Can a fake marriage solve their problems or will it create more? Cecily and Nate find themselves in a pickle when she impulsively kisses him- and they're seen. He's her professor and the rules (the rules are there for a reason) prohibit romantic relationships between students and teachers- unless they've married. So that's what they do. This is as trope-y as can be but there's books! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Nice characters, good banter, and fun make this a good read.

I loved this story! The characters and plot were very engaging and I was laughing and smiling throughout!!

An adorable bookish romance, will having you smiling throughout. Though predictable troubles ensue, a satisfying HEA.

Thank you so much to netgalley and sourcebooks Casablanca for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a romance between a woman trying to get her masters degree and a faculty member.

This book didn’t work for me for a lot of reasons. I will start with the good. I love the cover of this book. I also liked the book publishing world that it was set in.

I really didn’t like any of the characters. They were all annoying me and I couldn’t connect. I also feel like there were some cringy parts as well. The romance seemed kinda non existent to me when it should’ve been the main focus.

I hope others love this one but it didn’t work for me.

thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review
i adore this book. The cover hooked me because it is so cute
the story didnt disappoints me
it is like a breeze of fresh air and i couldn't get enough of it

I loved this book! The writing style felt really unique to me and I couldn’t get enough of it! A lot of times it felt almost like talking to a friend and recounting events. There were even a couple fourth wall breaks!

This story follows Cecily, a librarian and aspiring author, and Nate, a published author struggling to write his second book. Cecily gets accepted into an MFA program where she meets Nate who will be one her professors. The two form an unlikely friendship, and find themselves in a compromising situation after a harmless kiss threatens his job, due to professor/student relationships being forbidden. The only loophole they can find is that it’s not against policy for a professor to be married to a student… but can they convince everyone of their fiction love story.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I was wary about this book. The synopsis didn't fully hook me, but kept on. I ended up reading it in two days, and I feel like that tells you everything you need to know. This book was so cute. It was full of actual adults acting their age while still chasing their dreams and working hard. I loved CJ and Pen (iykyk) and they were so fun to watch fall in love.
The only thing I didn't love was the ending. Not their relationship.- that was amazing, but their books. It seemed like we never got to see CJ reach her dream on her own, and while that wasn't necessary I wanted that for her. Everything else was adorable.

When librarian Cecily Jane Allerton and hotshot struggling author Nate Ellis are caught in a compromising position during their MFA program, they decide to get married to keep the haters from destroying their careers. To the horror of Cecily's family, which is a big fan of big white weddings, they elope to City Hall. Now they're back on Block Island, pretending to be a real married couple, and finding that however fake the relationship may be, the mutual attraction is all too real. With Cecily vying for a literary award, Nate striving to get past his writer's block, and plans to annul the marriage after the MFA program ends, what could possibly go wrong?

This book was so flipping cute, it had me giggling and twirling my hair like a school girl as I was reading it. I am such a sucker for fake marriage plots so I already knew going in that I was going to love this book, and I am so very glad I wasn't disappointed. I really loved how the female lead Cecily was fleshed out and felt like an actual person that I could relate to. While yes this is a romance book, Cecily goes on a journey through the book that is independent of her relationship and it really made me root for her as a character

“None of this is real, I promise myself.
I try like hell to believe it.”

A surprisingly sweet and romantic story of two authors (even though she is still working on her career) who finds themselves in need of a marriage of convenience in the most unexpected of situations and then turn from friends to lovers. Did I mention that there is the one bed trope? ONE BED TROPE!!! Basically one of my favourite tropes of all time!!! I had such fun reading this book. I honestly came into reading it without any possible expectations or thoughts. I was there for a fun and romantic time and it delivered both. The main characters were absolutely amazing and their dynamics was so fun, it was impossible for me to stop reading!!! Cecily was oh so sweet and Nate was to swoon for !!!! I deeply appreciated how the author made things go for them and even through the oh-so-unwanted third act break up … I had an amazing time !!!

3.5⭐️
Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and KJ Micciche for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cicely is pushing herself out of her comfort zone, pursuing her goal of being a published author. While at her MFA program she meets a young successful author who is one of her professors. Their first session doesn’t go well but they eventually become friends. Months later, Cicely goes to one of Nate’s readings and after a few too many glasses of wine and a surprise round of karaoke she kisses Nate. Due to wild circumstances (the karaoke being part of a late night show and the kiss is made public) they must face the music. Nate is convinced he will be fired so they do the only logical thing they can do. Get married.

This story had some turns I didn’t expect and wasn’t as much of a rom-com read as I expected but overall i enjoyed it. I’m not sure how accurate the description of the MFA program, writing and querying were but I found that very interesting.

There were little pockets of tension between the characters but it wasn’t an overpowering tension and desire like I would prefer from a fake marriage to dating situation.

Overall, a quick and entertaining read.

loved this book about two writers who find love while faking a marriage since he was teacher while writing. loved the family and that she found love love and that their romance was told in dual POV and that they both found success.

An excellent follow-up to the debut novel, The Book Proposal, K.J. Micciche's upcoming novel A Storybook Wedding is a fun and entertaining read for rom-com fans. Four stars!

Let me introduce you to Cecily Jane Allerton (CJ), A 29 year old Children’s Librarian at Queen’s Public Library, who lands a full scholarship for an MFA literature program. And boy, is she excited “Ready to take the world by literary storm” excited. Enter Nate Ellis, the award winning author who’s moonlighting as a professor to beat his writing blues. And then boom! A live TV kiss gone wrong leads to a fake marriage to salvage their academic careers.

Now, onto CJ, ambitious, book-loving, and bursting with passion…but also kind of stuck in a perpetual state of childhood wonder. I mean, seriously, she’s 29 going on 9! Sure, I admired her drive and all, but where’s the character growth? Her jokes? Cringe worthy. Her inner monologues? Eye- rolls, and that karaoke disaster? ‘Shaking my head’.

Now, Nate. Oh, Nate. He’s ……well, he’s there, I guess? Honestly, he’s so nondescript, I couldn’t even conjure up a mental image of the guy. And his whole pity party subplot was a skim through for me.

Noe getting to the romance, “cracking my knuckles”. Zero Chemistry, zilch, nada. Despite CJ showering Nate with compliments 70% into the book, it was like watching two literary acquaintances playing footsie under the table. And that one sex scene? Total cringe fest. Who has a cringey inner monologue like "for someone who I was sure couldn't dance (based on his performance at karaoke), this is a man who definitely knows what to do with his hips" and then there was the "Not only that, he has remarkable upper body strength, so he effortlessly maneuvers the two of us from one position to the next. I'm on top, then I'm underneath him, then he is behind me, and finally, I am straddling him in a seated position. " Thanks for telling us what a straddling position is.

For a book that talks about literary skills and how to write content that is interesting, this book fell ironically flat. From overly descriptive scenes like CJ narrating the list of every product in the bathroom (do we need to know every product and their brand names? NO), to the wonky scene shifts, fact inconsistencies, and a 2nd person point of view writing that threw me off. It’s a literary rollercoaster and not in a good way. It was almost a DNF for me.

But hey, every cloud has a silver lining. At least I learned a thing or two about the publishing world and writing retreats. In conclusion, this book was a swing and miss for me.

And thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-ARC. Always appreciate the chance to rant–err, I mean review!

I struggled to get into this story because most of the descriptions were so wordy. I was getting lost in all of details, and I couldn't connect with the characters. Both characters are writers, and there are so many references to this aspect, but it was too much at points.

I was intrigued by the beautiful cover, and I was looking forward to a book about a wedding. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me, but it might work well for others.

Dawwwwwww.

What a cute his and her point of view.

Loved the premise of the book, and also that they were both authors.

Thank you NetGalley for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Cecily is very wordy and funny throughout the book, I love how the author is very descriptive when writing for Cecily. You'll laugh throughout the book reading Cecilys inner thoughts and monologue. It takes a bit to get the story going, not the quickest read but I appreciate the details, works for me. Nate is in the process of getting his second book published, comes off cocky in the beginning but turns out to be a really good guy and great love interest.

I love the cover of the book and the title, excited for this book to come out.

The story begins with Cecily wanting to become a published author and to try to make it happen, she joins an MFA program. While she has to take time away from being a child’s librarian, it ends up being the best decision for her. She ends up opening up and starting to write in a way she never has before.

Her writing development is in large part, thanks to Nate Ellis. He is an award-winning debut author with many accolades to his name. His major claim to fame was that he seemingly predicted the pandemic in his debut release. However, he’s having a major case of impostor syndrome as he tries to write his sophomore effort.

While Cecily is on break, her advisor tells her to go to some literary events and she attends one of Nate’s events. From there, the two are buzzed, do karaoke, and end up, kissing. Since they’re in the same program, he can be fired and her kicked out. To try to make things better, they agree to a marriage of convenience and it ends up being a rollercoaster ride from there.

Unlike her first novel, I think Micciche did an excellent job of balancing the absurdity of what happens to these two with the reality of marrying someone you barely know. Watching these two slowly fall in love was so incredible. I couldn’t help but root for them to get their HEA and for Cecily or CJ to become a published author.

Eventually, things blow up in their faces but not before Nate and CJ realize their feelings. It isn’t pretty yet the author handles it materfully. She also shows some love for some amazing books and authors while doing it. I especially loved the reference to Wibbroka as they’re my favorite husband-and-wife author duo.

A Storybook Wedding was such a fun read and one you need to add to your beach bag. You’ll want to devour it before you even get close to the ocean. All in all, this was an incredibly fun read so I wanted to show it some love.

I had a hard time with the first 30% of this book, I skimmed it. The plot picked up at around 50%, where the marriage was proposed. The book mentions a lot on the writing and publishing process that part was informative. Which made it overall more of a how to write and publish a book rather than a romance.
The romance was not present enough to be believable. The marriage of convenience was an extreme move in order to not get fired. An open and honest conversation would have solved the situation both MCs were in.

You ever get a headache from overly detailed descriptions in books? I have so much sympathy for my language teacher in high school when she gave me the same feedback on my assignment. Here is my official apology to her. I'm sorry I made you read it, I promise I have cut it down. As for this book yeaaahhh it is a dnf after 35% of pure headache. Not the fault of author or the book just not a good fit.

this book was fantastic. consistently drawn in and vested in the characters. it is easily going to be one of my top books. a perfect blend of kicking up your feet in excitement and relatability that we are all trying our best. I loved KJ's first book The Book Proposal and A Storybook Wedding was all that and MORE. KJ is one to watch her storytelling is strong and you feel as though you are in the stories. I attended an author event of hers last year in Kew Gardens and you can truly see her in her writing. Beautifully written.