite incredibly hot and well done. Hazel is a funny entertaining character to spend time with and Stein is remarkably good at keeping the focus on the romance without depending on secondary plots, just the progression of feels. I thought the villain could have used a bit more grounding, and the parent backstory more unpicking, but that's not what the book wanted to be about: it makes a deliberate choice to focus on two people being kind to one another, and there's a great deal to be said for that.
The writing is lovely (Charlotte Stein, of course) and the UST / sex scenes quite incredibly hot and well done. Hazel is a funny entertaining character to spend time with and Stein is remarkably good at keeping the focus on the romance without depending on secondary plots, just the progression of feels. I thought the villain could have used a bit more grounding, and the parent backstory more unpicking, but that's not what the book wanted to be about: it makes a deliberate choice to focus on two people being kind to one another, and there's a great deal to be said for that.
February 7, 2025
3.5 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC! 💌
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. ✨
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. ✨
March 9, 2025
My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a sweet and heartwarming rom-com following Hazel, a distrustful writer, and Beck, her shy and gentle neighbor. After a misunderstanding, Hazel discovers that Beck lied to his co-workers about being married to save face; and since they’re both attending the same writing retreat, she agrees to play along as his fake wife. However, as they spend more time together and share a bed, the line between pretend and reality quickly begins to blur.
This book was such a fun and charming read! The romance was perfectly crafted, filled with banter, chemistry, and so much steam. I absolutely loved Hazel and Beck together; the two were so kind to one another and always putting each other first. Beck was an absolute cinnamon roll; he was so attentive and tender. They were just both completely obsessed with each other, and I loved their obvious lust. While the romance was solid, I found the plot and writing a bit lacking at times. The setting and secondary characters felt somewhat like an afterthought, which left the story feeling a little underdeveloped outside of the central romance. That said, if you’re looking for a rom-com full of attraction, tension, and an irresistibly sweet MMC, this book is definitely worth a try!
Read if you like:
🤍Virgin MMC🤍
🤍Fake Dating🤍
🤍Slow Burn🤍
🤍Forced Proximity🤍
🤍Nerdy MCs🤍
🤍So Much Horniness🤍
🤍One Bed🤍
~Many thanks to St. Martins for an ARC of this book in return for an hoenst review.
This book was such a fun and charming read! The romance was perfectly crafted, filled with banter, chemistry, and so much steam. I absolutely loved Hazel and Beck together; the two were so kind to one another and always putting each other first. Beck was an absolute cinnamon roll; he was so attentive and tender. They were just both completely obsessed with each other, and I loved their obvious lust. While the romance was solid, I found the plot and writing a bit lacking at times. The setting and secondary characters felt somewhat like an afterthought, which left the story feeling a little underdeveloped outside of the central romance. That said, if you’re looking for a rom-com full of attraction, tension, and an irresistibly sweet MMC, this book is definitely worth a try!
Read if you like:
🤍Virgin MMC🤍
🤍Fake Dating🤍
🤍Slow Burn🤍
🤍Forced Proximity🤍
🤍Nerdy MCs🤍
🤍So Much Horniness🤍
🤍One Bed🤍
~Many thanks to St. Martins for an ARC of this book in return for an hoenst review.
March 17, 2025
As a chubster, you give me a plus size gal on a cartoony cover and combine all that with the promise of a fake relationship trope, I am absolutely requesting that from the library. Unfortunately, I didn’t pay any attention to the fact that I had previously failed with this author and should have stayed away. Will I remember I’m now a two-fer flop in the future? Probably not.
Per the opening line above, this had a lot of potential. I love some good fake dating/marriage tropey yum yum. Unfortunately, nothing about this was good. From her who used a fake name for lame reasons. To him whose vocabulary consisted of a lot of “gee willickers!” To the combo of both of them being so pitiful in their woe is me, no one could ever like me personalities. None of it worked. And then at the halfway mark there was no pretending there was going to be any more story or plot whatsoever, and it went to a nonstop teenage quality bangfest full of very NOT hot dirty talk and apparently a great need for some moisture wicking underpants for the both of them for the duration . . . .
Yuck. Bad bad.
EDIT: Because I forgot the fake relationship was THE EXACT SAME FUCKING TROPE USED IN THE AUTHOR'S LAST BOOK. Talk about having zero creativity.
Per the opening line above, this had a lot of potential. I love some good fake dating/marriage tropey yum yum. Unfortunately, nothing about this was good. From her who used a fake name for lame reasons. To him whose vocabulary consisted of a lot of “gee willickers!” To the combo of both of them being so pitiful in their woe is me, no one could ever like me personalities. None of it worked. And then at the halfway mark there was no pretending there was going to be any more story or plot whatsoever, and it went to a nonstop teenage quality bangfest full of very NOT hot dirty talk and apparently a great need for some moisture wicking underpants for the both of them for the duration . . . .
Yuck. Bad bad.
EDIT: Because I forgot the fake relationship was THE EXACT SAME FUCKING TROPE USED IN THE AUTHOR'S LAST BOOK. Talk about having zero creativity.
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March 11, 2025I'm dnfing this book. At 20%
I love cinnamon roll MMC, but I need a man who doesn't talk like Ned Flanders.
This man has said Golly, Holy Moly, and Dilly of a pickle. Yes... I can't. I need a man who doesn't talk like that. Maybe if he didn't say those words, I could get through it, but I can't.
Recommend-ehhh
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love cinnamon roll MMC, but I need a man who doesn't talk like Ned Flanders.
This man has said Golly, Holy Moly, and Dilly of a pickle. Yes... I can't. I need a man who doesn't talk like that. Maybe if he didn't say those words, I could get through it, but I can't.
Recommend-ehhh
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 19, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Connie Evans has always been suspicious of "nice guys," thinking they usually hide some nasty secrets. But that belief gets flipped when she meets her neighbor, Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck for short. He is a cheerful book editor who wears a bow tie and delivers baked treats to her door. Even though he seems super friendly, Beck tells Connie that he’s been single forever. To dodge questions from his coworkers, he impulsively claims he’s married.
Beck's lie is close to being discovered at a company writing retreat. To help him, Connie pretends to be his wife. As they share a small space and participate in the retreat's activities, their fake relationship starts to feel real. This situation pushes Connie to face her trust issues and consider that Beck might be nicer than he seems.
The book offers several romantic tropes that I like, such as the fake marriage trope and somehow the close proximity. It was a fun read, and you will probably enjoy it more if you don’t bring logic into the equation. The believability factor of the story is not its strength. Beck, despite being such a charming character, felt more fictitious than real. A man in his thirties, who is a virgin and has never kissed, seems almost unreal.
If you are seeking a light and enjoyable read, this book may be worth exploring. However, it's important to keep in mind the believability aspect, as it ultimately hinges on your personal interpretation of the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Connie Evans has always been suspicious of "nice guys," thinking they usually hide some nasty secrets. But that belief gets flipped when she meets her neighbor, Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck for short. He is a cheerful book editor who wears a bow tie and delivers baked treats to her door. Even though he seems super friendly, Beck tells Connie that he’s been single forever. To dodge questions from his coworkers, he impulsively claims he’s married.
Beck's lie is close to being discovered at a company writing retreat. To help him, Connie pretends to be his wife. As they share a small space and participate in the retreat's activities, their fake relationship starts to feel real. This situation pushes Connie to face her trust issues and consider that Beck might be nicer than he seems.
The book offers several romantic tropes that I like, such as the fake marriage trope and somehow the close proximity. It was a fun read, and you will probably enjoy it more if you don’t bring logic into the equation. The believability factor of the story is not its strength. Beck, despite being such a charming character, felt more fictitious than real. A man in his thirties, who is a virgin and has never kissed, seems almost unreal.
If you are seeking a light and enjoyable read, this book may be worth exploring. However, it's important to keep in mind the believability aspect, as it ultimately hinges on your personal interpretation of the story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.
January 12, 2025
3.75⭐️ this book was such a cute and fluffy romance!! it had a few moments or phrases here and there that didnt exactly hit for me, but i had fun nonetheless! i loved their little notes back and forth and just seeing how well they complimented each other with their similar interests was really heartwarming.
also i just wanna know where i can find my own beck? like is that too much to ask for here? 😅😭
thank you so much netgalley and st martin’s press/ st martins griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
also i just wanna know where i can find my own beck? like is that too much to ask for here? 😅😭
thank you so much netgalley and st martin’s press/ st martins griffin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
January 12, 2026
for an mmc that never even kissed a woman before, he sure knew what he was doing — and i’m not complaining
September 24, 2024
I LOVED the last Stein book I read (When Grumpy Met Sunshine - excellent banter, excellent 🌶️) and was super excited to read this, but it didn’t quite work for me. I love a fake dating/fake marriage trope, but golly jeepers, I guess a cinnamon roll MMC is not for me? At least not this one? He was definitely endearing in some ways, but the way he talked… gee willickers, it was like our girl was getting hot for Ned Flanders. DIDDLY!
That said, I will *definitely* read Stein’s next romcom, and I know there are other readers who will love this, so I’ll just chalk this up to “not for me” and hope it finds its people!
* thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the NetGalley review copy. My Big Fat Fake Marriage publishes in March 2025.
That said, I will *definitely* read Stein’s next romcom, and I know there are other readers who will love this, so I’ll just chalk this up to “not for me” and hope it finds its people!
* thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin for the NetGalley review copy. My Big Fat Fake Marriage publishes in March 2025.
November 27, 2024
4.5 STARS!!
This book brought me a huge surprise.
From the beginning, I was not sure what to expect. The writer’s prose was something I had to get used to as it was different than typical. The characters were definitely unique and one of a kind compared to any other similar story.
But what was interesting is that the author took us from the most awkward people ever to a steaming long foreplay session that is not only hot but beautiful. The author’s prose for Sam is amazing. His characteristics are overly sweet and almost dorky, which aligns perfectly with the plot.
The female lead, Connie, is tough on the outside, but tender-hearted and a bit broken on the inside. She is the balance that Sam needs and as they grow together, they become fire.
There are a few unbelievable parts in this story regarding Sam which I am not spoiling, but the author continued to reel me in and by the closing HEA, my heart was singing. That man is hot and together they are burning up the sheets.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage is refreshingly different and definitely memorable. This is one you need to check out!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/my-big-fat-f...
This book brought me a huge surprise.
From the beginning, I was not sure what to expect. The writer’s prose was something I had to get used to as it was different than typical. The characters were definitely unique and one of a kind compared to any other similar story.
But what was interesting is that the author took us from the most awkward people ever to a steaming long foreplay session that is not only hot but beautiful. The author’s prose for Sam is amazing. His characteristics are overly sweet and almost dorky, which aligns perfectly with the plot.
The female lead, Connie, is tough on the outside, but tender-hearted and a bit broken on the inside. She is the balance that Sam needs and as they grow together, they become fire.
There are a few unbelievable parts in this story regarding Sam which I am not spoiling, but the author continued to reel me in and by the closing HEA, my heart was singing. That man is hot and together they are burning up the sheets.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage is refreshingly different and definitely memorable. This is one you need to check out!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/my-big-fat-f...
June 17, 2025
3.5/5 - If you're completely up for the smushy cinnamon-roll style guys, you'll love this! I'm absolutely not that kind of girl - but I see the appeal!
I also forgot to read the synopsis, but the title kind of lets us know what it's going to be about, and I feel like I did better going in blind.
- Fake dating trope
**Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
I also forgot to read the synopsis, but the title kind of lets us know what it's going to be about, and I feel like I did better going in blind.
- Fake dating trope
**Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
November 15, 2024
Connie thinks she has nice men figured out. For that reason, she is distrustful of her neighbor. This book made me laugh at times.
dnf
January 24, 2025DNF 😔
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼/𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
🩷 Fake Marriage
🩷 One Bed
🩷 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🩷 Curvy FMC
🩷 Forced Proximity
🩷Single 1st person POV (h)
I really did try, I promise, and I feel really bad. I requested this book last fall, and I’ve only gotten 10% of the way through. I’ve been in a slump for months, and combined with the fact that my reading tastes have been changing a lot, this book isn’t for me right now. Please don’t let this review make you question whether or not to read this!!
P.S. I’m not giving a rating because that’s completely unfair.
**Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!**
𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼/𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓔𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
🩷 Fake Marriage
🩷 One Bed
🩷 Cinnamon Roll MMC
🩷 Curvy FMC
🩷 Forced Proximity
🩷Single 1st person POV (h)
I really did try, I promise, and I feel really bad. I requested this book last fall, and I’ve only gotten 10% of the way through. I’ve been in a slump for months, and combined with the fact that my reading tastes have been changing a lot, this book isn’t for me right now. Please don’t let this review make you question whether or not to read this!!
P.S. I’m not giving a rating because that’s completely unfair.
**Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!**
Want to read
May 3, 2024I know I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover...but this cover is on fire!!!!
March 10, 2025
My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein
Contemporary romance. Fake relationship troupe.
Connie has had some unfortunate and forgettable relationships in her life and she’s leery of her big, friendly American neighbor. Her experience says there must be something horrible about him, but he’s super nice to her and apologizes with cake. Turns out he does have a secret. He’s told everyone at work that he’s married. Connie ends defending him to his coworkers and now they have to spend time at a retreat together, pretending to be married. And sleeping in the same bed. Henry supplied the pillows to keep them separated on the bed but ….the more time they spend together, the more they are drawn to each other. Pretty soon those kisses aren’t fake anymore and they will have to figure out how they move forward.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook, often reading together. The narration is performed by Imogen Wilde who does a fantastic job with the story and Connie’s emotional ride. The accent is British and enabled me to totally see the characters and follow the funny and slightly inappropriate language of the story.
The audiobook held me enthralled and laughing.
I did sped it up to my usual 1.5 to match reading and conversation speed.
I loved the audiobook version and would highly recommend as long as aware it is a non U.S. accent.
My impressions:
Huge gentle giant
Super sexy
Surprisingly sweet
Cinnamon roll hero that you can’t help falling in love with.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Contemporary romance. Fake relationship troupe.
Connie has had some unfortunate and forgettable relationships in her life and she’s leery of her big, friendly American neighbor. Her experience says there must be something horrible about him, but he’s super nice to her and apologizes with cake. Turns out he does have a secret. He’s told everyone at work that he’s married. Connie ends defending him to his coworkers and now they have to spend time at a retreat together, pretending to be married. And sleeping in the same bed. Henry supplied the pillows to keep them separated on the bed but ….the more time they spend together, the more they are drawn to each other. Pretty soon those kisses aren’t fake anymore and they will have to figure out how they move forward.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook, often reading together. The narration is performed by Imogen Wilde who does a fantastic job with the story and Connie’s emotional ride. The accent is British and enabled me to totally see the characters and follow the funny and slightly inappropriate language of the story.
The audiobook held me enthralled and laughing.
I did sped it up to my usual 1.5 to match reading and conversation speed.
I loved the audiobook version and would highly recommend as long as aware it is a non U.S. accent.
My impressions:
Huge gentle giant
Super sexy
Surprisingly sweet
Cinnamon roll hero that you can’t help falling in love with.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
January 1, 2025
Oh, boy. Where do I start?
My first and biggest issue with this book is the way Beck talks. As so many other readers before me have described, he sounds like Ned Flanders from “The Simpsons.” I realize Stein even tries to make the point through Hazel (Connie? I’ll get to that in a minute) how strange it is, but it didn’t help. The added point of making Beck American also felt insulting. Does Stein think Americans actually talk like that? It did NOT leave a good impression.
Secondly, the Connie/Hazel “fake name” thing: what was the point of that? It was ridiculous, unnecessary, and truly a throwaway plot point that didn’t even need to exist. There are so many other tidbits dropped that could’ve been - SHOULD’VE been - fleshed out and explored further; Hazel giving herself some random fake name was weird.
The cringe level of this book is extraordinary. You go from vanilla to five-alarm chili spice within the span of a chapter. I don’t mind spice, but this was such a hard pivot it truly made me uncomfortable. I found myself skipping the chapters containing sex scenes because I didn’t find either character interesting or likable enough to want to try picturing those activities.
Finally, close to the end of the book, a nail in my review’s coffin: “…like a really hot Jesus, who doesn’t understand he’s awesome.” WOW, WHAT? No. Absolutely no. That right there knocked an entire star off.
I should’ve listened to my instincts and DNF’d this book. This book is a hard pass, and I would warn any of my friends to stay away from it.
•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 | 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•
My first and biggest issue with this book is the way Beck talks. As so many other readers before me have described, he sounds like Ned Flanders from “The Simpsons.” I realize Stein even tries to make the point through Hazel (Connie? I’ll get to that in a minute) how strange it is, but it didn’t help. The added point of making Beck American also felt insulting. Does Stein think Americans actually talk like that? It did NOT leave a good impression.
Secondly, the Connie/Hazel “fake name” thing: what was the point of that? It was ridiculous, unnecessary, and truly a throwaway plot point that didn’t even need to exist. There are so many other tidbits dropped that could’ve been - SHOULD’VE been - fleshed out and explored further; Hazel giving herself some random fake name was weird.
The cringe level of this book is extraordinary. You go from vanilla to five-alarm chili spice within the span of a chapter. I don’t mind spice, but this was such a hard pivot it truly made me uncomfortable. I found myself skipping the chapters containing sex scenes because I didn’t find either character interesting or likable enough to want to try picturing those activities.
Finally, close to the end of the book, a nail in my review’s coffin: “…like a really hot Jesus, who doesn’t understand he’s awesome.” WOW, WHAT? No. Absolutely no. That right there knocked an entire star off.
I should’ve listened to my instincts and DNF’d this book. This book is a hard pass, and I would warn any of my friends to stay away from it.
•𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 | 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.•
dnf
April 14, 2025DNF @ 17%. I am not vibing with the writing, the character or anything. Not interested. 🤷♀️
March 11, 2025
My Big Fat Fake Marriage is a cute romcom, but I have to admit it took some time for me to get into the story. Thankfully as it progressed, I did end up falling in love with these quirky characters. I found them to be a breath of fresh air because they aren’t perfect which is something we commonly see in romance books. I also loved the personal growth we see throughout the book which is something I always tend to look for.
After reading this one I definitely want to read more from the author and hope to soon! Check out the tropes below to see if this book would be a good fit for you.
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦
❥ Fake Marriage
❥ Forced Proximity
❥ Grumpy/Sunshine
❥ Cinnamon Roll Hero
❥ Body Positivity
After reading this one I definitely want to read more from the author and hope to soon! Check out the tropes below to see if this book would be a good fit for you.
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦
❥ Fake Marriage
❥ Forced Proximity
❥ Grumpy/Sunshine
❥ Cinnamon Roll Hero
❥ Body Positivity
November 22, 2025
Sweet, spicy, and utterly deletable!
Connie is a love cynic and convinced nice guys are only every faking it to get in your pants - until she meets Beck, who is actually nice... without any ulterior motives. Since he’s the sweetest man on the planet she can’t help but jump in to rescue him, by pretending to be his WIFE.
What’s to love…
- fat MCs and body positive narrative
- teddy bear MMC who is also the most nerdy, goofy, wholesome, perfect human.
- inexperienced (him) + experienced (her)
- fake marriage!
- forced proximity
- only one bed (oh no!)
- bookish book (editor MMC, writer FMC)
- A++ banter
What’s not to love…
- I prefer just a bit more of a balance between emotional engagement and spice and this leaned heavier on the spice. I think the character development suffers a tiny bit for it.
- I am an absolute SUCKER for the super sweet, super nerdy, just wants to be LOVED and LOVE someone else, genuinely good guy. Give me the extreme - ones that can’t curse and who get sick from trying to lie and Beck is definitely that! That said, some might find Beck a little unrealistic and silly!
🎙️- The narration is single POV and Imogen Wilde did an absolutely fantastic job! Overall it was a highly enjoyable performance. 5/5 would recommend the audio!
🌶 - The spice starts in Ch 18 and makes an appearance in pretty much every chapter till the book ends. I thought the build up and progression of spice was absolutely delicious!
*edit: I'm increasing the rating to 4.5 bc I do think about this book quite a bit and any book that sticks out in my super forgetful brain deserves a bump!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Connie is a love cynic and convinced nice guys are only every faking it to get in your pants - until she meets Beck, who is actually nice... without any ulterior motives. Since he’s the sweetest man on the planet she can’t help but jump in to rescue him, by pretending to be his WIFE.
What’s to love…
- fat MCs and body positive narrative
- teddy bear MMC who is also the most nerdy, goofy, wholesome, perfect human.
- inexperienced (him) + experienced (her)
- fake marriage!
- forced proximity
- only one bed (oh no!)
- bookish book (editor MMC, writer FMC)
- A++ banter
What’s not to love…
- I prefer just a bit more of a balance between emotional engagement and spice and this leaned heavier on the spice. I think the character development suffers a tiny bit for it.
- I am an absolute SUCKER for the super sweet, super nerdy, just wants to be LOVED and LOVE someone else, genuinely good guy. Give me the extreme - ones that can’t curse and who get sick from trying to lie and Beck is definitely that! That said, some might find Beck a little unrealistic and silly!
🎙️- The narration is single POV and Imogen Wilde did an absolutely fantastic job! Overall it was a highly enjoyable performance. 5/5 would recommend the audio!
🌶 - The spice starts in Ch 18 and makes an appearance in pretty much every chapter till the book ends. I thought the build up and progression of spice was absolutely delicious!
*edit: I'm increasing the rating to 4.5 bc I do think about this book quite a bit and any book that sticks out in my super forgetful brain deserves a bump!
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
May 20, 2025
Connie’s neighbor is too good to be true, big and burly, with his thick black hair, lush mustache, bowtie, and she doesn’t trust a good thing. Samuel Henry Beckett can’t be this sweet and nice. It turns out he’s hiding a secret, he has told his coworkers about a wife he doesn’t have in reality. Connie agrees to be his pretend wife on the writing retreat he’s hosting. Can Connie keep herself and growing attraction between them under control as they spend close days and nights together, and Beck’s appeal only grows?
Stein has delivered a book that is both sweet, laugh-out-loud funny, and spicy. Connie is probably the horniest heroine I’ve ever read, and I loved it. Being in her head is like being in a tornado. Her thoughts jump around constantly, and they can be hard to keep track of, but it was a fun time. Beck is delicious, and irresistible, and I love to see a plus size hero in the spotlight. He is conveyed as utterly irresistible, and he definitely came off that way to me. And he was so sweet! I loved his kind, almost old-fashioned (but in a good way) demeanor. He bakes for her! Beck is an 11 out of 10, in my book.
This book is very spicy, but in an interesting way. Each erotic element helps to build the connection and ties to the emotional development of the characters as they explore their sexuality in relation to each other. I loved how attracted they were to each other, and how they found every aspect of each other appealing. A lot of it is about seduction, as the two seduce each other through their interactions and flirtations. As Beck is an editor and Connie is a writer, the letters and correspondence they exchange is sizzling hot. They do a lot of fooling around, and it’s very raunchy. However, when they fully do it for the first time, it’s so romantic. I felt very touched and I knew this was something real.
I admit I would prefer a dual perspective, because I would have loved to be in Beck’s head. Seeing him through Connie's eyes was great, but I would have appreciated the opportunity to experience how he perceives the world, Connie and othrwise. He was such a fascinating character, very unique, lovable and I feel like this would have brought the book up to a five star rating. Additionally, I would have liked more exploration of Connie’s insecurities where it came to her parents. Not much was said about it, but it clear shapes a lot of her behavior and choices. More time was spent on Connie’s bad relationship experiences in the past, but I think it would have been good to find the roots of why she was willing to accept so little from the bad boyfriends in her past. I appreciated the cameos of Connie's friends, who have their story in When Grumpy Met Sunshine. I still need to read that one, and I'm looking forward to it.
Connie and Beck together are magic, affecting each others' lives for the best. I loved how Connie also finds her writing inspiration and passion. And Beck is able to contront his bully.
This was a good book. I want to see more romances where both of the romantic partners are plus sized characters.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Advance Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of St. Martin's Press.
Stein has delivered a book that is both sweet, laugh-out-loud funny, and spicy. Connie is probably the horniest heroine I’ve ever read, and I loved it. Being in her head is like being in a tornado. Her thoughts jump around constantly, and they can be hard to keep track of, but it was a fun time. Beck is delicious, and irresistible, and I love to see a plus size hero in the spotlight. He is conveyed as utterly irresistible, and he definitely came off that way to me. And he was so sweet! I loved his kind, almost old-fashioned (but in a good way) demeanor. He bakes for her! Beck is an 11 out of 10, in my book.
This book is very spicy, but in an interesting way. Each erotic element helps to build the connection and ties to the emotional development of the characters as they explore their sexuality in relation to each other. I loved how attracted they were to each other, and how they found every aspect of each other appealing. A lot of it is about seduction, as the two seduce each other through their interactions and flirtations. As Beck is an editor and Connie is a writer, the letters and correspondence they exchange is sizzling hot. They do a lot of fooling around, and it’s very raunchy. However, when they fully do it for the first time, it’s so romantic. I felt very touched and I knew this was something real.
I admit I would prefer a dual perspective, because I would have loved to be in Beck’s head. Seeing him through Connie's eyes was great, but I would have appreciated the opportunity to experience how he perceives the world, Connie and othrwise. He was such a fascinating character, very unique, lovable and I feel like this would have brought the book up to a five star rating. Additionally, I would have liked more exploration of Connie’s insecurities where it came to her parents. Not much was said about it, but it clear shapes a lot of her behavior and choices. More time was spent on Connie’s bad relationship experiences in the past, but I think it would have been good to find the roots of why she was willing to accept so little from the bad boyfriends in her past. I appreciated the cameos of Connie's friends, who have their story in When Grumpy Met Sunshine. I still need to read that one, and I'm looking forward to it.
Connie and Beck together are magic, affecting each others' lives for the best. I loved how Connie also finds her writing inspiration and passion. And Beck is able to contront his bully.
This was a good book. I want to see more romances where both of the romantic partners are plus sized characters.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Advance Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of St. Martin's Press.
April 24, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.
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.
Buzzword Reading Challenge: events ("marriage")
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.
Buzzword Reading Challenge: events ("marriage")
November 25, 2024
4.5/5 🌟
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this laugh out loud romantic comedy ARC.
This book had some of my favorite tropes:
😍 Fake dating/ Fake Marriage
😍 Plus Size fmc
😍 Romantic Comedy
😍 Nerdy MCs
😍 Forced Proximity
Connie/ Hazel's neighbor Beck is always cheery when she sees him and she is under the assumption he's married. He's a tall , burly man and just like Connie, he's a huge nerd. When she walks into his apartment and finds weird pictures of magazine cutups of models and no furniture she's curious. Turns out he's not actually married but he's told his work nemesis that he is. He's expected to take his wife to a work trip and he's panicking that his lies will be revealed.
Connie describes Beck as a giant Bear and that image stuck in my head the whole book of her marrying an actual teddy bear. That or SZA's cuffin season video 'Big Boys' from SNL.
Connie agrees to pretend to be his wife and stay with him on the retreat. The more Connie gets to know Beck the more she falls for him and their fake relationship starts to feel real.
I highly recommend reading 📚 tht book to find out what hilarious antics happen during the retreat and after.
This was a relatively fasy rrad bit there were some parts that dragged on for me. Overall I thought this was always cute read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this laugh out loud romantic comedy ARC.
This book had some of my favorite tropes:
😍 Fake dating/ Fake Marriage
😍 Plus Size fmc
😍 Romantic Comedy
😍 Nerdy MCs
😍 Forced Proximity
Connie/ Hazel's neighbor Beck is always cheery when she sees him and she is under the assumption he's married. He's a tall , burly man and just like Connie, he's a huge nerd. When she walks into his apartment and finds weird pictures of magazine cutups of models and no furniture she's curious. Turns out he's not actually married but he's told his work nemesis that he is. He's expected to take his wife to a work trip and he's panicking that his lies will be revealed.
Connie describes Beck as a giant Bear and that image stuck in my head the whole book of her marrying an actual teddy bear. That or SZA's cuffin season video 'Big Boys' from SNL.
Connie agrees to pretend to be his wife and stay with him on the retreat. The more Connie gets to know Beck the more she falls for him and their fake relationship starts to feel real.
I highly recommend reading 📚 tht book to find out what hilarious antics happen during the retreat and after.
This was a relatively fasy rrad bit there were some parts that dragged on for me. Overall I thought this was always cute read.
March 18, 2025
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness!
This book is far too freaking cute for it's own good.
Beck is this nerdy, awkward cinnamon roll of an addiction that I could not get enough of.
Hazel and Beck were everything and I loved every second of this book!
Much love to NetGalley & Mac Millan Audio for my ALC!😘
This book is far too freaking cute for it's own good.
Beck is this nerdy, awkward cinnamon roll of an addiction that I could not get enough of.
Hazel and Beck were everything and I loved every second of this book!
Much love to NetGalley & Mac Millan Audio for my ALC!😘
January 13, 2025
Oof. This book.
Look, I wanted to like it, tried so hard to like it, but it was a mess from start to finish. I made my first negative note on page one but kept reading. I have, after all, enjoyed this author before (four stars for When Grumpy Met Sunshine!), and I trusted that my perseverance would be rewarded.
It was not.
So, back to that page one note—Hazel recaps a date with “the last decent-seeming guy” she went out with, but nothing she describes indicates decency, and we are never given a reason why she even agreed to the date. Nor is there any indication that that man, or any other man she mentions throughout the novel, baited-and-switched her. Not once do we see “fakers who use the idea of being nice as some kind of currency” luring her in with a Nice Guy routine. It’s more that her default is something like, ‘Welp, I guess all guys are asshats, so I must date asshats.’
And maybe this rough start would’ve faded from my memory if Hazel’s backstory were more fully developed, but it isn’t. We’re given a smidgen of parental toxicity, but it’s too sparse and superficial to justify her behaviors and decisions—including her decision to rename and then un-rename herself, a gimmick the book didn’t need.
Then there’s Beck. Let me be clear: he is a caricature, not a character.
I’m going to limit myself to the costume choices made on behalf of this over-the-top cinnamon-roll MMC (which means I’m not even going to get into the whole Ned Flanders/Ted Lasso speech-pattern thing, except to say that it was such a lazy way illustrate his naiveté). But Beck’s bow ties, suspenders, and long johns—followed by his complete style change for the writing retreat? It doesn’t make sense, and it certainly doesn’t help flesh out a believable character. Think about it for a minute—a big deal is made about Beck wearing long johns, “the kind that connect with a top.” They get four mentions early in the book. Seems important, right? Like maybe the long johns, or his preference for them over underwear, illustrate an aspect of Beck’s inner world. Except that they are never mentioned again. Instead, we see him don “really, really tiny shorts,” “seventies shorts,” to lead the retreat. Um, really? I get that I’m overthinking this, but let’s face it—there is no world in which it’s cold enough to merit long johns one day and warm enough to casually switch to too-short shorts and a thin t-shirt days later. It doesn’t make sense for character development or for how humans actually live in the world.
Another thing that doesn’t make sense is that nobody ever asks about Hazel’s non-American accent. I mean, Beck is American, and he tells people that his “wife” isn’t with him because she’s “stuck in the US.” Seems like maybe she’s American, too, right? But when Hazel, a native Englander, impulsively introduces herself as Beck’s suddenly-in-London wife, nobody questions it? Are you kidding me?
The last thing I’m going to mention is the banter. It isn’t good. It pains me to say this since it’s one of the things I loved in When Grumpy Met Sunshine, but it too often feels forced and pointless in this book. I had to scan backward several times even to make sense of some of the back-and-forth between Hazel and Beck. Imagine my disappointment when I put in that effort only to find that they didn’t really say anything.
And don’t even get me started on the impossible Scrabble game.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage could have been good. It could have been a light and witty rom-com that nevertheless managed to say something incisive about virginity and self-worth. But it isn't, and it didn't.
[I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.]
Look, I wanted to like it, tried so hard to like it, but it was a mess from start to finish. I made my first negative note on page one but kept reading. I have, after all, enjoyed this author before (four stars for When Grumpy Met Sunshine!), and I trusted that my perseverance would be rewarded.
It was not.
So, back to that page one note—Hazel recaps a date with “the last decent-seeming guy” she went out with, but nothing she describes indicates decency, and we are never given a reason why she even agreed to the date. Nor is there any indication that that man, or any other man she mentions throughout the novel, baited-and-switched her. Not once do we see “fakers who use the idea of being nice as some kind of currency” luring her in with a Nice Guy routine. It’s more that her default is something like, ‘Welp, I guess all guys are asshats, so I must date asshats.’
And maybe this rough start would’ve faded from my memory if Hazel’s backstory were more fully developed, but it isn’t. We’re given a smidgen of parental toxicity, but it’s too sparse and superficial to justify her behaviors and decisions—including her decision to rename and then un-rename herself, a gimmick the book didn’t need.
Then there’s Beck. Let me be clear: he is a caricature, not a character.
I’m going to limit myself to the costume choices made on behalf of this over-the-top cinnamon-roll MMC (which means I’m not even going to get into the whole Ned Flanders/Ted Lasso speech-pattern thing, except to say that it was such a lazy way illustrate his naiveté). But Beck’s bow ties, suspenders, and long johns—followed by his complete style change for the writing retreat? It doesn’t make sense, and it certainly doesn’t help flesh out a believable character. Think about it for a minute—a big deal is made about Beck wearing long johns, “the kind that connect with a top.” They get four mentions early in the book. Seems important, right? Like maybe the long johns, or his preference for them over underwear, illustrate an aspect of Beck’s inner world. Except that they are never mentioned again. Instead, we see him don “really, really tiny shorts,” “seventies shorts,” to lead the retreat. Um, really? I get that I’m overthinking this, but let’s face it—there is no world in which it’s cold enough to merit long johns one day and warm enough to casually switch to too-short shorts and a thin t-shirt days later. It doesn’t make sense for character development or for how humans actually live in the world.
Another thing that doesn’t make sense is that nobody ever asks about Hazel’s non-American accent. I mean, Beck is American, and he tells people that his “wife” isn’t with him because she’s “stuck in the US.” Seems like maybe she’s American, too, right? But when Hazel, a native Englander, impulsively introduces herself as Beck’s suddenly-in-London wife, nobody questions it? Are you kidding me?
The last thing I’m going to mention is the banter. It isn’t good. It pains me to say this since it’s one of the things I loved in When Grumpy Met Sunshine, but it too often feels forced and pointless in this book. I had to scan backward several times even to make sense of some of the back-and-forth between Hazel and Beck. Imagine my disappointment when I put in that effort only to find that they didn’t really say anything.
And don’t even get me started on the impossible Scrabble game.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage could have been good. It could have been a light and witty rom-com that nevertheless managed to say something incisive about virginity and self-worth. But it isn't, and it didn't.
[I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.]
March 20, 2025
This was a light and easy read. I found the writing to be a little shallow and predictable. I’m getting kind of tired of the skeptical of everyone fat girl trope.
July 26, 2025
Hazel and Beckett was so cute and I lived the romance. Samuel Beckett is far diffrent from the hero's in romances books I usually read but I loved him. Such a sweet and heartwarming book
March 11, 2025
*3.5 Stars*
Connie believes that she has all nice guys figured out and her neighbor is the worst of them. He is always polite, wears bowties and super cheery. Connie is sure he is hiding something under that facade. When Connie finds that his secret is a fake wife, she ends up playing the part at the upcoming writer's retreat. What starts out as a fake marriage, may turn into something real.
I really enjoyed this book. Beck is the best "cinnamon roll" character I have read in a while. Although his character seemed a little outrageous with his language and his overall demeanor, he was a fun MMC and enjoyed his interactions with Connie. Their relationship was a slow burn, but this book does have some spice. Overall, another great read by Charlotte Stein.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage is out March 11th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review My Big Fat Fake Marriage. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Connie believes that she has all nice guys figured out and her neighbor is the worst of them. He is always polite, wears bowties and super cheery. Connie is sure he is hiding something under that facade. When Connie finds that his secret is a fake wife, she ends up playing the part at the upcoming writer's retreat. What starts out as a fake marriage, may turn into something real.
I really enjoyed this book. Beck is the best "cinnamon roll" character I have read in a while. Although his character seemed a little outrageous with his language and his overall demeanor, he was a fun MMC and enjoyed his interactions with Connie. Their relationship was a slow burn, but this book does have some spice. Overall, another great read by Charlotte Stein.
My Big Fat Fake Marriage is out March 11th.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review My Big Fat Fake Marriage. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 21, 2024
this was literally perfect. beck made me feel so many things. he's a very different kind of cinnamon roll character but I loved him SO much. I wanted to protect him and shield him from all the bad in the world. hazel was exactly just like that, the way she loved beck and encouraged him to be his true self was so beautiful. i also loved how beck made her believe in the goodness of people and gained her trust. the journey these two characters take throughout this book was amazing. i just loved it so much. i will be thinking about them for a while. thank you to St Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC!
November 13, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book, this is my objective review. Let me start by saying this is the second in a series (follow-up to When Grumpy Met Sunshine). And although we first met Connie and Beck (our main couple here) in that book and Alfie and Mabel make an appearance in this book, this one works okay as a standalone. That said, go read that one too because it's highly enjoyable.
Connie, our fmc, is jaded and burned by the skeevy "Nice Guys" in the past so she has a hard time trusting an actual nice guy (her neighbor Beck) when he makes an appearance. The bare bones book description is that Beck claimed at work to be married, and so he asks Connie to be his pretend wife on a 2-week writing retreat that Beck is managing and that Connie already planned to attend. Can they believably maintain the ruse or will Beck's a-hole co-worker see right through it? And can they both keep their hearts intact when the 2 weeks are up? Beck is written like a caricature of an earnest American nerd, with the speech patterns of a character from "Fargo." Personality-wise he is deeply noble and decent. Physically, picture an American Henry Cavill with a mustache, who leans *hard* into his geeky interests and also wears bow ties. Whereas Connie is a closet nerd who subverts her inner geek with the shiny facade of a cool girl that she was taught to wear like armor. The book is written from a single 1st-person POV from Connie's perspective but the author has a talent for writing internal monologues that do a great job of revealing things about both the character and who- or whatever the character is observing. The writing is a bit over-the-top but in a really enjoyable way. I love that Connie latches on to the idea that she can try on a relationship with a sweet guy like Beck, while it simultaneously makes me sad that she doesn't think she deserves a real relationship with someone who is kind. And what frustrates me about fictional couples like this is that neither thinks they deserve the other, and so the assumption builds to sustained misunderstanding (that we have to trust will get resolved for the HEA). And I get that it builds tension, which I'm not here for. What I *am* here for is the dawning realization that they were wrong and that what they want *can* also be the exact thing they truly deserve. If you like hyperbolic and semi-dense introspective monologues laced with humor and heat, this will be the book for you. I really like how Stein crafts her female main character's inner thoughts: when she's on her game, they're so relatable and work so well to set the scene that you don't really notice the lack of active events. One last note: as with her other books, this one is very open-door. So maybe be careful where and how you listen to an audiobook of this story! Publishes March 11, 2025.
Connie, our fmc, is jaded and burned by the skeevy "Nice Guys" in the past so she has a hard time trusting an actual nice guy (her neighbor Beck) when he makes an appearance. The bare bones book description is that Beck claimed at work to be married, and so he asks Connie to be his pretend wife on a 2-week writing retreat that Beck is managing and that Connie already planned to attend. Can they believably maintain the ruse or will Beck's a-hole co-worker see right through it? And can they both keep their hearts intact when the 2 weeks are up? Beck is written like a caricature of an earnest American nerd, with the speech patterns of a character from "Fargo." Personality-wise he is deeply noble and decent. Physically, picture an American Henry Cavill with a mustache, who leans *hard* into his geeky interests and also wears bow ties. Whereas Connie is a closet nerd who subverts her inner geek with the shiny facade of a cool girl that she was taught to wear like armor. The book is written from a single 1st-person POV from Connie's perspective but the author has a talent for writing internal monologues that do a great job of revealing things about both the character and who- or whatever the character is observing. The writing is a bit over-the-top but in a really enjoyable way. I love that Connie latches on to the idea that she can try on a relationship with a sweet guy like Beck, while it simultaneously makes me sad that she doesn't think she deserves a real relationship with someone who is kind. And what frustrates me about fictional couples like this is that neither thinks they deserve the other, and so the assumption builds to sustained misunderstanding (that we have to trust will get resolved for the HEA). And I get that it builds tension, which I'm not here for. What I *am* here for is the dawning realization that they were wrong and that what they want *can* also be the exact thing they truly deserve. If you like hyperbolic and semi-dense introspective monologues laced with humor and heat, this will be the book for you. I really like how Stein crafts her female main character's inner thoughts: when she's on her game, they're so relatable and work so well to set the scene that you don't really notice the lack of active events. One last note: as with her other books, this one is very open-door. So maybe be careful where and how you listen to an audiobook of this story! Publishes March 11, 2025.
January 6, 2025
My big fat fake marriage by Charlotte Stein
-I really feel like i’m in her mind learning more about Beckett
-from the get go beckett is so adorable i love him already
-I can relate so much with Connie when it comes to dating as a plus size woman
-Beck is so adorable I can’t take it
-The way they talk and bond with each other is so cute I can’t take it
-The reasons for Beckett saying he has a wife when he doesn’t is so sad but it makes me love him even more this man deserves the world and to be loved omg I want hug this big teddy bear
-Beckett: “one of the main things I used to dream about was reading the papers in bed with someone in the morning “…. 🥹
-their back and forth is so cute and funny i’m cackling and giddy
-ugh I love the fake marriage trope
-the tension is TENSIONINGG BABE gobbling it upppp
-The spice is chefs kiss
-It’s so nice to see a man loving on a plus size woman
-I ate this up i’m love with Beckett
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-I really feel like i’m in her mind learning more about Beckett
-from the get go beckett is so adorable i love him already
-I can relate so much with Connie when it comes to dating as a plus size woman
-Beck is so adorable I can’t take it
-The way they talk and bond with each other is so cute I can’t take it
-The reasons for Beckett saying he has a wife when he doesn’t is so sad but it makes me love him even more this man deserves the world and to be loved omg I want hug this big teddy bear
-Beckett: “one of the main things I used to dream about was reading the papers in bed with someone in the morning “…. 🥹
-their back and forth is so cute and funny i’m cackling and giddy
-ugh I love the fake marriage trope
-the tension is TENSIONINGG BABE gobbling it upppp
-The spice is chefs kiss
-It’s so nice to see a man loving on a plus size woman
-I ate this up i’m love with Beckett
rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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