This book was like a mix of a lot of things I wanted to read in different books, all of them packed in one perfect story.

This is the sex, bisexual, fat positive story the bookish world needed. The synopsis and knowing that the authors were Julie and Sierra were enough for me to know that there was going to be zero wrong things in this book, and I wasn't wrong. Everything is written is the most positive and supportive way. I loved every single page. If you think this story isn't emotionally charged, though, you're wrong. It's manages to be deep (no pun intended) and very meaningful at the same time it scorches. The connection between Bee and Nolan is much more than physical and their emotional chemistry was just as present as the sexual one.

The book also deals with some heavy stuff such as being a caretaker, fatphobia or slut-shame, but it was treated in a way that it doesn't take the shine from the good things of the story, which I loved. Sometimes books call for heavy, emotional stuff, and this romcom wasn't the case, so it was perfectly balanced in my opinion. It showed that not everything is perfect, but it will work in the end.

The supportive characters were everything. I want a best friend like Sunny. I loved Kallum, Maddie and Nolan's mom. I adored Bee's moms. Gretchen, Pearl, Teddy, Luca... everyone's role was significant and they made the story super fun to read. I saw that this is going to be a series, and I seriously cannot wait to know who comes next. I don't really mind who it is because I will devour it as fast as I have this one, but I want to start getting ready for it.

Julie and Sierra can throw as many books to me as they want. I'll read every single one of them.

Rating: 5/5
Steam: 5/5

Thanks to AVON for my early review copy!

4.5

super pace with the perfect balance of sugar and spice. an original and modern take on the forbidden/secret relationship trope. i loved all of the characters and would honestly read a spin-off or second book in this series (?!) about any of them.

#netgalley

thank you netgalley for providing me this arc for an honest review : )

Okay. I loved this book.

I loved the characters, the chemistry between our two MC’s and the overall plot. When I first started reading this book it started off slow for me, it took me a while to get into it, but then it got better and then everything clicked and I couldn’t put it down.

I’m not going to say too much because of fear of spoiling but I will say this. I like the way the author depicted sex work and mental health & the stigmas associated with them. Murphy incorporated heavy and serious topics in this book while still making it so that it wasn’t casting a depressive cloud over the overall book.

She has a diverse cast and it didn’t feel like they were thrown in just to check off boxes or provide token characters—and i appreciated that. It is diverse all around (not just side characters).

Overall, this book is a beautiful and funny contemporary romance that addresses topics like sex work/sexuality, fatphobia, and bipolar disorder.

Great book! I can’t wait for a book on Kallum and Sunny!

P.S- Leo was hilarious

4/5 stars

I really liked this! It was super cute and it isn't so Christmas-y that it has to be a winter read. I hope they make this into a series with books for some of the other characters!

***I received an ARC of this book from Avon, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.***

Content Warnings: Parent with bipolar disorder, loss of a parent, fatphobia, explicit sexual scenes, and discrimination/harassment/hate towards sex workers [not by the authors or main characters its discrimination the characters face by the media/strangers within the book].

When I first heard about this book, about a month ago, I knew that I needed to get my hands on it. I sped on over to Netgalley and hit request so fast, so when I logged on to my PC yesterday and it said I’d been approved for the ARC I was ECSTATIC! So judge all you want but I DEVOURED this Christmas book in April…and I feel no shame!

From the very start of this book, I was laughing out loud, giggling, and firmly invested. A huge fan of dual narrative I adored going back and forth between Bee and Nolan’s perspectives! I also love how the prologue perfectly set up the story but came from a 3rd narrative/perspective that was hilarious!

Bee has always loved performing, even though she’s faced a lot of discrimination, and disrespect, due to her being plus-sized. Having found confidence, community, and family while creating adult content online, Bee is enjoying life but always contemplates her childhood dream of taking on more mainstream roles. So when Bee’s producer calls and tells her he needs her to star in a Hope Channel production, with a list of rules to prevent anyone from connecting her to her online persona, though extremely nervous she decides to give it a shot.

Having grown up in the limelight Nolan knows what it feels like to live under a microscope. Being part of this Hope Channel movie could open doors, and opportunities that could ensure he has a steady income to support his family, and finally shed the bad boy image that’s always followed him. After his father passed Nolan felt the need to take care of his younger sister and mom. Being employed means having the medical insurance and money his family needs to ensure his sister finishes school, and his mother is able to get the doctor’s appointments and medication she needs for her bipolar disorder.

I loved that Bee has been a fan of Nolan’s since his boy band days and Nolan has been a fan of Bee since he first saw her profile on ClosedDoors, a few years ago, and is a top-tier member/supporter of hers. The fact that they both are fans, and longtime supporters, of each other without knowing is so cute!

It may be April but I devoured this Christmas book in less than 24 hours and now I’m just sad that I’ll have to wait, hopefully not super long, to jump into more books in this series. I’m excited to see what other love stories come out of this series, there are quite a few potentials, just based on all the different characters we meet in this book.

If you’re looking for a fun holiday romance between a hot/fat,/bisexual/sex worker and a reformed/sexy/bisexual/boy band man that also has great representation you’re going to want to pre-order this book right away!

Sarcastic, smart, entertaining creative mind of Julie Murphy is teaming up with steamy, stimulating, sexy, tempting writing of Sierra Simone and voila: here’s the most enjoyable and delicious combination of romcom meets semi-steamy erotic romance!

The characterization was the most strong element of the book: both MCs aced! Bee Hobbes a.k.a. Bianca von Honey: riding adult movie star and ClosedDoors’ most subscribed beauty finds herself in a Holidayflix’s Christmas movie about time traveling English gentleman and a modern girl’s love story who experiences true Christmas spirit as they fall for each other. ( reminding of us Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman’s Kate& Leopold)
Bee wants a chance to act at romcoms to give her two moms a chance to talk about her real work without sugarcoating as movie gigs. When she hears her long time crush- ex boy band star- bad boy Nolan Shaw is her co-star, she cannot believe in her luck!

Nolan was successful musician till their Ink Band manager siphoned entire group’s money and disappeared. After the last epic scandal about his orgy with Olympic skaters, he has to fix his tarnished reputation because secretly working at the back stages of local theater projects doesn’t pay enough to compensate his family’s expanses.

He has to support his family : his mother who is still grieving his father, suffering from bipolar needs his help and his little sister who needs to be taken care of!

He needs this movie gig so bad to find more gigs for steady income. But when realizes his co-star is the same woman he’s been obsessed for three years as Bianca vim Honey, his agent’s strict rules about staying away trouble will be more challenging than he expected!

The chemistry between them can put entire small village into flames. How both of them resist to sneak off for quickies, hiding their relationship as secret? If their secret comes out, both of their careers can be ruined!

I have to say: Teddy Ray Fletcher definitely deserved his own book! A producer who is financing adult films having hard time to differentiate his alter Uncle Ray-Ray identity and his Teddy Fletcher- romcom producer act who finances sweet Hallmark-ish holiday movies. I loved to read more about his eccentric back story and his interesting, entertaining family members. ( We already met Angel and I’d like to read the stories about his other family members) He’s definitely secret weapon of the book!

Overall: Sierra’s naughty, stimulating, steamy power combine with ultra entertaining, smart and sweet mind of Murphy! The result is amazing! I had so much fun and wonderful time! I think I’m so open to read sequels! I’d like to read other Ink members’ stories as well!

So many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager to make my entire week by sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley & Avon and Harper Voyager!

Bee Hobbes is ready to move forward with her career. When a producer offers to give her a role in his new Christmas romance movie for the family friendly Hope Channel. The only catch is that she has to keep her adult film star persona, Bianca Von Honey, a secret. When her teenage boy band crush Nolan Shaw is cast opposite her, Bee is beside herself. Nolan Shaw needs this role to improve his bad boy image. What Bee doesn’t know is that Nolan is her number one fan.

Spice, romance, body positivity- A Merry Little Meet Cute has it all. This is more than just a cutesy Christmas story. The authors crafted a unique story with a sweet and poignant plot. Sex work is portrayed in positive light although the main character is considering moving on from it. The tramas and fall out from the boyband/teen heartthrob lifestyle are also shown.

There are so many interesting side characters. I would love to see the authors write a continuing novella. Maybe about the other members of the boy band?

This is the first book that I have read from either author but I have already added works by both to my TBR list.

Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up)

Okay, I wanted to love it....I really did but I was simultaneously bored to tears while also cringing at times. Maybe I should have read this another day but this was such an insta lust story I couldn't buy into. He's her childhood crush, she's his favorite porn star. The obsession of one another is fitting for horny teenagers.

I’ve been super excited for this books since the moment I heard about it. There is a plus size heroine. A former boy band member as a hero. Both staring in a “Hallmark-y” Christmas movie. Set in a Christmas all year round town. Plus guaranteed spice for days. I’m here to tell you that it did not disappoint. I so enjoyed my time living in this story. I’m already looking forward to reading it again during Christmas season. I can’t wait to see what these ladies write next.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

Oh my feels!
This book hit all the marks for me!
A Merry Little Meet Cute is a sweet, enchanting book.
This has all the amazing, cozy romance, sweet vibes of A Hallmark movie.
And I loved that about this one.
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone did a fabulous job creating characters that I just clung to and wanted nothing but the best for them both.
Nolan and Bee had some phenomenal chemistry going on here.
The sexual tension between the two is so heavy, amazing... like WoW! Amazed!
The chemistry between these two was just HOT!
A funny and heartwarming novel.
What a fabulous book, filled with humor and heart!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Avon,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

When an adult film star and an ex-pop star are cast in a family-friendly holiday movie sparks fly.

This was a delightful twist on a small-town, Hallmark romance. Bee and Nolan had sexy chemistry and both were well-developed characters. This novel was a perfect mix of steam and humor for me. Recommend any time, but especially around the winter holidays.

This was absolutely delightful and totally unexpected! This story has it all - hot, steamy sex scenes; swoon worthy romance, and emotional depth! I loved the body and sex-work positivity throughout the book. A must read for fans of Rosie Danan and Olivia Dade, I would highly recommend.