This book was super cute! I went into it knowing I like Charlotte Stein's writing and I love her inclusion of plus sized MCs. This book was a cute, quick read. My one critique is that Henry's constant positivity kind of annoyed me at parts (but it also annoyed the main character, so maybe I was supposed to be annoyed!).
I would definitely recommend it to people looking for a cute, writerly romance with plus size representation.

This was a fun and funny story. Hazel/Connie does not trust nice guys. In her experience, it is all a facade, and the nice guy will eventually reveal his true selfish self. Her neighbor across the hall in the apartment complex, Henry Samuel Beckett (Beck), is the quintessential nice guy. Hazel keeps waiting to be disappointed, but it never happens, because Beck really is a nice guy — kind, considerate, caring; he apologizes if he does anything that might be seen as rude or inappropriate, puts the needs of others first, etc. He cannot even lie without becoming physically ill. Which means he has been downing antacids like candy because he told a jerk of a coworker that he is married, and now he is leading a writers’ retreat that the coworker will be at and expects to see the wife he doubts exists.

Hazel finds out Beck’s secret and offers to pose as his fake wife. This will lead to many of the comedic moments in the story, as Beck scripts a backstory and tries to set very clear boundaries on what will and won’t happen, as he does not want to do anything that will make Hazel uncomfortable. For even the slightest bit of affectionate behavior, like a hand on the back or a chaste kiss, Beck wants explicit consent. And if he thinks he has said or done anything inappropriate, he is profusely apologetic.

But beneath his innocent teddy bear exterior is a very horny man (who is very embarrassed that he is having such thoughts about Hazel). What he does not realize is how much his consideration, kindness, etc. affects Hazel, in ways even Hazel finds surprising. She is very much in favor of dirty thoughts and deeds and fears she will corrupt his innocence.

thank you Net Galley for an ARC of "My Big Fat Fake Marriage" in return for my honest review!

throughout the first 40% of this book, I struggled a bit. it felt more cheesy than I am used to, and I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters. then, the 50% mark hit, and completely changed my mind!!!!!! I binged it from that point on.

was it cheesy? yes. did it have some millennial phrasing that was slightly jarring? yes.
did I love it? YES! I was so entertained!!!!! genuinely laughed out loud multiple times.

here are a few of the things specifically I loved:
1. the fact that they were 31 and 37 years old! I love to see some more age representation as I get older.
2. Beck is a consent KINGGGG!! I seriously smiled so big every time he did anything!!! an angel
3. extreme golden retriever energy - he was so thoughtful, gentle, and kind with her! (and it was cute how nervous he got around her!)

because of the first 40%, I feel like I can't rate it higher than a 3.75 stars, but I truly enjoyed it and would recommend!

After reading this book I can safely say a few things. Firstly, Charlotte Stein has solidly landed on my favorite authors list with this book and I absolutely need more. Secondly, I think I found my newest book boyfriend. Beck is the ideal cinnamon roll teddy bear human being; gentle, sweet, honest, observant, avid reader, a little nerdy, a good listener, maybe a little naive, and great in bed. His counterpart Connie is a lovely balance for his character with her insight, experience, warmth and own insecurities that really become a great equalizer for the two characters. I was immediately invested in Connie and Beck’s story from the first shy interaction as well as jumping right on Connie’s side in defense of Beck against his office bully Doug. The witty banter and pop culture references had me smiling at the pages or laughing out loud. Whereas the steamy scenes had me biting my lip and telling my husband to take notes. I quickly finished this book and then went back for a re-read immediately.
If you love yourself some good grumpy/sunshine, fake marriage, forced proximity romance, then I highly suggest you pick up My Big Fat Fake Marriage.

I really enjoyed this book. Beck is one of the most refreshing MMC's I've read in a while, clearly inspired by Ted Lasso. He was so sweet and kind and yet oh so dirty! The only thing missing for me was his POV- would've appreciated a couple of chapters in his voice.
I didn't connect as much with Connie but I think she was a perfect foil for Beck. Their communication was open and solid and I appreciated the very quick resolution of the misunderstanding at the end. Four stars from me!

I recently discovered that I kind of like the Grumpy Sunshine trope a lot. I do think the timeline was quick, but the book was enjoyable. For a couple that took a good percentage of the book to be physical, it still felt steamy. I loved the hardened heroine and cinnamon roll hero. I love how they brought out the best in each other as partners should. I liked it enough that I'll be looking for the previous book in the series.

This is the Ted Lasso-inspired Fake Marriage romance I never knew I needed. I just...I thought When Grumpy Met Sunshine was the top tier of "two dummies in love but they don't know it yet," and yet here I am, squealing and kicking my feet AGAIN.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein.

Connie and Beck are neighbors and she ends up posing as his fake wife. Their arrangement culminates in both of them attending a writing retreat together. Their fake spouse arrangement and forced proximity lead these two to need to confront their misunderstandings, approaches toward relationships, and their feelings toward each other.

I found Beck to be endearing and enjoyed him throughout the story. This story is definitely for someone who enjoys misunderstandings, fake relationship, forced proximity, and there’s only one bed tropes. I felt the story really picks up once they get to the writing retreat. There were definitely moments once it reached that point that had me smiling big for these two.

This is definitely a book one can pick up for a quick and easy read with plenty of spice.

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is an absolutely sweet novel of two neighbors who are the most unlikely of companions, but when he needs a fake wife, she steps up to help out and sparks fly! I thoroughly enjoyed the slow burn of this novel! Thank you to the author publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This one was not for me. I'm all for a cinnamon roll hero, but that's not what we had here. The MMC, Beck, gave Ned Flanders in the body of Peter "Sugar Bear" Wisdom vibes, and I couldn't get past it.

This one surprised me! I’ve never really been into cinnamon roll MMCs (I like mine morally gray and preferably with bat wings), but this was really sweet! Much spicier than I thought it would be considering how sweet and inexperienced Beck was. Connie really had her heart in the right place, but it was hard to read all the self deprecation happening for both of them. It took me out of the spice and the narrative, however the ending was super sweet and I love a good fake dating/marriage trope!

I enjoyed this book very much. I kept thinking as I was reading it that I could see it being turned into a movie. The characters have a lot of ways in which this could play out. Thank you for the opportunity to read it early!

A quirky, fun loving, misguided story that takes you on a sensual journey as Hazel and Beck find their way to each other and overcome each other's insecurities.

Thank you to Charlotte Stein, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh my heart! A fake dating / marriage of convenience with big burly cinnamon role MMC and a plus size FMC?! SIGN. ME. UP!

Our MMC (Beck) was EVERYTHING in this book. tenderhearted, kind, thoughtful, romantic...and take charge kind of man...YES PLEASE!

I enjoyed watching the self discovery journey of our FMC (Hazel) as well, her story line was one I think many women can relate to. Growing up feeling like you are "too much" of the wrong thing and hiding your true self from anyone who tries to get too close.

I would have loved to have gotten Beck's perspective in this book, I feel that would have really bumped the story up another level but as it was, this book was a cute, funny, and spicy rom-com that I'm sure will become the next social media sensation!

I will never get married unless Beck somehow stops being a fictional character. I am absolutely in love with him. He is the definition of a gentle giant. I love his and Hazel's dynamic so much. They both had amazing development, and the way they help each other through their personal arcs is so sweet and supportive and I don't have enough words for it.

This book was such an easy 5 stars for me. It's an adorable and spicy rom-com with great character development and writing. If you're a fan of fake relationships and only one bed, you'll love this book.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The book was delightful and humorous, with a steady pace that prevented me from setting it aside. I appreciated how the main characters were developed throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I'm a fan of Charlotte Stein's books thus far - she writes the cutest grumpy/sunshiney tropes, with very sweet MC. I loved her most recent werewolf book, for example (go pick that one up! Cozy spice!)
This book didn't go over as well for me, primarily due to the fact that I didn't love our FMC's voice or her character quite as much. I completely understood and deeply feel that grossness that I associate with the "nice guy" phenomenon. But the way she reiterated it over and over again at the start, it almost felt too repetitive and as if she wasn't writing for what I presume is her audience - that is, youngish women reading romance who implicitly understand the men that she is referring to. It came to a point where I felt like this FMC was beyond grumpy and was just thinking horrible things about most of the people she met. I kind of feel like you can be a misanthrope and incredibly distrusting without being off-putting in this way? It was minor for me, primarily in the first half of the book - I guess the feeling I would describe is like being around a Debbie Downer, or like sort of just an exhausting character to read the POV of? Ultimately, I think the book, thought it did take its time, came around and because a cute romance that was worth reading and passing the time with.

Charlotte Stein can do no wrong, in my opinion. I absolutely adored My Big Fat Fake Marriage - and I LOVED the MMC. I really appreciate the recognition that not all romance readers was six foot seven alphaholes with rippling abs and a jawline made for the cover of Men's Health. Just fabulous all around!

I was a big fan of Charlotte Stein's last book (WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE) and I think this one just wasn't the one for me, I'm afraid. I am not one to shy away from tropes, but the fake marriage in this one (especially combined with the FMC's absolute distrust of all men) just wasn't hitting for me. I also didn't believe the chemistry until we were close to the end. And the MMC was like a cinnamon roll on steroids - you truly cannot believe how kind/dorky/etc this man is. I can suspend my disbelief a lot in romance novels, but our Beck was a bridge too far.

2 stars. I think there is certainly an audience for this one, it just wasn't me. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.

This is, very clear from the title, a story of not just fake dating, but fake marriage. There is a good reason for it, as there always is. Beck is a sweet cinnamon roll of a guy, wears bow ties, says things like shucks, loves science fiction. You know, the perfect sort of nerd. He is being harassed, at work by a macho man who doesn't believe he is married at all. (Well, he isn’t, but that's beside the point.)
When his neighbor, Connie, finds out that he is being harassed, she agrees to go to a writing retreat, which she was going to anyway, and pose as his wife, so he can stop being harassed.

Single bed, close quarters, the usual tropes, you know, but I clocked it, and they pine for each other until 75% into the novel. That is the longest I have seen a couple hold out. That is not to say there isn’t a lot of dirty thoughts along the way. It is a long slow burn.

If you like your love making behind closed doors, this is not the book for you. Not that this is super explicit, but it is explicit enough to get the idea, thank you. Through it all, though, Beck is the gentleman that we hope he would be.

Fun story, really. Good dialogue.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 11th of March 2025.