Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.

Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny surface: He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.

When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can't help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds…Connie starts to wonder if this might be real after all.

Loved it. Will recommend to others

Agreeing to a fake marriage with your hot, burley neighbor while on a writing retreat when he told his crummy coworker he was married? Sign me up! Hazel and Beck compliment each other so well! I could really relate to Hazel’s struggle with dating and family issues. Beck is the ideal nerdy bookish boyfriend. While this is a slow burn, the spice is definitely there!

⭐️: 4/5
🌶️: 3/5

Not my favorite book but it was decent. It’s a cute romcom just not my cup of tea. This book would have been better if it was dual POV

This was a cute fake marriage/one bed/close proximity romance. I loved the way Beck treated Hazy, esp since it reminded me of my boyfriend minus the inexperience. The tension between the two was great, but steamy scenes left a little to be desired. Didn’t love the virginity arc, but it didn’t take too much away from the story. Just not my thing. This was still super cute and swoon worthy. I’d recommend to romance loving friends!

I love the premise of the book but it was hard to keep interested. The banter between Hazel and Beck was very tedious and confusing. Maybe i just don't get all British humor.

Charlotte Stein really knew what she was doing when she wrote My Big Fat Fake Marriage! This book is hilarious and heartfelt -truly a great time!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest feedback. I enjoyed this and can relate to the MFC. Somethings got to give!!!!!!! Loved the writing style of this book. It flowed beautifully.

4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book and was sucked in very fast. The tension and dynamic was so good, and the last chapter was very satisfying. I really liked how there was so much opportunity for a ton of miscommunication, but there never really was any. Honestly, a lot of Beck's dialogue felt particularly British to me which was a bit confusing (I am American and Beck is the only American character in this book), I could overlook it enough though, but like when I was reading this, his voice would be the only one in my head with a British accent somehow... I don't know lol. I will for sure read whatever book Charlotte Stein publishes next.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC!

I so wanted to enjoy this. The tropes sounded fun, the cover was fun, but the execution was awkward. The characters felt so one-dimensional and constrained to a very narrow range of emotions and expressions. He is sweet and dorky, she's spiky and unable to communicate. They are essentially cartoon characters and it all felt very strange and awkward.

This may be the horniest book I've ever read.
I mean that in a good way.
Poor not-as-cold-hearted-as-she-thinks-she-is Hazel spends almost the entire book lusting (and, unbeknownst to her, yearning with her whole heart) after her big sweet touchingly sincere neighbor Beck. We know every wacky, irrepressible thought that passes through her mind, because the story is told through her POV, allowing us too so see and fall in love with Beck right along with her.
Hazel THINKS she's all sex drive, no romance, but she's so wrong. That soft heart of hers leaps to Beck's defense, landing them both in the position of pretending that she is the wife he has told everyone he has.
Writing retreat with his coworkers, only one bed, etc. etc.
This book and these characters are deLICious. HIGHly recommend. 6 out of 5 stars!
(Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my Advance Reader Copy. All opinions my own.)

From the outset, I couldn’t quite predict what to expect. The writer’s prose was unconventional, which took some getting used to. However, the characters were truly unique and one-of-a-kind, setting them apart from any other similar story.

I loved the gooey sweet cinnamon roll male character in the book. The banter was good and humor was on point. Spicy and sweet!

I think Charlotte Stein would make an absolutely fantastic comedian & I am so grateful for her humor! If you love Ted Lasso, dry comedy and a bit of dark humor from your FMCs, please do yourself a favor and pick this book up!

I absolutely adored the unique and precious relationship that developed in this book & I so appreciated the way that Charlotte masterfully weaves together insecurities with triumph. I can’t wait to read her next book already!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC :)

Connie has always distrusted nice guys. In her experience, they’re just waiting to reveal some horrible secret. And then she meets big, adorable, Henry Samuel Beckett—editor extraordinaire, lover of bow ties, sweet and so cheery she struggles to believe he’s real.

Until Henry Samuel Beckett—or Beck, as he’s known to most—tells her the secret underneath his sunny surface: He’s been single all his life. But in a moment of panic, he’s told everyone at his publishing house that he’s married. And when Connie, an aspiring writer herself, can’t help defending him, she ends up being the fake wife he doesn’t actually have.

When they head off on a writing retreat, surrounded by people convinced this must be a ruse, both of them can't help but agree. Until they share their first kiss, their first touch, their first time in only one bed. Side by side, every night, as the simmering tension builds.

I really enjoyed this cute little romance. Quirky characters, fun banter, very hot 🌶️ scenes. The fake relationship and forced proximity tropes were done well. They are some of my favorites. 🙂 I highly recommend this if you're looking for a fake relationship romance! 4⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Hazel knows all nice guys are secretly pushing a different agenda. Or are they? Henry Beckett pushes the envelope and changes the definition of nice guys finish last. Charlotte Stein creates the cutest romance, starting as a slow burn until it turns into an all out wildfire blaze.

Book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 2/5 🌶

This book was 80% smut and 20% romance and I enjoyed 100% of it. It was refreshing to have thicc-er main characters than the usual romance novels. Their dorkiness was endearing and written so authentically, and the spice was hot hot hot. If you're looking for nerdy, real people who fall in love in their "fake" marriage, definitely pick this up!

This was cute and sexy read. The two main characters and chemistry from the very beginning and the romance felt sweet as opposed to corny. Dialogue was hilarious, too!

ARC provided by NetGalley and St Martins Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

This book had me giggling and twirling my hair. The author has such a wonderful way of creating and building tension. I could not put this one down!

Connie is the Black Cat Girl who has noticed her neighbor (and best friend Mabel’s editor) from afar, mostly because he’s impossible not to notice. She’s so wrapped up in her conviction that the other shoe will drop any minute now that she doesn’t really see him, though.

Henry Samuel “Beck” Beckett is the Golden Retriever Guy who has noticed his neighbor from afar as well, but is so wrapped up in not making her feel uncomfortable that he goes a bit overboard with…well, everything.

These two have been circling each other for what seems like ages at the novel’s opening. And they could probably keep up their dance until two things happen: Connie finds out about Beck’s (fake) wife, and they’re stuck together at a two-week-long writers’ retreat.

What follows is a frustrating yet endearing series of events that had me up entirely past my bedtime. The payoff is there at the end, although I would have liked to see more from their lives once they returned to the city from the writers’ retreat. At times, Beck’s gosh-golly-gee tribute to Ted Lasso was a bit much, and it would have been good to learn why he is the way he is, which the reader never really gets.

Tropes: Fake dating, only one bed, black cat/golden retriever, praise/comfort kink

Content warnings: Sexual content (significant), bullying (moderate/significant), cursing (minor)

ARC provided by NetGalley and St Martins Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ARC!

I am a long-time fan of Charlotte Stein, and have been excited to watch her transition into this genre.

What is the one word to describe Stein's work? HORNY. I hate to say it, but there is no other better word. Stein has a gift for creating this tension between characters, all you want to do is watch them on the page together in their own little, secret world. Her heroines are deep and real.

That goes far in helping me look over some of the Ted Lasso vibes and plot contrivances... but still found myself struggling with those aspects at times.

But always a pleasure to read her work!