Thank you to the author, Ava Rani, and to the Avon team for access to an Advanced Reader Copy of The Charmer, the last book in Ava's Biotech Billionaire series! Ava writes diverse, high society romances so well and Xander and Penelope's love story is no exception.

Xander is known for being a charming, outgoing billionaire co-founder and Penelope is known for being a respectful, reserved high-powered lawyer. Their personal and professional circles overlap, but their one-on-one time has been quite limited yet rather impactful.

One inheritance stipulation and marriage of convenience later, they are together more than ever and it's sweet to see how they come to act naturally around one another instead of acting as others expect them to. Those who often play the role of the responsible one or the charismatic one will find relatability in our two main characters! It’s very sweet and satisfying to see them become unguarded and unfiltered with each other.

Xander is a man DOWN BAD and I loved the ways this came through in his sweet and spicy dialogue with Penelope <3 It was so fun to see Xander try to wrangle the main couples from Books 1 and 2...and to learn how he played matchmaker to help Henry and Marcus get the girl behind the scenes…

My favorite element of this story was the pair’s sweet simmer from fleeting, chemistry-filled moments to deep appreciation and strong understanding of one another, leading to an excellent foundation for a friendship and a marriage :’)

I highly recommend reading Ava’s entire Biotech Billionaire series in order (starting with The Spare) to fully enjoy this found family friend group. Thank you to Ava for creating beautiful multicultural love stories for us to enjoy!

Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of The Charmer by Ava Rani!

Penelope Chen-Astor is a Manhattan lawyer. It’s been expected that she would marry Maddox, which would fulfill her grandfather’s will demands to get her inheritance. When faced with marrying Maddox, who conveniently steps in to play the part of fiancé but Xander Sutton? Xander agrees to a marriage with Penelope but will the two be able to resist a fake marriage becoming real?

What an incredible conclusion to the Biotech Billionaries series! I love that Ava Rani’s books are so rich in romance but also the depth of story beyond the romance. I was so excited when the book for Xander was announced. I was so excited to read Xander’s story but also was so excited that it would be a marriage of convenience story - one of my FAVORITE tropes! I loved the setup that brings Penelope and Xander together and the pining in their POVs. I melted when these two get together.

It’s also so wonderful to get to see and check in with the rest of the characters - Sloan, Marcus, Henry, and Selena. If you enjoy a marriage of convenience and billionaire romance, this is a book and series to check out!

With no third act breakup, a fake marriage and a man who’s loved her for agessss and she’s a billionaire too?! Yes please, this book has everything I want in it! It was just good true romance, Penelope is a closet freak which I loved and they were such a good team. I’ve loved all the books in the series and this was another great book!

This is my favorite in the series and it was so cute and so steamy. I've been waiting for Xander's book since I started indie reading this series, which did not disappoint. Xander and Penelope were everything to me, my cute babies. In the beginning, they were just friends with a little bit of he fell/liked her first, which led to a marriage of convenience. I love that some of the book takes place in Singapore and Europe and the descriptions of the places were beautiful. The romance was so good and let's just say there's a list of things(including steamy things) Penelope wanted to do that Xander made sure to do with her. Xander was such a great and emotional character and I loved how strong both main characters were.

I loved the billionaire and business aspect of the book along with seeing all the characters from the other books. The plot kinda reminded me of the show Suits and the drama that came with taking down businesses and law. I loved seeing all the main characters from the rest of the series being in love and crazy about each other while still being strong bosses. Lastly, I loved how I could see that the author's writing has kept improving since her debut and I just really enjoyed the writing and the flow of the book. Thanks to Avon for this arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Diverse romance
- Billionaire mc's
- Tight-knit friend group
- Business and law drama
- Steamy list

The Biotech Billionaires series has been an unforgettable journey, and I’m heartbroken to see it come to an end. Ava Rani has once again delivered a masterpiece with The Charmer, showcasing her incredible ability to craft complex characters, heartfelt relationships, and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

Xander and Penelope are absolute perfection together. Their relationship feels so real and layered—Xander’s transformation when he’s with Penelope is particularly moving. Gone is the goofy, carefree persona; instead, we see a man who truly understands and cherishes Penelope. He steps up in ways no one else in her life ever has, and it’s so satisfying to watch him become her rock after everything she’s endured with her cruel and unsupportive family.

The friendships in this series, especially the bond between Sloan and Xander, are another highlight for me. They bring so much warmth and authenticity, adding depth to an already rich narrative. The found family dynamic among all the characters is one of my favorite aspects of the series—it’s a beautiful reminder of how the people we choose can become our true family.

This book gave me serious Crazy Rich Asians vibes, and I was all in for the glitz, glamour, and drama. Ava Rani has mastered the marriage of convenience trope here, blending it seamlessly with the black cat/golden retriever dynamic that’s both heartwarming and fun.

It’s rare to find a series that stands out the way this one does. The Biotech Billionaires books have been my favorite reads, and The Charmer is the perfect finale to this phenomenal journey. Mark your calendars for May 13th—this book is not to be missed! Ava Rani has cemented herself as a must-read author, and I can’t wait to see what she has in store next.

The Charmer is the kind of romance that sneaks up on you in the best way. Penelope is tough as nails and smart, but you also get to see her softer side, especially with Xander, who starts out as just her marriage of convenience but quickly becomes so much more.Their chemistry is fire from the start, and the way they navigate family drama and their growing feelings for each other was just chef’s kiss. It’s not just the sizzling romance; there’s depth, emotional pull, and the tension is off the charts. From start to finish, this romance had me hooked, and I couldn’t get enough of Penelope and Xander.

I received this book from Netgalley and here are my honest thoughts. How I wish I had known about this series earlier. This is a billionaire romance written by a BIPOC author with diverse characters and locations. Penelope who is half Singaporean and apparently British royalty has a marriage of convenience with Xander. (Frankly, the best way to shorten Alexander). Xander is a billionaire and a friend who has been crushing on Penelope for quite a while and he finally gets a chance to be a presence in her life. I loved the fact that Xander seems to be a truly nice guy who wants to care for others. Penelope is a true elder child who is bearing the weight of her family’s expectations and is trying to find freedom. We travel from Manhattan to Singapore and many other lovely places in this global book. There are plenty of billionaire shenanigans we all love like expensive purchases, private jets, corporate espionage, and a black card. I could eat it up with a spoon. The story has an interesting plot and a lovely slow burn. 🥵There is a “found family” trope which is my favorite and two epilogues!! No notes. A fun and satisfying read.

This was a strong third entry in the Biotech Billionaires series, it had that element that I was hoping for and was engaged with the story being told. I enjoyed how good the characters were and was everything that I wanted from the description. Ava Rani wrote this well and had that element that I enjoyed from the previous two books.

Super fun love story
Penelope Chen-Astor refused to marry. But when her incredibly wealthy grandfather inserts a codicil into his will before his death, she realizes she has no choice if she wants to live a life of freedom for herself and her mother. Thinking quickly on her feet, Penelope is able to convince her guy friend Xander to enter into marriage - only as a matter of business of course.

As the two face multiple obstacles that only billionaire families could face, their attraction to each other grows. There's a reason however that they call Xander The Charmer... #avonandharper #voyagerbooks #avon #thecharmer #avarani