Thank you NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review. I feel like there was something missing to make it a little bit more enjoyable, but I did like the tropes in this book! There was fake marriage, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and grumpy x sunshine. I did like Connie and Henry together. They did seem to match well together as their chemistry and the sexual tension was strong.

Connie is leery of “nice guys” and her neighbor, Beck, is probably the nicest guy she’s ever met. So when she learns Beck’s essentially being bullied at work and made up a wife to try and fix it, she finds herself inexplicably volunteering to play the role.

What a quirky, horny, bonkers fun time this was! This was my second read from this author and, dare I say, she writes the horniest books I’ve ever read. I found myself staying up way waaaay too late, desperate to see these two get together. It was a slow burn to a wildfire, and when it hits, it HITS. I loved that through these filthy smutty scenes, the FMC was having emotional self realizations. Absolutely smut with a purpose! I loved their dynamic, it felt like a role reversal of what you usually read in romcoms. Sweet, earnest, wholesome, dorky Beck must be protected at all costs! But don’t worry because I’m positive Hazel will do it. His quirky wholesome nature wouldn’t have been as enjoyable without Hazel’s reaction to it. She needed this man! And listen, this book was funny. I actually laughed at so many bonkers lines. I really enjoyed my time reading My Big Fat Fake Marriage!

I was excited to read about two nerds falling in love. Finding themselves but also finding their person.

This was so boring. I DNF about 30% in.

Hands down one of the loveliest, funniest, emotionally resonant, witty romances I've read! I could go on and on with the descriptors and praise, but I'll let readers experience this one for themselves. I don't want to spoil it. Charlotte Stein's skill at creating authentic relationships and incredibly memorable (and lovable) characters is AMAZING and that truly can't be faked! Beck and Hazel (aka Connie's) romance may very well end up being my favorite of the year

My Big Fat Fake Marriage was a quick read with a cinnamon roll hero and a jaded about love heroine. I liked the beginning of this book, but sped through the middle and end. The heroine spent quite a bit of the book spiraling in her bad thoughts and it got repetitive as the story went on, so I started trying to skip past it. Also there wasn’t much story in the second half of the book, so I lost interest.

Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck, our MMC, is a total Golden Retriever. Friendly and loved by most, we find out he has been single and unromantically tangled his whole 30 years.
Pro: He seems genuine. Con: he says oh fudge (eye roll).
Connie, our FMC, has had a fair share of love I her life, but has been jilted so often she doesn’t believe in a too good to be true Beck.

Pro: If you are an anxiety ridden girl, you may relate to her inner voice SPIRALING. Con: If you find spiraling an ADHD nightmare, you will dislike her.
This book is for you if you enjoy fake marriage or forced proximity romances. However, the general plot, that Beck lied about being married and now that Connie helped him lie, has to help sell this relationship, the most ridiculous things happen.
The lying/weird communication things always makes me cringe. Lying occasionally is one thing, but for the whole plot to be hinged on a series of increasingly unhinged things – you have to suspend belief to get through it.

The banter and spice are definitely very good, considering how much I didn’t mesh well with the plot. However, the pacing was mixed, often very slow. May be best to listen to as an audiobook that you can speed up a bit.
Suspend belief if you want to enjoy this one 

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a tropy ultimate romantic comedy. A bit over the top with the sweetness, a golden retriever MC, a fake marriage and forced proximity. Might all seem fantastic except the inner monologues got tiring and so did the inner angst plus the miss communication .

I CANNOT BE COHERENT ABOUT THIS BOOK WHAT THE FUCK HOW AND CAN I PLEASE GET MORE LIKE IT I COUOLD NOT PUT IT DOWN, I WAS GRINNING LIKE AN IDIOT, MY HEART GREW THREE SIZES, I AM OBSESSED

Where do I begin, if you love romance with a side of fluff and a man who has a mustache well this is your book .. I tried to love this one but unfortunately it wasn’t giving me the vibes I wanted and at times I felt like I was reading in a third person pov. But thank you to netgalley and St.Martins Press for this ARC.

Achingly sweet, this romance offers standard tropes with a dash of humor. MY BIG FAT FAKE MARRIAGE is what the title describes, a fake marriage of co-workers forced to share a room and therein find true love. For readers who love this trope and want to read it frequently, this book offers comfort, familiarity and a happy ending. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Four and a half stars.

Connie has had the worst luck with men. All those nice guys she dated turned out to be pretty terrible. So when the giant mustachioed man across the hall seems to be the nicest guy in existence, she runs screaming. Almost literally. But through twists and turns she ends up posing as his wife during a two week writing retreat.

It took me a minute to warm up to this book. But then she defends him. And I loved that. She is not going to stand for someone being mean to this ridiculously nice man. And then she starts *noticing* him.

The second half of this book is So Much Filthier than I ever expected. And this is a positive, my friends. These two have a ridiculous physical connection. But they're making assumptions about the mental and emotional sides of things.

It's a satisfying and very hot read.

But it's not quite a five star read for me because I just can't understand how the MMC exists. He's like Ted Lasso (somewhat explicitly) but with less darkness. I wish he'd been a bit more well rounded. Or, in my dreams, this was a dual perspective book. I desperately wanted to understand him more.

For all of that, this has got me wanting to go back and read the previous book!

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

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: March 11, 2025

Cover: Adorable.
Title: Adorable.
Concept: Adorable.

But unfortunately, the writing style was not for me. I found it entirely too slow. Also the FMC, was unbearable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martins Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

“My Big Fat Fake Marriage” by Charlotte Stein had all the things I love. These things included tropes such as fake dating/marriage, forced proximity, only one bed on a road trip writer retreat etc. I loved the chemistry between Beck and Hazel and it was neat to see this extreme form of acceptance of someone,quirks and all, as Hazel struggles to accept herself all while showing Beck unconditional acceptance for the first time in his life.

The miscommunication trope was strong in this book and overall it was well done but felt a bit over the top at times. I loved the fierce protectiveness of Beck toward Hazel and the way he was able to really see her. This coupled with his aversion to this idea of toxic masculinity was really refreshing to see in an MMC. The spice was super steamy and fun as well. I did find the way Hazel sometimes responded to Beck to be a bit hard to read even though I get that it came from her past trauma. The secondary characters were fun especially Mabel and Alfie. A fun read overall and one that I would recommend if you like some serious spice in your life 😝.

5/5 ⭐️s
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - heavy spice

LOVES:
- The commentary on “Nice Guys” is pretty spot on 😑 and holy cow, Hazel’s trust issues run far and deep! Seeing Beck shatter her assumptions and just be the nicest guy with no expectations is tremendously heartwarming 💖
- As much as Beck makes you laugh and be a little confused, he is so incredibly endearing. I love him 💗
- They both end up reassuring each other into being comfortable with their true selves 🥰
- The absolute torture and agony Hazel (and Beck) is in is all at once hilarious, pitiful, and 🔥 This book is dirty, dirty, dirty 😏
- The ICP reference is iconic 😂 and I love a man who reads smutty books 💙
- That basketball game is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever read!

This is the horniest, sweetest book ever written. It feels like your hilarious best friend is just telling you a story - so easy to read. If you’re looking for a quirky, sexy writer, Charlotte Stein delivers.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the eARC 💝 Releases on March 11th!

[ARC review]
MY BIG FAT FAKE MARRIAGE by Charlotte Stein is a ton of fun.

If its predecessor (When Grumpy Met Sunshine) is about a thinly veiled Roy Kent, this one is a thinly veiled Ted Lasso. Which, y'know what? I don't hate. I did briefly cover my face laughing when I realized it, but it's a great premise, especially given the two books together.

I've been very burnt out lately, having a hard time even getting through books. But I flew through this one. Beck isn't exact Ted Lasso (he's much taller and harrier) but he has that middle America "gee whiz" innocence, while also being incredibly intelligent. I think I needed to read something with that kind of wholehearted wholesome earnestness.

The premise is that Beck and Hazel live across from each other. She finds out he lied at work about being married, and through a series of hijinks, is now going on a two week writing retreat with him...pretending to be his wife. But whoops, they are very attracted to each other, the sexual tension heats until it boils over.

It's sweet, it's spicy, it's all about letting people see who you really are. I really enjoyed it.
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#NetGalley #ARCreview #MyBigFatFakeMarriage

"My Big Fat Fake Marriage” by Charlotte Stein is an absolute gem that had me laughing out loud from start to finish. This delightful romantic comedy is a brilliant blend of wit, charm, and heartfelt moments that make it an unputdownable read.

Stein's impeccable dialogue is one of the standout features of this novel. Each conversation between the characters is laced with humor and authenticity, making them feel real and relatable. The witty banter, especially between the protagonists, adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the already captivating storyline.

The plot is refreshingly original, revolving around a fake marriage that spirals into a series of hilarious and unexpected events. Stein masterfully crafts each scene with a perfect balance of comedy and romance. The chemistry between the characters is palpable and their journey is both entertaining and heartwarming.

What I truly appreciated about this book is its ability to make me laugh out loud while also tugging at my heartstrings. Stein has a remarkable talent for blending humor with emotion, creating a narrative that resonates long after you've turned the last page.

Charlotte Stein's writing reminds of Olivia Dade's books. I tried reading Stein's first book, but I ended up setting it aside. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this one, but My Big Fat Fake Marriage totally redeemed Stein for me. Let's start off with Beck. He is the cinnamon roll of cinnamon rolls, and he really just seems like the sweetest guy. From the beginning, the reader just wants everything to work out for him. I also liked Connie's character. I was rooting for her and Beck the entire story and I was completely invested in their happy ending. I like how Stein's writing is inclusive of different body types. Add in a fake marriage trope and I am completely sold. Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital coy of this book.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for the eARC and to Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley! These are my honest thoughts!

Charlotte Stein! OMG. This book was... something! LOL

I actually had a lot of fun with this fat girl book about Connie and her neighbor, Henry Beckett, who end up in a fake marriage and on vacation on a writer's retreat. Connie's concerned about her nice neighbor, Henry, because his mustache isn't as perky and his hair is a little out of place. Turns out? He lied about having a wife and now needs to go on a writer's retreat with the colleague that likes to bully him mercilessly about everything.

Connie, an aspiring writer herself, is scheduled to go on the retreat, and ends up proclaiming she's his wife at a random event where the bully is present.

THEN HENRY ASKS HER TO FILL OUT A SURVEY, and he buys her cute pajamas in her size, and he does loads of things to make her more comfortable and to feel seen.

I just loved Henry a whole lot. He's a respectful horndog. And I loved it.

The final 40% of the book is very chemistry/physically focused. I think that's just what Charlotte does... and I had a fun time listening.

This is book #2 in this universe, and we get to see the characters from When Grumpy Met Sunshine, so that's FUN.

Read if you LOVE:
- fat rep
- body positivity
- superhero references
- a nice guy book editor who has read *all* the things in fiction
- a brazen fmc
- a MMC who is both kind AND kinda naughty (secretly)
- forced proximity
- fake marriage
- British FMC x American MMC
- LOTS of references to pop culture/books/etc. INCLUDING QUANTUM LEAP, which my mom loved

4 solid stars on both the ebook and the ALC front. I love the British narrator who brought Connie to life.

3.5/5 - My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a fake marriage, forced proximity, one bed rom-com between neighbors Connie and Henry. After being burned by love one time too many, Connie Evans became suspicious of "nice guys," thinking they were hiding some nasty secrets. That conviction gets flipped when she meets her neighbor, Henry Samuel Beckett, or Beck for short. Beck is a cheerful, nerdy, bow tie wearing, book editor who leaves baked treats at her door while says things like “oh fudge.” Though he seems super friendly, Beck tells Connie that he’s been single forever despite telling his coworkers that he’s married; in order to avoid the office bully. While at a company writing retreat Beck’s lie gets close to being discover when Connie comes up, pretending to be his wife. While sharing a small room with one bed and participating in the retreat's activities, their fake relationship starts to feel real; forcing Connie to confront her trust issues and consider that Beck might be nicer than he seems. Between miscommunication, internal angst, and, of course that one bed, nothing could go wrong; right.

While a fun read you will probably enjoy it more if you avoid thinking about its believability while reading, as it will affect your interpretation of the story. Beck, a major golden retriever or cinnamon roll, while being a charming character, felt more fictitious than real; a man in his thirties, who is a virgin and has never kissed, seems almost unreal. His interactions with Connie were enjoyable.Their relationship was a slow burn, but this book does have some spice.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #StMartinsGriffin

Henry Beckett is a nice guy. He leaves treats for his neighbor Connie and she isn’t sure why. The story is told entirely from Connie’s POV. It turns out that Henry is an excellent editor but his big secret is that at work he has claimed to be married and that she is his wife. Connie, an aspiring writer herself, agrees to go on a writing retreat and pose as his fake wife. Henry is essentially a tall, mustached, bow tie wearing Ned Flanders. No curse word is slipping through his lips. Connie doesn’t trust nice guys because past experience says they will let you down.

At the retreat they are sharing a room and a bed and lots of firsts for Henry. The tropes are fun, closed proximity, fake relationship, quirky character, he’s less experienced. But this came off as more a fantasy story than realistic romance. I do like the curvy girl representation. I remember the author had that with her last book as well. Fun storyline with lots of spice. (3.5 Stars)