•”Will I only ever be a fantasy to you?”•

Ok first off, the characters in this book are fantastic! Loved their personalities, the humor each brings and how each new character is introduced. The main characters, Bee and Nolan, are wonderful as well. Bee’s progression of finding her self worth as the book proceeds was by far my favorite part. She’s already a strong character but seeing her grow stronger was perfect. The concept of a former pop star was one that drew me in right away, as I of course had my own crushes on boy band members growing up so I loved that element of it. Nolan was perfect in that and I loved that HE loved how much Bee was a fan of his lol.

Great book, spice factor is HOT! Would definitely recommend.

I'm going to preface this review by saying that:
A) I typically go into a book blind
B) I've never read a Sierra Simone book, and
C) the only book I read from Julie Murphy was her YA If the Shoe Fits.
As such, I had zero expectations of the amount of steam and a heroine moonlighting as a hallmark sweetheart away from her normal job as an adult actress. But, really, with that cover, can I really be at fault?? Yes, I'm laughing at myself right now. Covers these days rarely seem to hint at the level of sweet or steam.
I don't think this book is necessarily steamier than any other in it's subgenre, however the constant barrage and mentions of it makes it seem so. The most interesting point to this story is that both MCs were so convinced they wouldn't be caught. Yes, I'm smirking at this too.
I loved that the heroine, Bee, is a plus-sized woman full of confidence and charisma. That alone had me rooting for her and hoping her attempts would be successful living a double life on camera. Her vivacious personality was such a highlight!
Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

4.5 stars I received an eARC for this book, but I decided to buy the audio and the hardback book (at the authors' book signing!!) I listened to the audio when it came out on Sept 20th, then finished up reading and listening. I'm so happy that they did a dual POV. The story was so good with Nolan and Bee's own voices.
Bee is plus size but is way more confident than Nolan.
Nolan has a lot going on at home with his mom and sister. He gets overwhelmed at times.
Somehow I knew that I would like this RomCom. There's some serious issues to think about and talk about. Bee is a porn actress that gets cast in a mainstream TV Christmas movie. Nolan is a former bad boy -boy band start who's trying to make a come back after a sex scandal involving a much beloved Olympic athlete.
Joy Nash narrates for Bee (YES, I said Joy Nash !!) Sebastian York narrates for Nolan.
The supporting characters are funny. I did have trouble keeping up at first, but did get them straight after a while. I would love to read/listen to this again. I'm so glad that I have the book and audio.
The ending and epilogue felt natural to their characters.
This cover makes it seem like a Christmas book, but this is a character driven any time of the year story .

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, Julie Murphy, and Sierra Simone for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

This was definitely one steamy book! It was a quick, easy read with likable characters. I liked that it was sex and body-positive. I have been a Julie Murphy fan because of her young adult/middle grade books, so this was definitely a departure from what I've come to expect from her. This is more like a fun vacation read.

** Thank to Netgallery and the publishers for a free review copy for review. All opinions my own. **
Julie Murphy is one of my favourite authors. And this book was absolutely brilliant and I love Sierra Simone's smutty scenes.

The fat-positive, mental health rep, and sex positive rep was AMAZING. There needs to be more books like this, and I absolutely loved it. I hope there will be another story in this universe with another couple because that would be amazing.

Overall, I was able to finish this book in 2 days, and it was such a great read, even during spooky season as Christmas books don't have a place right now.

Highly recommend. I will be looking into Simone's books too as well to see if I am interested!

What happens when a plus-size adult film star lands the lead role in a squeaky clean Hallmark-esque holiday movie opposite a former boy-bander trying to rehabilitate his bad-boy image? You get a 𝗔 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗘, a romcom that's a lot less "Holly, jolly Christmas" and a whole lot more "Horny, porny Christmas" and I mean that in the best way possible.

Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone have created a laugh-out-loud, sex- and body-positive story that I'm sure will offend some readers (the title and cover don't exactly prepare you for what's to come) but it's as nice as it is naughty (and it definitely gets naughty!). I loved every page of this heartwarming and seriously steamy book which features thoroughly believable leads and a quirky cast of secondary characters whom I wish could each get their own book. I hope this duo plan on collaborating again soon because I haven't had this much fun getting to a happy ending in a while (pun intended).

Thanks to Avon Books for the copy to review.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Julie Murphy, and Sierra Simone for this ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Who doesn't love a book about a Christmas movie? The premise of this book is unlike anything I have read before. I mean Bee Hobbs is a porn star and is now making family-friendly Christmas movies! She is cast along side her celebrity crush, Nolan Shaw. And let me tell you, their chemistry is AMAZING! I also loved and appreciated the body positivity. This is such a good book. A steamy Christmas book is exactly what I needed.

2.5* rounded up

Since this was about 200 pages longer than it should have been and really didn’t grab my attention, I’m not going to waste time crafting a well-written review. In no particular order, here are my thoughts on this forgettable book.

Interesting, albeit very far-fetched, premise, but a little slow start and never got up to speed.

I like the body positivity angle and support for sex workers, but struggled with the idea that two people who are looking for ways to restore or expand their career options would constantly put themselves (and an entire movie production) at risk to satisfy their lust. It speaks to both characters’ immaturity that they couldn’t keep their hands off each other for a 2-week shoot.

Totally unrealistic to think that they’d be able to get away with hiding their connection to the porn industry, foolishly thinking that viewers of a Hallmark-like movie channel wouldn’t also be porn fans. Between that and Nolan’s past experience with a nasty celebrity gossip columnist, did they really think they’d avoid exposure?

The reaction Bee, Nolan, and Teddy received from the director and screenwriter was unrealistic. Despite personal feelings, movie-making is expensive, and I’d assume that those in charge would do anything to protect their investment. In the same vein, it was also ridiculous that Nolan’s choice to answer his phone during filming was tolerated, especially since the director didn’t know the reason behind it, nor should it matter. Nolan was really self-sabotaging, yet he got away with it.

Given that one of the co-authors is Sierra Simone, I expected a really deep, passionate connection between the protagonists, but their relationship was really just surface-level and lacking sexual tension. The plot wasn’t strong enough to support the too frequent, somewhat tepid, monotonous sex scenes.

Is there a reason that the epilogue focused on Teddy? Seems so random, especially since scenes like this are often used to set the stage for a sequel, but Teddy and Steph make a very odd and not particularly appealing couple.

Overall, this was a big disappointment, especially coming from 2 authors I generally enjoy.

This book was great and so full of steam and hilarity that I couldn’t put it down. Sierra Simone has, once again, proven why she is a one click author for me. This was such a fun and spicy holiday story with hysterical laugh out loud moments.

Bee Hobbs is a plus-size adult entertainer that goes by the name Bianca Von Honey and has just been given her fist shot at a mainstream movie career with the Hope Channels latest feel-good Christmas flick. Nolan Shaw is ex-boyband and bad boy trying to rehab his career and Bee’s teen crush. He immediately recognizes Bee as her number one fan and subscriber. With all the heat and desire between the two it’s harder to stay family-friendly off set and are soon sneaking off together. With the outside forces threatening to expose both Bee and Nolan they have to decide if the feelings they each have towards each other are truly worth their future careers.

This book was such a fun take on the traditional holiday rom com and I hope we get to see more of these characters in the future. These characters (though fictional and celebrities) were the kind of people you would want hang within real life … maybe at The North Pole *wink* Both Nolan and Bee know who they are and (for the most part) are comfortable with themselves and I love that. Bee is beautiful, funny, and has a heart of gold while Nolan is absolutely stunned by her.

When I saw this book was set in (fictional) Christmas Notch, Vermont I knew I had to read this one as I love (IRL) Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont and I was not disappointed. Everything about this cute Christmas themed Vermont town is adorable and funny. I went into this book blind and hadn’t read either of the authors before. And I was pleasantly surprised, the book was not overly christmassy - the characters are actually more or less supposed to miss Christmas because of the shooting schedule for a new Christmas movie and have a Christmas backdrop. Both main characters are trying to pivot their careers and both try to not have their past overshadow the wholesome family Christmas movie they are shooting but Bee the female main character is actually a female porn star and Nolan has a boy band background that took a nosedive after a scandal so now everything needs to be scandal free but the attraction between the two is palpable … can they make it work without destroying their chance to infuse their careers with something new and different.
This book was very sex positive, read steamy, and very body positive - it was great to see.

Essentially this book follows Noah Shaw, former boy band member who got a real reputation for being a bad boy, and Bee Hobbs, also known as Bianca Von Honey, famous porn star, as they try to keep a squeaky clean image while filming a traditional Christmas movie in a super cute and Christmas-y town in Vermont. Challenging their need to keep things squeaky clean is the fact that they are extremely attracted to one another.

I really enjoyed A Merry Little Meet Cute. The plus size representation was an utter delight. I loved how Noah was so attracted to Bee and that he was into her even before meeting her in person. I loved the big gesture in this book, when so often they don't work for me, because it really felt like an appropriately sized response based on the precipitating need for it. I loved the Hallmark vibes of this Christmas movie the two of them were filming. I cannot wait for more from Murphy and Simone in this universe because I think that they will all be delightful. Also the sheer amount of queer representation was really great and lovely. I really hope both of the other boy band members find love in the next books!!

This book absolutely blew my mind, stole my heart, made me chuckle like a maniac and left me in dire need of an ice-cold drink as I was swooning. Sinfully clever and wickedly smart, Bee and Nolan's story is an effervescent blend of charming, cute, sweet, funny, dramatic, fiery and heart melting that you might be inclined to think simply can't work but trust me it does beautifully, and all with a sassy, tongue-in-cheek attitude that I found just plain irresistible! It might not be the holiday season yet but start celebrating early and treat yourself to this fun romance because you totally deserve it.

You know what? This book was awesome. It answered the question I never thought to ask and probably still don't really want the answer to: what would happen if a porn star was cast in a Hallmark Christmas movie? The answer is in the form of a delightful little book with everything I love about Hallmark Christmas movies but better???

What I loved:
-every moment of dramatique drama was resolved within a few pages
-there was a lot of casually accepted queerness including both main characters being disaster bisexuals
-it explained how "fat" is a neutral description and not an insult (the female main character Bee describes herself as fat)
-similarly, the sex work wasn't used as a way to make Bee and the other porn industry characters less than
-it was a book about the making of a Hallmark Christmas movie but the Hallmark Christmas movie romantic beats were between the two actors falling in love! Like a Christmas movie inception of a romance within a romance within a romance book.
-including the characters saying I love you after two weeks lol classic Hallmark movie
-but with also explicit scenes I guess

My one critique is I got really confused about who the side characters were but this might be a me problem because I took forever to read the book and forgot stuff.

Overall, a fun and festive Christmas book with a dash of porn. Tis the season or whatever.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #AMerryLittleMeetCute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone for an honest review.

I went into this one not knowing what to expect and I'm so glad I did because it was a fun read. I've read Sierra Simone before but never read anything by Julie Murphy so I expected the steaminess and it was there. I started really worrying about how the HEA was going to happen and this book delivered it to me with a huge bow on top just like a great Christmas present. If you are looking for a fun and steamy romp this holiday season, look no further.

Nolan and Bee totally captured my heart in this Christmas Meet Cute story. If you love a “hallmarky” story you will totally love them. Plus size heroine meets football player has won my heart.

My recommendation is to read this story!!!

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As a successful plus-size adult film star with a huge following, Bee Hobbes couldn’t be happier. But when her producer offers her the chance to star in a Christmas movie—for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take on a more family-friendly direction. Forced to keep her adult film work under wraps, Bee quickly learns that that’s a lot easier said and done. Especially when her new co-star turns out to be her childhood crush Nolan Shaw, the ex-boy band member infamous for his bad boy attitude and now in desperate need of career rehab. But things heat up quickly when Noah gets his first glimpse of his new co-star—and realises it’s none other than the ClosedDoors adult film star he’s been following for years. Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off during set and trying desperately to find a way to stay together, despite their respective managers telling them to keep it in their pants. The stakes are high if anyone finds out about them—Bee could lose her film deal and be exposed as a porn star and Nolan’s last chance at earning enough money to take care of his family could be squashed within minutes. If their secret’s exposed, can the two of them withstand the media’s attention and find a happily ever after all?

As a huge fan of both authors, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story and what can I say? This co-written novel absolutely delivered. I loved how both authors brought their individual strengths to the table and how their writing styles just seamlessly intertwined. Murphy’s talent for writing confident plus-size characters who take no shit morphed together beautifully with Simone’s gift of writing steamy, intimate encounters that leave you fanning yourself. Not to mention that this romcom had so many elements that worked together perfectly: discussions of fatphobia in the media paired well with Nolan’s goal to keep his image clean so he could provide for his family, Bee’s sex-positive attitude clashed wonderfully with the traditional image of “clean” holiday movies that we all have cringed at before—and yet still can’t get enough of. Overall, all the elements of the novel and different plot strings made for one unputdownable read!

A Merry Little Meet Cute is also trope galore: from forced proximity to celebrity crush to forbidden romance all the way to pining and hidden identity, chances are that there’s a trope in here that you’re a sucker for (god knows I like every single one of them)! Much of what makes these tropes work so well together is the undeniable chemistry between Bee and Noah. They’re incredibly fleshed-out on their own with goals and fears and family to consider but together? Dayuummm. All of their encounters (not just the steamy scenes that were to die for) are filled with tension and so much chemistry that you can’t quite believe these characters are fictional. Meanwhile, they also struggle on their own. Nolan is desperate to find a solution to help his ill mother while being hundreds of miles away and Bee is questioning whether she could ever move over into “clean” movies completely. So whether you’ll keep flipping the pages because you’re desperate to learn more about what incident blacklisted Noah in the media or because you need to know what happens when Bee’s and Noah’s secret inevitably blows up in their faces, I can guarantee that there are some twists and turns no one will see coming.

Really, the only thing that bogged down the pacing a bit was the plethora of secondary characters but I can’t even be mad about it because I would read entire books about Noah’s fellow INK bandmates and Bee’s colleagues from the adult film industry (Sierra and Julie, if you’re reading this, please give us more!!). Honestly, I’m just (im)patiently waiting for these authors to give us more co-written content!

Spicy, sexy and charmingly cheerful with two self-proclaimed bi disasters that you can’t help but fall madly in love with, A Merry Little Meet Cute is the sexy, unputdownable holiday romcom that will make your days (and TBR) merry and bright this holiday season!

🎄💌 Book Review 💌🎄

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
3/5 ⭐️

Let’s call Hallmark and make it spicy. I know it’s officially Fall and I skipped spooky Szn for a second but I’ll be right back to it.

This book follows Bee Hobbs, a plus-sized adult film star on ClosedDoors (think OF), who gets casted in a family friendly Christmas movie opposite Nolan Shaw, an old boy band member trying to fix his image and save his career. AND they’re fans of each other’s work before even meeting.

It has:
💌 Plus-Size heroine
💌 LGBTQ+ representation (both MCs are bisexual!)
💌 Secret Romance
💌 Sex-positivity
💌 Mental Health Awareness
💌 Exposes sexism in media

I requested this book because I LOVED the premise and all the representation; however, the story for me fell flat. It was chaotic and didn’t flow well. It’s like when I try to tell a story but get distracted by 10,000 side stories and forget to tell the main story.

And then there’s Nolan Shaw. Even with fancasting him as Calum from 5SOS, I still could not stand him. You have the wonderful Bee who is so unapologetically herself. An advocate for embracing women’s sexuality and self love… and then you get this annoying ringing in your ear with Nolan.

He is undeserving of Bee and the conflicts that arise in this story (mostly his fault) felt immature. Given the character Bee is, it did not make sense for her to end up with him.

Anyway, there’s a horse named WhitNEIGH Houston and they bring up the terrible CGI with Renesmee in Breaking Dawn. I did laugh at some scenes and loved the christmassy hallmark feel. If they just took Nolan out and replaced him with a Harry Styles replica, I think this book would’ve killed it.

Thank you to @netgalley, @avonbooks , and @harpervoyagerus for this arc in exchange for a honest review! A Merry Little Meet Cute is out now 🎄💌

This was so delightful! The perfect steamy Christmas rom com with a fun twist that I have never read before. It kind of reminded me of the Shameless duology by Rosie Danan because of the adult film star angle. It was so interesting to see into a mind of an adult film star in a 2022 setting. I loved the conversation about the double standards in Hollywood between female and male actors, and I loved how the MCs were so supportive of each other's careers.

The writing was also so fun and engaging and kept my attention the entire time. the story was very well fleshed out and kept me reading further.

The romance was so sweet. it was forbidden because not only were they co-stars but they were both told not to fool around on set by their agents, so the forbidden aspect and the "we just can't help ourselves" was so fun and a steamy good time.

I think this will be a series eventually and I am so pumped to read anything else the authors put out in this universe.

Thank you Avon and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an unconventional Christmas rom com. Set within the backdrop of the making of a Christmas movie. Sounds normal enough until the female lead and a good chunk on the crew have to be replaced. The producer returns to his original genre to hastily recruit replacements. The show must go on!
That's how Bee Hobbes, aduIt movie star finds herself female lead for the latest Hope Channel movie set in Christmas Notch, Vermont (self styled Christmas town). Doing her upmost not to let her secret slip. Harder than it may seem when she meets her costar. Ex boyband badboy Nolan Shaw. Her number one fan on adult site Closed Doors and her teenage crush.
This is a very unusual Christmas story. An entertaining, witty read with lots of steamy fun. Hallmark meets OnlyFans!

Not only was this holiday romantic comedy a merry read, but it brought a bit of that bright(ness) that I didn't realize I needed on what had been a rather gloomy day. Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have managed to strike that delicate yet delicious balance between sweet and spicy, creating their own bit of sugary spiciness that had me eagerly flipping pages. Both Bee and Nolan were main characters who were easy to like, with a spark that was just begging to burst forth and engulf them both--in all the best ways, of course. I loved that Bee was someone who was secure in her own skin. Her confidence was a refreshing change from the usual insecure-dampened heroines that are faced with their celebrity fantasy. As for Nolan, he was exactly as I expected him to be, although surprisingly a tad dirtier, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Kudos to these two embracing their bisexuality but not making it an overly bigger deal than it had to be. This was an immensely fun read, one that kept me entertained from the very beginning till the much deserved and quite happy end. Overall, whether you're new to either author or have read their work as individual authors in the past, A Merry Little Meet Cute is cute, Christmasy, and completely worth the read. I'm giving this four stars.