This book. From the cover until the very end, it was a delight. If you are looking for a fluffy romance and a fake engagement trope that features two Black queer women, pick up D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding.

D’Vaughn has decided to audition for a reality show called Instant I Do as a way to force her to come out to her family. Kris has decided to audition because she wants to find love. Instant I Do is a reality show in which strangers are paired and the challenge is they have to convince their families that they are in love and getting married in 6 weeks. The couple who makes it to the alter is offered a choice of going through with the wedding or taking $100,000 prize money each. There were a lot of opportunities for Higgins to lean into the drama, but instead, she chooses to show adults talking through their feelings and conflicts. In 2021, this was exactly what I needed.

Kris is an out and proud Afro-Latina butch lesbian, with lots of tattoos, who works as a PE teacher at a high school in Houston and has a side gig as a social media influencer. D’Vaughn is proudly fat, but privately a lesbian. Both are delightful. With the security of a family that accepts her as she is, Kris is fully prepared to support D’Vaughn in coming out. While keeping the book fairly fluffy and light, Higgins acknowledges the nuanced ways homophobia and bigotry can show up in people we love.

Chencia C. Higgins gives supportive partner lessons in D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding. While Kris has D’Vaughn’s back, D’Vaughn is open and generous with Kris’s family. The two of them are refreshingly adult as they navigate the complexities of falling in love while being fake engaged on a reality competition.

I really loved this book, and think it will make a great start to a romance lover’s reading year. I hope to see it on all the “Best of” lists, next year.

I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley and Carina Press. My opinions are my own.

As a further disclosure, I did contribute an item for a fundraising auction for Chencia C Higgins. I do not know her personally and my participation in the auction did not influence my review.

D'Vaughn Miller and Kris Zavala both are chosen to be on a reality tv show. The premise is they get paired up and must convince their family and friends they are in love and plan a wedding all within six weeks. They can both win $100,000. Each week they are given challenging tasks to complete for the wedding. Kris is black-latina butch who is a middle school PE teacher but makes more as a social media influencer. She's looking for love. D'Vaughn is plus sized femme and is using the show to come out to her family. They are sweet and caring. Usually insta love is not my favorite but these two communicate so well you want to believe. I love how the author uses dialogue to propel the story along. And when you do get inside glimpses into their thoughts it is often in the shows confessionals called Jitter Cams. There is a lot of humor, diversity and family support. In fact if there is something missing it may be a true angst moment or a challenge from the show that catches the pair off guard. But instead this about romance and love with a lot of sizzle and will be out just before Valentines. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Carina Press for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fast-pacing, easy, feel good romance book with amazing representation. I loved every single character and the two MC were made for each other.
I think the fact that they were on a reality TV show could have played a bigger role on the storyline, but I am still happy with the book overall. Gotta admit - during the coming out chapter I cried a little so bonus points for that.

I recieved an ARC from Netgalley in exhange for an honest review!

This was honestly a wild ride!

I will admit that the moment i read the synopsis my first association was 90 days fiance, which is a reality tv show that i watch purely out of comedic reasons.
While i usually am not a fan of instant love, or rather in this case marriage, i figured why not? It sounds so insane i might like it!

And i did! i really did!

This is the quickest falling in love story i've read, and i utterly adored it! Kris and D'Vaughn are such a lovely couple and their playful, teasing banters, as well as tender and loving moments melted my heart!

I will admit that the ending was predictable, but i am not disappointed one bit as i found myself smiling so wide my cheeks hurt!

I also love the side characters. especially Kevin and both Kris and D'Vaughn families.

Can i just say as well- there is so much representation! Both main characters are POC, as well as queer, and let's not forget body positivity as D'Vaughn is plus-sized (lookin stunning in her wedding dress might i say!).

I also want to add that this book is NA/Adult with nsfw scenes depicting graphic sexual activity!
It gets super super spicy at certain scenes and my cheeks were definitely warmed up.

I definitely would recommend this book to romance readers who want to venture into something a bit different from the usual and hop on the rollercoaster ride of a quick, thrilling and spicy love which blooms within only six weeks!

D’Vaughn and Kris have been selected to participate in a reality show, trying to plan a wedding in six weeks with a stranger, while convincing everyone they know that it’s true love. Each has her own reasons for auditioning but neither of them would mind the $100k paycheck that comes with making it to the altar without anyone questioning their relationship.
This was the first book I’ve ready by the author and it was well written and I thought the characters had great chemistry. I really liked how Kris was so supportive of D’Vaughn and Kris’ family was hilarious. I’d have liked to see D’Vaughn’s mom have a few more scenes as I didn’t feel like we got to know her as well as some of the other side characters. Overall this was a cute book and I’d definitely pick up another book by Chencia Higgins in the future!

I really enjoyed this book. It had two solid characters that I liked from the start. The premise seemed like it would lead to a bit of drama, but somehow there really wasn’t all that much. Both MC’s had chemistry with each other and both of their family dynamics were interesting to read. Sometimes the dialogue felt so realistic and other times it felt off. I also wish that more of the show was woven into the story. It just felt more like two people completing a list for a wedding and less like a show. Although the ending was incredibly sweet it felt like things ended just a little too neatly. But for anyone looking for a story about love without the drama I would recommend this book. It was a nice story and I would recommend it to others.

I thoroughly enjoyed D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding. It was so refreshing to read a romance book that had clear and open communication between the couple. D’Vaughn and Chris were great characters and I really liked their respective character arcs. They also had amazing chemistry, that almost made me forgot my *usual* dislike of insta-love. I also think that some of the more heavy themes are woven well into the story and that there was still a sense of levity.

D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is such a wonderful love story. I have helped two sisters and a couple cousins with their weddings those experiences gave me more anxiety than it gave Kris and D'Vaughn, honestly wedding planning can be super stressful but I was happy to see how well their families came together to help them plan their wedding and although there are enough hijinks going on because they are supposed to be participating in a reality show they truly fall for each other and their emotional journey is extremely touching.

D'Vaughn and Kris plan a wedding is a book that makes you believe in true love. As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself "I could only hope that someone loves me this much one day." It was truly a refreshing and romantic novel, where so much of the conflict is less our two main characters against each other, but more along the lines of them against the world, facing the conflict as a team. They communicated as a couple, as partners, with such honesty and love, that it truly elevated the story for me. It was so affirming to see a healthy lesbian couple portrayed, as a lesbian reader. The atmosphere of the book was filled with such love, warmth, and light, it was an easy, cozy novel to sink into! This will be a perfect read to anyone who loves reality show romances, fake engagement romances, and romances that make you fall in love right alongside the characters.

Planning a wedding is stressful enough when you have unlimited time on your side. Just think how it would be to plan an wedding in six weeks and one of the the brides hasn't come out to her mom yet. If you enjoy a fun quick read then this book is for you. Getting married on a reality show would give Kris Zavala her big break as a big time influuencer. Also winning $100,00 couldn't hurt. D'Vaughn Miller on the other hand isn't fully in on the whole reality business. You see she hasn't come out to her mother as of yet. So how will she come out to her and convince friends and family that she is getting married in six weeks. Plus it has to look real If anyone finds out this is a big hoax there goes the $100,00. What are these girls to do???
Chencia Higgins writes a funny story of two characters full of fun and are very loving. I enjoyed seeing them really trying to pull off this big splashy weeding without anyone finding out its all fake.
For a real feel good read I highly recommend this book. It is the first LGBTQ book i have read and I really enjoyed it.. Thank You Net Galley for the approval.

This is your old-fashioned butch meets femme story. D'Vaughn, the femme is a gorgeous fat lesbian, who decides to go on a marriage show to come out to her family. Kris is already out. She's on the show for the most aberrant of all reasons: to find love. The coming out happens more easily than the love, even though Kris and D'Vaughn are hot for each other at first sight.

It's a sweet, fun story, and I'm finding that I enjoy reality show novels. This one has great characters, but is a little pat. Read it for solid race and body politics and intense sex scenes. There isn't a ton of plot, but it's not like gets-loses-gets back has any surprises.

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is a comical LBGTQIA Romance that catapults the reader into the book’s reality TV plot; the author’s writing is so realistic that you will have to question whether you are reading a book or binging watching a new series on your favorite streaming platform!

D’Vaughn and Kris have auditioned for Instant I Do, a reality TV series that pairs strangers together who must convince their families that they have fallen in love and the contestants must make it down the aisle all within the span of six weeks. The final contestants can either choose to follow through with the wedding and get married in real life or take home a cash prize and go their separate ways.

The storyline is beyond creative; the author even incorporates confessional scenes that mimic popular reality tv shows. More importantly, the very real emotions and fears that many members of the LGBTQIA community face are eloquently narrated. While reading, I was educated and empowered to do more as an ally, and rooted for this fictional couple just as I do for my favorite reality tv stars!

KRIS AND D’VAUGHN PLAN A WEDDING follows out-and-proud social media influencer Kris and closeted D’Vaughn as they meet on a reality show where the pair must convince their families they’re in love and plan a shotgun wedding to win.
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I was let down with this one. Although I liked the characters and the writing, I did go into this book expecting more from the plot. More drama, more shenanigans— this is a reality show, after all. Though there was little to no drama, I still anticipated a blow out at the end when it was revealed that the wedding was under false pretences, but it was anticlimactic. I did appreciate the love and support D’Vaughn had to help with her coming out. I liked her and Kris together.
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If you enjoy low angst romances, this one may be for you! I typically enjoy low angst, but I wasn’t expecting it from this book so it was a miss for me.
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3/5 stars, KRIS AND D’VAUGHN PLAN A WEDDING by Chencia C. Higgins is available January 25, 2022.
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Thank you to Carina Adores and Netgalley for sending me an eARC to review.

This is a fake relashionship/ coming out romance that takes place on a reality TV show. The book is funny and an easy read. While is touching on serious issues like coming out and body positivities it also has zero angst and that somehow takes the story on a too good to be true path for me. That being said it’s a perfect HEA romance that is bound to make you smile.
Thanks NetGalley and Carina Adores for this ARC.

Chencia C Higgins knew exactly what she was doing writing D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding. This story is so adorable and fun - you will not want to put it down.

D’Vaughn is a fat Black femme lesbian who has yet to come out to her religious family and is using a reality show to do it. Kris is an Afro-Latine butch who has joined the show looking for love. To win “Instant I Do,” all they have to do is convince their friends and family that their fake relationship and engagement is real through six weeks of wedding planning. By the end of the allotted time, will they fall in love and say I Do or will they take the 100K each and walk away?

This story is a fast moving romance and incredibly easy to read. I loved how fleshed out the characters’ relationships with their families felt. It made it easier to connect with the characters and truly get a handle on their personalities. The two narrators had distinctive voices, which made it easy to breeze through rather than questioning who is saying what.

One of the only downfalls was the pacing of this novel as I feel it speeds through a few moments I would have liked to see more fleshed out - moments I believe the relationship dynamic could have benefited from. This being said, I am still happy with the way the relationship reads. It will leave readers feeling content and warm. It is a fluffy story that lacks much angst beyond the initial coming out arc and slight misunderstandings between characters that are quickly resolved.

Anyone looking for Black, fat, and sapphic representation, look no further. I adored this novel. I’d recommend it to people who enjoyed the reality tv show setting of The Charm Offensive and the fake dating plotline of Written in the Stars. But truly anyone who loves love will love this novel.

firstly, a thank you to Carina Press & NetGalley for giving me access to this ARC.

OMG this was so cute! the representation (primarily of black, lesbian women) was absolutely fantastic and covered so many different groups in the lgbt+ community!!!

the romance was so cute, the spice was good, & overall it was just an easy, feel-good romance book! loved it!

I really don't know what to say about this book! It has a great premise but... I don't know, the dialogues felt really unreal and I did not connect to any characters. Maybe it's only my problem though.

D'Vaughn and Kris plan a wedding is an adult romance novel about finding your soulmate even if everything around you is fake.

D'Vaughn and Kris are paired in the reality show Instant I Do. Their goal: make their whole family believe they love each other for real and are to get married in six weeks. But they didn't enter the competition for no reason... Kris hopes to find the love of her life, whereas D'Vaughn plans to use the show to come out to her family.

This book is the perfect book for anyone looking for the depiction of a perfect and healthy relationship, from day 1, with supportive partners no matter what. It is also a good way to learn how to be a better person : many characters are 'woke' and others are very willing to learn from their bias and their mistakes.

However, because of this, the characters were already so perfect that there wasn't much of any character development. And this led to a rather flat plot. It felt like a simple succession of events without any 'drama'.

The concept is such an interesting one and I was really looking forward to see how the author would execute it. In the end, I felt like I was more reading a simple love story rather than a fake relationship in show, it wasn't as present as I was hoping it would be.

Also, the love story between D'Vaughn and Kris was just too fast. They connected instantly, D'Vaughn was choking on her words when looking at Kris the first time they met... This didn't feel realistic and very much instalove-y.

Finally, I absolutely loved the mental state of the main characters - especially D'Vaughn who was committed to make a real change on TV. The fact that she was such an unconventional character (a Black, fat lesbian) carried a lot of force to her aim. The rest of the characters are all very diverse too, all queer and most of them were not white.

In a nutshell : this is a good story for anyone who's looking for a perfect, soulmates relationship without any obstacles.

2.5 stars.

I've been in a massive reading slump for months, and this book singlehandedly destroyed it. This novel is everything I hoped it would be -- laugh-out-loud funny, wildly romantic, deeply emotional. I loved Kris and D'Vaughn and their families. Many thanks for the ARC -- but I'll definitely be pre-ordering my own copy. Highly, highly recommended.

This story, to speak in broad terms, is a rather fast moving, sweet romance. Kris and D’Vaughn are paired together for a fake marriage reality show that runs for just six weeks, and so, naturally, they kind of have a deadline for them to get their act together. You know what that gives you? Great communication, actually. No long-running miscommunications and misunderstandings here, thank God! All in all, it’s an often funny, touching and magnetic romance. The two leads are so into each other, it’s ridiculous. That “we’re all over each other but are going to pretend this chemistry is just for the cameras” stuff? That’s exactly what I’m here for, actually, sign me up for more.

Now for the more detailed, slightly spoilery review…

I think the book does a good job of introducing the rather large supporting cast (the families of the fake brides) in a way that makes us understand immediately what these family members mean to the leads. This was part of the reason why I quickly bought into the romance: the fact that the importance of their families wasn’t overlooked. There is a lot of subtext involved with the parts where the family and community comes into the picture, and I love that the story is not made unreadable by explaining everything, which can happen when some authors get caught up in trying to “be understood by all audiences”. The flags for intracommunity discourse are raised all over the place, but the story doesn’t get sucked into breaking down the whys and the wherefores, and I appreciate that.

There are difficult parts in the story. Obviously, when we’re dealing with a coming out arc, there’s a lot to process and even reframe for the characters involved. Typically, the coming out script goes a certain way in lesfic: either good or bad. In this story we see a mixed outcome where D’Vaughn’s resentment for all the years lost in the closet kind of sours the present acceptance, and that is so real. I loved that D’Vaughn got to feel sour about things, and disappointed and frustrated. That grounded the story for me, because it added dimension to all the tropey fun the plot was having.

Speaking about D’Vaughn feeling disappointed, I think the declaration of love that left her downcast is important. Because D’Vaughn just didn’t believe she could be loved outright, even the declaration she had been waiting to hear didn’t really make a dent in her apprehension. I love that her doubts weren’t magically allayed by three words after it had been something she struggled with throughout the story. I guess she’s a person that needed to really see that she really had been wanted from the beginning.

Kris, on the other hand, was apparently quite certain about being there for marriage. I found it interesting in the beginning that she wasn’t as enthusiastic about D’Vaughn in the Jitter Cam takes, as she was (internally) when she was with D’Vaughn. That slight disconnect intrigued me, and even the shift from her relying on body language and affection to communicate her intentions, to being very deliberate with her words…those two things show that despite Kris presenting as someone who was very sure of herself and her commitment to getting married, she had a bit of a journey before she connected to D’Vaughn as a person (not just prospective bride) and before her actions followed along with her decision to seriously court D’Vaughn.

My favourite thing about the story has to be the communication. Finally, a couple that talks to each other! Kris was in the trenches, fighting to get some open communication lmao. She had to bring her best efforts on multiple occasions, to the point where I felt a little bad for her. She won in the end, though, I love that for her.

What I didn’t like about the story? I think it skipped over things I’d have liked to see, like D’Vaughn’s first few days staying over at Kris’s. We didn’t get to see the women at work, or even much of the social media angle. Those things would have rounded the story out for me. I also wasn’t very fond of the interruption at the end. Would have liked it to come after or before they walked down the aisle, because I was in the moment and that jarred me out of all the fuzzy feelings, straight into trepidation and anxiety. The families coming around so quickly also strained my suspension of disbelief, and if there’s a scene that needs extending, it’s that one. Would have liked more sex scenes too, lol, all that chemistry and we’re supposed to make do with one and a half scenes?

Ultimately, I’m really glad I read this book, and I give it 4/5 stars, I recommend it.