This was a light read. They really didn't think one liked the other when they actually did, so being in a fake marriage worked out for them in the end.

I had a hard time getting through this book. While the fake dating/fake marriage trope is overdone I was hoping for a fresh story. The plot itself did feel fresh but the two main characters were not the greatest. I didn't feel anything for either of them, or between them. There was a lot of potential here but the book fell flat.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

Sometimes you read a book and it just sort of hits you somewhere you didn't know existed, and that's what this book was for me. I read it, then immediately read it again. And again. Something about this story just gets me in all the right places, and even makes me want to write again. I loved it even more than When Grumpy Met Sunshine, and it's easily my favorite work from Stein thus far.

For sensitive readers, there are references to emotionally abusive parents, sexual assault, bullying, and trauma, and depictions of misogyny and graphic sexuality.

In My Big Fat Fake Marriage, Connie agrees to be her neighbor Beck's fake wife because he told his coworkers that he was married after being taunted by a bully at work. Connie and Beck then have to pretend to be married during a two week writers retreat. To make things worse, they are sharing a cabin with the bully and his wife so they really want to make their fake relationship as believable as possible.

I really wanted to love My Big Fat Fake Marriage especially since I enjoyed the previous book in this series so much. It has so many of of my favorite tropes in it: Fake relationship, only one bed and inexperienced male MC are just a few of them. The cinnamon roll hero Beck is too cute and Connie's arc is great as she learns her own worth. The sex scenes are hot too! But even with all this goodness, I still didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. I didn't really buy the relationship between Connie and Beck since it happened so quickly it was pretty close to instalove. It seemed like Connie and Beck fell in love because neither of them had ever been with anyone who treated them well rather than that they are really good together.

I'll definitely read more in this series but this one was not as good as I was hoping, probably because I enjoyed When Grumpy Met Sunshine so much.

I'm so sorry but I had to DNF this. I loved the concept but the main character got very jarring very quickly. As a woman attempting to date, I definitely understand being wary of men but this felt like it was taking it to concerning levels of paranoia that got pretty hard to read very quickly. Thank you for the early copy and I'm sorry this wasn't a good fit for me!

I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the two MC’s until the last 25% of the book, I really wanted to love this but even though it wasn’t for me I think many will love this book. I recommend checking it out if you like cinnamon roll boyfriends and the fake marriage trope.

I have NEVER loved a MMC so much in my whole entire 31 years of life. Beck Is the MOST cinnamon roll, golden retriever, precious human ever and I was IMMEDIATELY obsessed! I have REALLY liked Charlotte's writing in the last two books, however this one had me FERAL. The banter and humor is OUTSTANDING.. I read it in less than 24 hours while giggling and kicking my feet on an airplane, very much in public. I'm positive some people thought something was wrong with me, but I have no regrets! I also super love Hazel and can very much relate to her initial struggle with trusting that a guy is actually nice. Also, the way Beck and Hazel so perfectly compliment each other's personalities, make each other better, and help, protect, and encourage each other from the beginning is BEAUTIFUL! I think this book is absolutely a contender for my favorite of the year. My one and only issue is that Beck does not exist in real life. Ha.

If you want to have a hearts-in-your-eyes moment from mere words on a page, this is the book for you. Charlotte Stein sure knows how to make a reader work for it, but once she gets you to that moment she hits it out of the park. The spice was something a girl can only dream about (you will get that little Easter egg when you read the book.) I wasn't sure if I would like the FMC or the MMC, but I think that was what made their character arc work. The FMC came off as a man hater and the MMC came across as a hopeless 40-year old virgin type. Once the FMC and MMC get together it is straight up the most chaste while being filthy masterpiece. Their e-mails made me laugh and swoon. I could have read an entire book of just their letters to each other . Spice 3/5

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

Thank you for the ARC.

Charlotte Stein writes beautifully complex characters however this one seemed not at all fleshed out. I didn’t feel that we touched on the background of Hazel beyond her own inner musings, let alone in a way that would be productive to their relationship. Beck being described as a “cinnamon roll” is really more just a straight cup of sugar - too sweet. This may seem cynical and it’s hard to put into words but this man says things like “good golly” and “oh fudge” and other words said by a pretend nice family in a horror movie where they are the killers (look you either get it or you don’t). The latter half of the book was pretty steamy and written very well in my opinion - even with Beck’s character arc of acting like a “real boy”.

The writing can be very confusing at times so I look forward to reading the final published version to see if Stein’s long descriptions and the inner musings of Hazel are cleaned up. I found myself skipping paragraphs at times because I would read and reread them and still not understand the point of the paragraph.

This could be controversial but Hazel’s whole thing about every guy being a bad guy is just so overdone and exhausted at this point. Every man she has encountered or been with in any capacity has always been bad or lazy or whatever? I’m not a fan of victim mentality and this read like that (perhaps unintentionally but what it the point of reviewing an arc if not to address these before publishing?). Further, the entire book was just “no he can’t like me because my mommy said I’m gross/boring/too much” - like that’s it.

I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to include in an ARC review but there is one quote in particular I’m thinking of and can’t wait for publishing to update this review because it sums up the entire story.

Overall, I found the characters to be fun to read from (annoying at times with the immature back and forth - he loves me , he doesn’t , he loves me…) but the romance and setting were cute. I felt that they were friends more than lovers until the point they got physical. Even during love declarations, it felt very much like:

Hazel: “you’re not mean to me”
Beck: “you’re not mean to me”
Hazel & Beck: “let’s get married”


Like that’s the point the “romance” got to. This book was enjoyable but not something, at this state, I’ll be reaching for again

My Big Fat Fake Marriage-
Love the cover showcasing Beck and Connie/Hazel
Connie/Hazel and Beck are two wonderful main characters.
Connie or later known as Hazel is slowly finding herself through this book with the help from her friend Mabel and her very friendly next door neighbor Beck.
Beck -whose fault is that he is way too friendly got himself into a pickle at work that he desperately is trying to keep up with.
Beck and Hazel to help each other in more ways than one and throughout a writing retreat t’s laughable, enjoyable and enough spice.
There were sections of the book that I went back to re-read because I didn’t quite grasp it the first time and thought I missed something that connected a thought together. Other sections I went back to re -read because they were perfection.

I loved When Grumpy Met Sunshine but my GOD was this book adorable. EPIC levels of adorableness. Just fantastic.

Connie (or Hazel) + Beck 🫶🏻

This story was sooooo cute. I was smiling the entire time I was reading this book. Even when Hazel didn’t know Beck, she had this overwhelming sense to protect him because he is the most sincere and genuine man ever. Beck is literally a walking green flag. He can’t even lie without THROWING UP!!!! Beck helps Hazel find the confidence to truly be herself and to pursue her passion in writing.

If you’re looking for a sweet, fake marriage story with a one bed trope, this one is for you!

A really cute lighthearted read, I enjoy the innocent marshmallow mmc being corrupted by the experienced fmc trope, so this was exactly what I was looking for. I didn’t know this was the second book in a series, but I didn’t have trouble understanding the characters and it actually works as a standalone. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a cute fake-marriage, forced proximity romance!

Cute and funny. A nice, easy, lighthearted read. The romance between the two main characters is sweet and spicy but I do wish there had been more balance between the plot and the romance.

Beck has told everyone at his publishing house he is married, but he isn't. connie agrees to be his fake wife at a writing retreat for his company. cute story.

This is my first book I’ve read from Charlotte Stein and it did not dissapoint!!

My Big Fat Fake Wedding is a sweet and funny story that’s full of heart, humor, and lovable characters. Hazel is easy to relate to, and her relationship with Beck is so beautiful. The way she supports him in being his true self is heartwarming, and Beck, in return, helps her believe in the goodness of people and slowly earns her trust. Their journey together is fun and emotional, making you root for them the whole way.

That said, Hazel’s belief that all men are “bad guys” felt a little too much. Every guy she’s been with seems to be demanding or a letdown, it felt a bit tiring after a while. But Beck slowly breaking down her walls makes it all worthwhile.

There were some miscommunication moments that made me want to yell, “Just talk already!” but when they finally do everything comes together perfectly in the end!!

The fake relationship trope is always one of my favorites, and this book did it so well. Hazel and Beck’s chemistry is so fun, and their flirty banter had me smiling throughout. With real emotions mixed in, it’s the perfect feel-good story that will leave you grinning from ear to ear.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martins for allowing me to read and enjoy this book ahead of time!!

This book was super cute. The romance was adorable. The steamy scenes were steamy. But good lord, the miscommunication! I was like that meme: "JUST KISS ALREADY!" Beck was a swoon worthy Good Guy (My only caveat was that Beck was maybe too dorky in his exclamations.) but a total babe, for sure.

This was the wildest zigzag of a ride to be on while I read this book. The first few chapters had me really entertained - what is going on with this two characters in this apartment building?! I'm sure many readers, like me, would be expecting the book to evolve into an apartment complex miscommunication romance. Instead, in becomes a workplace forced proximity trope that morphs into some pretty low grade erotica in places.

Don't get me wrong, the book get a lot more interesting once Beck and Hazel started to communicate a little bit more in the bedroom, but it was just such a shift in narrative that I literally did a jump start. I had hoped that I would like this second novel from Stein a bit more than the first, but unfortunately, that isn't the case.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

While this premise had a lot of potential, I struggled to connect with both main characters. They felt like caricatures of their tropes rather than actual people that the reader is supposed to connect with. Beck was super sweet, but lacked depth past that trait. Connie had no distinguishing character traits at all. While this was certainly not the worst book ever, it also didn't stand out much to me. The romance was there, and it was fun, but thats about it.

*My Big Fat Fake Wedding* is a delightful romantic comedy that explores the intricacies of love, trust, and the unexpected paths that lead to genuine connection. The story follows Connie, a witty and guarded aspiring writer, who has always been skeptical of “nice guys.” Enter Henry Samuel Beckett, affectionately known as Beck—a charming, bow tie-wearing editor whose sunny disposition seems too good to be true.

The premise is both humorous and engaging: Beck has inadvertently told everyone at work that he’s married, prompting Connie to step in as his fake wife when she defends him in a moment of panic. This setup not only sets the stage for comedic misunderstandings but also allows for rich character development as both Connie and Beck navigate their evolving relationship.

The chemistry between Connie and Beck is palpable and expertly crafted. As they embark on a writing retreat, the tension between them builds beautifully, filled with witty banter and genuine moments of vulnerability. The author's ability to weave humor into romantic tension keeps readers thoroughly entertained and invested in the outcome of their relationship.

Connie's character arc is particularly compelling. Her journey from distrust to vulnerability mirrors the broader themes of the novel, as she learns to open her heart to the possibility of real love, despite her initial hesitations. Beck, with his endearing awkwardness and earnestness, challenges Connie's preconceived notions about nice guys and helps her see that authenticity can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

The writing is sharp and engaging, making it easy to visualize the charming setting and the quirky cast of supporting characters who add depth to the story. Each interaction is infused with warmth and humor, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that makes for an enjoyable read.

As the narrative unfolds, readers are treated to a blend of romantic tension and comedic mishaps, leading to moments that are both heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny. The progression of Connie and Beck's relationship—from fake partners to something deeper—is handled with care, ensuring that the romance feels genuine and earned.

In conclusion, *My Big Fat Fake Wedding* is a heartwarming and witty tale that will resonate with anyone who has ever doubted love or struggled with trust. With its delightful characters, clever humor, and an engaging plot, this novel is perfect for fans of romantic comedies. Prepare for a charming adventure that celebrates the unexpected ways love can bloom when you least expect it!