Don't let the cutesy cover and title fool you, as this gets pretty spicy in places (says the tame romance reader). It's a holiday romance with that added bit of sexy fun times that seems to be lacking in all those Hallmark films.

In the end, I found this to be just... OK. Nolan and B are fine, their romance is fine and the storyline about B being a plus-sized porn star was good at first but got (shock horror) quite boring quickly as it's more alluded to than shown. This also felt like it was too long, especially in the middle section when nothing really happens in terms of plot movement.

Not bad, with some hot and heavy scenes, but overall this felt pretty average.

I am not one to trash an author’s work. It’s not who I am as a reader. So I’m going to review “A Merry Little Meet Cute” as nicely as possible, but still honestly. Here it goes…

I love representation in books. Give me diverse characters. Sign me up for cheering on the underdog. Plus size female leads? YES PLEASE! But when you have every single sort of representation in one single book (a very wordy one at that), it sort of takes the power out of being seen. It gets lost in the shuffle. Does that make sense?

In this book, we have bi main characters, a sex worker (that’s a porn star, not a prostitute), a parent whose life is falling apart due to mental health issues, a set of lesbian moms, and a plus size love interest.

Going in, I was hoping for a fun meet cute (thanks to the title), which we don’t get. And if you thought this was cute holiday rom-com, you’re going to be disappointed. There wasn’t a ton of comedy here. Just a lot of WTH moments.

If we move past the overabundance of representation, there’s the Christmas themed town, that has a North Pole themed strip club, with a dancer named Prancer. The male lead was cringey 99.9% of the time. And while I wanted to love the female lead, I found myself rolling my eyes at most of her antics (for example, she thought it was safe/smart to eat CBD gummies like traditional gummy bears).

If you read this rambling review, kudos 🤣 I personally think you can skip this one and spend time reading far better holiday novels. But of course, this is just my opinion. There’s plenty of love for this one out there, just not from me 😐

Received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

I love anything by Julie Murphy. This is her second adult novel I have read. It was way more spicy than I thought it was going to be based on the cover and title.

Frothy and fun, the perfect little holiday diversion when you're feeling chilly and need a little steam!

I liked the supporting cast more than the main characters in this one...the main characters felt a bit overdone somehow, yet not real enough at the same time. The setting was interesting, the story was fun, but overall for me it was just a bit...blah.

This book is just as the title describes merry and cute! it was a quick read with an adorable storyline. The writing was good and engaging and the characters were like old friends. Highly recommend!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Definitely a unique holiday rom-com! I loved the writing, as I always do with these authors. That being said, this one was maybe trying a bit too hard for me? It was like, let's celebrate sex workers and people with mental health struggles, and fat people, etc etc etc. Like, maybe stick to just one or two things? It just all got to be a bit jumbled at times.
That being said, I adored the insta-love, the setting, and so many of the side characters. It was a great cast, for the most part. I could have done with more banging, TBH, given how many times that gingerbread lotion and toys were brought up. But, overall, I enjoyed the book.

- fun, holiday romance
- spice 3/5
- LGBTQIA+
The romance was fun, the spice ranks at a 3/5, and my favorite parts were the commentary and struggles with human nature vs. what is expected of females (and males) according to societal norms. I really loved Bee's character. She was honest and open about her career and had support from friends and family. Such a different take to see someone in the sex industry that has support in all areas. Even with that support though, she still struggles with society as a whole and with being able to act in roles that she wants due to that aspect of her career. My favorite parts of the story were the ending when the media outcries and later support were so well encompassed. Gretchen and Pearl's reactions to Bee and Ray's backgrounds were everything you want in honest, good characters, and Nolan's final understanding of how his social perceptions were ruining the good things in his life were done thoughtfully and believably.

I did not enjoy this book at all. It was just trying way too hard to be shocking and edgy. I found the constant vulgarity to be too much. I am not a prude by any means, but there wasn't time for a story to develop with all of the pornography, sex toys, etc. being constantly dropped into the conversation. The plot was underdeveloped.

Chef’s Kiss 💋 I first started this in September when the book came out but I was just not in the holiday vibes yet so I’m so glad I restarted it and got to appreciate it for the amazing book it is. I’m so glad that this is going to be a series. We need more sex positive but sweet rom coms. Sierra and Julie killed it!!

This book definitely took me by surprise in terms of the level of spice!! This book is certainly spicy and also did not disappoint in the cutesy romancey, innocent crush department as well. Anyway, Nolan & Bee's chemistry was spot-on and kept ME wanting more. I love love love that Bee is 1) an adult-film star that tackles a fru fru Christmas movie, and 2) that she is plus-sized! Yas to representation! I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted (and did I mention SPICY) read and would give it a 4/5 star rating!

2 Disappointing Stars

This had such an amazing concept but the execution didn’t do it for me 😭

I adored all of the different dynamics of the characters + the inclusivity. i also loved having a plus sized porn star as the mc. ✨

I just got so bored throughout the book. Maybe if it was shorter I would’ve liked it more. I felt like it was so long for no reason. I loved the idea of the plot but I couldn’t feel the connection between bee & nolan. I wanted more romance tbh.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Bee Hobbes has a successful career as a plus-size film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Julie Murphy is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this books.Can't wait for the next book

What an adorably smutty romance! I want more pairings of porn stars and sex-positive former boybanders. I want more romances in tiny towns straight of Hallmark movies...with a side of steam. Don't wait until next Christmas--read this book now!

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Bee Hobbes is a successful plus-size adult film star with a cult-like following. When she is cast in a Hope Channel (think Hallmark channel) Holiday flick starring next to Hollywood’s ex-boy band bad boy, Nolan Shaw, Bee must do everything she can to keep her self out of trouble and squeaky clean for the two week movie shoot. Bee and Nolan quickly find there’s a lot more chemistry between the two of them then they expect and soon realize they’re struggling to keep it rated PG.

Hilarious and fun, A Merry Little Meet Cute is a great holiday read - but having read Murphy’s other works, I was a little disappointed by the constant fat-phobia and fat-phobic language. The plot wasn’t great, to be frank Nolan Shaw’s character is extremely unhealthy and very problematic - but if you’re looking for a naughty Santa read - this is the one.

Thanks to Net Galley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read if you like:

+ The Bodyguard by Katherine Center but with a spicier twist
+ Steamy Holiday Romances
+ Celebrity inspired romance

Have you ever wondered what you would get if you mixed a feel good cutesy Christmas story with a raunchy steamy love story topped off with a healthy dose of
LGBTQIA+ and fat rep? Well look no further because OH MY GOD I am obsessed with this book and this world and I cannot wait to see what story comes next from Julie and Sierra!! I have yet to meet a Julie Murphy book I didn't love and now I feel like I need to read my first Siera Simone novel because damn 👏 Literally this story was the PERFECT combination of sweet, steamy feel good, raunchy, feminist, fat positive, queer, and heartwarming.

THANK YOU NetGalley, and now I will be not so patiently waiting for the release of a book two with Kallum and Winnie 😍😍

A Merry Little Meet Cute is what happens when a boy band bad boy trying to rehab his image and a porn star with dreams of going mainstream star in a Hallmark-style cheesy Christmas movie together. What could go wrong? I always love a Christmas book around the holidays, but this take on the usually very tame genre was so fun. I would definitely recommend this to rom-com-lovers looking for a sweet and spicy Christmas read.

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone. Pub Date: September 20, 2022. Rating: 2 stars. When I read the synopsis of this book, I was excited for the themes of body positivity, holiday cheer and romance. But honestly, this book was very dull and full of spice but minimal storyline. A porn star is cast in a Christmas movie on a family friendly movie channel with a male lead pop star, What leads the story is the spice, but it felt forced and over the top. I wish there was more development of love and relationship between the lead couple rather than a plethora of spicy scenes. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon books for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #amerrylittlemeetcute #netgalley

This is a super steamy holiday romance. This book is a little slow, but still enjoyable! This is a celebrity and forbidden romance book. You can expect all the small town vibes in this book. If you’re a fan of a spicer Hallmark style book, you will love this one!

Give me a zaftig heroine any day, and in this romance, she just so happens to be a porn star as well. Fun times.

The basic story is that Bee is trying to break into non-porn Hollywood, and Nolan, a former boy-band bad boy who wants to be squeaky clean, and reboot his career. They both end up staring in a clean Christmas mad-for-tv movie, think Hallmark Channel, and both are trying hard not to have feelings for each other. Bee, because she followed Nolan’s career in his boy band, and worshiped him from afar. And Nolan has been a subscriber to Bee’s porn channel, and has been lusting after her for a good long time.

So that is the set up, and in a typical ron-com, hilarity, as well as bumping uglies follows, despite the fact that they are both supposed to be pure on set.

Sparkling dialogue. Fun side characters. Fun book. Warning to those who like their romances pure, this is definitely not that. When they do have sex, we get all the details.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>