Bee Hobbs a.k.a. Bianca Von Honey is a very successful adult film star. Bee has always wanted to act but has been passed over for the role she wanted due to her being plus size. When her producer calls with the opportunity to star in the Hope Channel‘s new Christmas film, she is hesitant but knows this is her big chance. Also a plus in doing the film is her c-star will be Nolan Shaw, ex-boy band member who Bee might have a slight crush on.

Nolan Shaw has taken the starring role in Duke the Halls in hopes it will help clean up his tarnished reputation. He has been given strict rules on staying on the straight and narrow during the duration of filming and yes that means no sex. Which wouldn’t have been such an issue until his favorite adult film star Bianka fine honey is introduced as his new coastar.

If you are in the market for a steamy Christmas rom-com, look no further. I enjoyed this story but didn’t love it. I’m not sure what exactly it was that made me feel this way. So I don’t necessarily think I can say I recommend it. But if you are looking for a spicy holiday romance then this might be exactly what you’re looking for!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of the story. As always, all opinions are my own.

Porn producer Teddy Fletcher is trying to transition into making Hallmark-like movies for the squeaky clean Hope Network. They don’t know his history, and he needs to keep it a secret. Former boy bander with a bad reputation, Nolan Shaw is the film’s romantic lead and needs this role pay for his family’s medical bills so he has to be on his best behavior. Plus-sized porn star Bee Hobbes wants to act in mainstream movies so she’s thrilled when the director pulls her head shot out of a pile Teddy didn’t mean for her to see. Bee’s hired to replace the female lead who had to drop out, but Teddy warns her no one can find out about her porn history. I think we can all guess what sort of hijinks might occur.

So there’s definitely a lot of steam, but there are also pretty immediate references to sex toys and the porn industry that made this book seem maybe more salacious then it is. It’s kind of a hysterical concept to be filming the equivalent of a Hallmark movie in the midst of all these hormones, and when a bunch of the crew can’t make it to the location, Teddy fills in with his porn crew which makes for a lot of funny scenes. Really serious themes are also explored about how women are held to different standards in the press, especially plus-sized women.

If you can get past the ludicrous foundation—because of course someone is going to find out—it’s a fun holiday book. I had a little trouble with how reckless and almost dumb the character’s actions seemed, but still enjoyed reading this one and think a lot of people will too.

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @avonbooks for an e-arc.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone was a fun and charming holiday story with delightful characters. Bee is an adult entertainer who gets casts in a wholesome holiday movie and is excited but needs to keep her other job quiet. Then she finds out her costar is her once celebrity crush, Nolan. He is trying to restart his career and make better choices. So, imagine their surprise when they meet and their chemistry is insane! What are they to do? I loved their journey so much. This was a holiday romance with steamy chemistry, a lot of positivity and forced proximity. Such an entertaining and light read and one I recommend!

Happy reading!

A Merry Little Meet Cute has put the naughty in Christmas!
This story is tickled with a bit of fun, sprinkled with a touch of naughty and dusted with the perfect amount of romance. All this goodness and more happens when you throw together a porn star wanting a chance to be a part of mainstream movie and a washed up boy band pop star trying to revamp his tarnished image in a small town to make a wholesome Christmas TV movie.
Bee needs to keep her identity a secret and Nolan needs to keep his tarnished identity squeaky clean. She had a crush on him years ago. He is a dedicated follower of her site. Who would have guessed their two worlds would collide and be better than either of their fantasies would have predicted.
This story is definitely fun, filled with a interesting cast of characters, with an abundance of steamy moments, but ends on a more serious note as the backlash of their pasts come back to jeopardize not only the movie but their futures and possibly their careers.

this was super fun! love both authors. the characters were great, loved the setting. the chemistry was sizzling. really appreciated the sex and body positivity, though of course i expected it from both authors. such a great duo, hope they write more!

So much FUN

Secret affairs.
Mistaken identities.
Hot mess Boy Bander on a redemption tour.
Porn star going legit.
Sierra and Julie took a madcap 30's comedy, and made it filthy, sex positive, slightly insane un the best way.
I couldn't stop laughing, ad wondering how I can make my Christmases this much sexy fun.

5 ridiculous Christmas tree topper stars

A Merry Little Meet Cute was a non-traditional holiday story that focused on a non-traditional cast of characters, which I absolutely loved. The main female character, Bee, is an adult entertainer, who also happens to be a plus size woman. Nolan, the male lead, is a former teen heartthrob, who was part of a boy band. Together, the two characters come together to film the holiday film, Duke the Halls.

While I found many aspects of the story to be light, fun, and humorous, I also had a hard time getting into it. The steamy parts were just that - steamy. But I just didn't feel the plot captured my attention, even though I wanted it to.

-4.25 stars-

I LOVEEEED this. Truly this was like a spicy, well thought out Lifetime movie, in the best way possible. Bee was absolutely hilarious and I LOVED her character. Her and Nolan were literally dynamite. Nolan being Bee's number one fan quite literally killed me. There was a perfect amount of plot and spice. THANK GOD. Sierra Simone, the queen of spice, did not disappoint. Honestly, this was such a cute and fun book - perfect for the holidays too!

Thank you so much for the arc!

Naughty and steamy, this is the perfect holiday read! Bee and Nolan had amazing chemistry and love the positive spin on a plus sized love heroine. Julie always does us well. I enjoyed Julie and Sierra as a writing due. The writing was seamless and the story flowed well. I look forward to more from these two. Grab some hot cocoa and curl up with this one.

Looking at this cover it looks all innocent and cute but reading this book 🥵 and this book has hallmark vibes. But In a good way ! This book was hot af. I did not expect it !

Merry Little Meet Cute is a wonderful book with a fresh concept that made me happy. I loved how their was ft representation and it was never a bad thing, just a fact of life. I loved the bi rep, the sex industry rep, just honestly how this was a kinky, steamy, horny cup of hot chocolate with gingerbread cookies;) While, I do wish we had more steam and a little more relationship development, I enjoyed it overall!

This book is a delight! I love the dual styles of writing of both SIerra Simone and Julie Murphy. The close attention to detail that both authors take time for, both authors are good at emotional investment as well. But that Sierra Simone spice was NICCCEEE.
This book is also extremely sex positive, and sex worker positive, as it is a plus size p*rn star staring in a "hallmark" type of christmas movie. Then male actor trying to clean up his image. Both characters equally yet individually working towards a better tomorrow.
I also love the plus size representation! I will just keep this book alongside some favorite holiday themed reads, because it truly is a gem!

A (secret) adult film star and former boy band member get cast in what is basically a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie and lots of hot and hilarious incidents ensue. Plus size protagonist, bisexual main characters, lots of queer folks, mental illness rep- this book has it all and it was so well done and absolutely wonderful! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Two novice actors with secrets get cast in what is basically a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie and lots of hot and hilarious incidents occur. Plus size protagonist, bisexual main characters, lots of queer folks, mental health rep- this book has it all and it was so well done and absolutely wonderful! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Put this on your reading list because you MUST read it!

There seriously has not been a book that Julie Murphy has written that I have not fall in love with! Bee is a plus sized adult film star (she goes by a different name) with two supportive moms, but when she's cast in a Christmas movie for this super family friendly TV station, her whole life changes direction. This whole situation becomes better when she discovers that her co star is none other than her childhood crush, Nolan Shaw who is dire need of a career rehab! This book gets extra steamy extra fast when Nolan recognizes Bee from her adult films! This book was like 90% spice, so know that going into! But this overall ended up being a super fun and holiday read!

Well, Merry freaking Christmas to me in September! A Merry Little Meet Cute is the perfect mix of humor, cuteness, and sexy times.

The entire set up is perfect. Bee and Nolan are hired to make what is essentially a Hallmark movie and they both have major crushes on each other. Bee has been pining for Nolan since he was in a famous boy band and she has the posters on her childhood bedroom walls to prove it. Nolan has been one of Bee’s number one subscribers on her adult film website for years. Both are shocked when they find out they are working on Duke the Halls together. Nolan is trying to reform his bad-boy image and Bee wants to keep her “Bianca Von Honey” identity a secret. These two characters attempt to stay away from each other but neither of them can ignore their undeniable chemistry.

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are a perfect author duo. The writing was great and the dialogue was spot-on. The conversations in this book are important and refreshing. I haven’t been loving romantic comedies lately but I had a really great experience reading this one.

Thank you NetGalley or sending me this ARC for review! A Merry Little Meet Cute is out now.

Themes:
- Holiday Romance
- Romantic Comedy
- Ex Boy-band member & Sex Worker
- Mutual Infatuation
- Forced Proximity
- Dirty talk

My Ratings:
Overall - 4⭐️
Angst - 2💗
Spice - 4🌶

I devoured this book in a day. It was so good.

I loved everything about it. It was hilarious and steamy and sweet. The characters were all so much fun.

I loved both Bee and Nolan, they were great characters and I was so glad that Nolan was this sweet dude who just wanted to take care of his family and he wasn’t an alphahole rockstar.

I am so excited for more books in this series because I feel like the authors set the story up for several more couples in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy of this ARC.

CW: talk of mental health, slut shaming, fat shaming.

This was so so cute. I loved the bi rep, body positivity, sex positivity and the sweetness of the love story. I appreciated the love and affection between established couples in the book as well.

I didn’t know this was the Christmas book I needed.

Oh what a perfectly dirty holiday book! I loved it.

The characters. The chemistry.

I couldn't put it down. It was so fun, sexy and also and an underlying feminist streak that was *chefs kiss*

Cannot wait to recommend this to my followers and friends!

This is the perfect Christmas book for the steamy and spicy for readers. It has many topics like sex work and other things, but it was so much fun to read.

I love that the heroine is a plus size girl that is in the adult entertainment world and she is confident and loves herself. I think that’s so important with plus size rep that the main character loves who she is and feels comfortable in her own body and skin and that’s just who she is. Nothing needed. The hero in the story is hardworking, does things to help and get by and is the sweetest!! Their chemistry? Off the charts! It’s so fun, sweet, hot and chemistry filled dynamic that I think is perfect for a Christmas book. The two leads are also bisexual which is great to see in romance books and the rep is amazing. It’s perfect if you love Christmas books but want some kick to it. You know, like cider with a little whiskey? That sort of vibes and it’s such a great time. It is sex positive and goes into detail with that. I loved that the book takes away that stigma and it’s such a fun twist. I am such a fan of her books and this was no exception.