3.75/5 rounded up

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy!

Another sweet and spicy story from Charlotte Stein! I really enjoyed WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE and was excited for some cameos from Mabel and Alfie in this book.

Beck was the BEST -- sweet cinnamon roll angel and I loved him so much. He started out sweet and turned into spicy which is the most fun thing to witness in my opinion. Our FMC -- who I will call Hazel, because the Connie/Hazel thing felt odd and unnecessary to me -- was great, as well. We hear this entire story through her stream-of-consciousness perspective, which I can find annoying but loved in this case. It's so believable and well-written, you truly feel like you're right there with her. It could be frustrating to hear her not believe in herself and their feelings for each other, but I know that's just part of the book and, ultimately, made her more loveable.

This book was definitely fun to listen to. I enjoyed the story thoroughly and the spice was super sexy and well done. I don't totally buy-in to their romantic feelings for each other, rather feel that this was wrapped up in lust and sex more than anything else. I guess you just need to go into this book knowing that you're getting something fun and raunchy and not anything super deep -- and that's totally okay if that's what you want! I would absolutely read more by Charlotte Stein and hope for more books like this in the future! The writing retreat setting was great and that basketball scene -- IYKYK. I love a fun story and this was definitely that!

Here’s what you need to know about My Big Fat Fake Marriage; it’s all about the vibes, and in this case, they’re immaculate. If you’re looking for heavy plot and lots of supportive characters, or vivid imagery, none of that is important and I don’t mean that as a negative. Instead Stein writes from a first person single POV that almost reads a a stream of consciousness and is deeply into the mood, feelings, dialogue, and actions of the moment. This book was excellent on audio for this reason, because the reader is either inside of Hazel’s head or observing her interactions. So back to the vibes; Hazel has never had a quality relationship with anyone and approaches feelings with caution. Sex is transactional and at this point in her life she’s kinda down on men and distrustful of one who seems especially nice. Beck on the other hand is the biggest cinnamon roll hero I could ever imagine—he’s American, huge in size, mustachioed, virginal, and bright-eyed, and just happened to invent a fake wife to his publisher. Agreeing to be his fake-wife for a retreat, Hazel begins to see Beck for all his wonderful qualities and begins to believe that just maybe not all guys are unlikeable.
The dynamic between Hazel and Beck is so good. It’s unfathomable for her to think that “what you see is what you get” with Beck, but that’s what softens her up. He truly is authentic. Seeing Beck explore everything (even if it seems pretend—spoiler, it’s not) with Hazel is so refreshing, and Hazel derives pleasure from seeing Beck’s reactions to her. Hazel eventually feels comfortable enough to let some major walls down and it’s a beautiful thing when it happens.
The other thing that makes this a Charlotte Stein™️ book is that the sex is Hot, with a capital H. Let me crown her the new Queen of Dirty Talk, because for MULTIPLE chapters, her characters engage in frisky only-one-bed-we—are-pretend-married-mutual-masturbation-horniness. Beck is trainable (wink), and loves knowing he makes Hazel feel good whether that’s emotionally or physically. Penetrative intercourse doesn’t even happen until 86%, but Stein will have you so worked up for the six chapters before that it’s just icing on the cake. These are MCs who TALK. How else would you understand your fake-partner, when you haven’t been around them enough to notice their likes and dislikes? And the dialogue heavy aspect of this book makes is revelatory to see how expressing yourself can be tantamount to showing love. I think this is a great place to start if you haven’t read Stein before. She took one of my admittedly least favorite types of MMCs (the nice guy) and made me adore him. This book is also for the jaded girlies who maybe don’t think there’s anything better out there for them. There is. I received an early copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭🪭
Vibes: ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
Level of horniness: 📯📯📯📯📯
Narration: 🇬🇧🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇸

Wow! Probably one of my favorite reads so far this year!! Honestly I love Charlottes Stein and should not be surprised because I LOVE when Grumpy Met Sunshine but this was the book hug that I needed.

This book was fantastic and the moment I got approved it was an instant download and drop everything that I am doing kind of book. My one small criticism is that the constant self shame that both Connie and Henry put themselves through got a little hard to read especially because how clear their attraction was but it just made me keep reading more and more so clearly it did what it needed to do. Haha that being said I loved this story and the clear draw that they had to one another. There was a great mix of wit and humor tied with the romance and emotional elements of this book. I loved Connie's instant overprotection of Henry and how caring and considerate they both were for each other. and the spice ... needless to say it hit (much like all of Charlotte's books). I will definitely be reading more from this author because I love how she tells stories.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fierce plus size main character with a man who knows what he wants but is a little timid. Thank you NetGallley for the opportunity to read this book.

My Big Fat Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a hilarious, heartfelt romance with witty banter and lovable, flawed characters. The emotional depth adds charm, though some parts felt a bit chaotic. Still, it’s a fun, swoon-worthy read that I’d definitely recommend to romance lovers! ❤️

I really enjoyed this story. It was sweet, entertaining and heartwarming. The characters were playful and fun, and I enjoyed the banter between them. With their insecurities, they were relatable which was a refreshing change from so many characters I have encountered.

Romance is one of the genres I do not tend to be drawn to, but I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone this year and "dip my toes into the water" so to speak. While the graphic scenes were a bit much for me and took away from the story line (again, this is simply personal preference), I have two things to say....First, I cannot say anything negative about it because I mean....this is a romance book.... these scenes are par for the course, and should I be a romance reader, I would have likely eaten them up!!! Second, the scenes in question were very well written. They painted a descriptive picture and were believable. The author did a great job of capturing the intensity and passion of the moments.

Overall, the book was enjoyable and had me smiling throughout. I found myself loving and rooting for Connie and Beck. It was an easy and fast read (or in my case with the audio book, listen) and I am glad to have had the opportunity to try something different. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life and as a side note, I love the cover. That was what drew me in to check the book out. It is bright, airy and fun which is exactly what this book was for me.

A big thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ARC copy of the audio version of this book.

My big fat, fake marriage had me laughing and kicking my feet throughout the whole story. This story follows a girl whose falsely confident and her cinnamon roll counterpart. It is just genuinely himself. The British heroin and the American cinnamon roll. Find themselves in a bit of a sticky situation, these neighbors turned, fake spouses, must find a way to get out of their own heads and into each other‘s hearts.
I got to listen to the audiobook of this one, and the narrator knocked it out of the park. She kept you engaged throughout the story.

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC via NetGalley and for giving me the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on the book.

This is my first Charlotte Stein book and I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and how she uses the inter thoughts and observations of the female main character to set the scene versus just telling us flat out what the surroundings look like.

FMC’s inner thoughts/paranoia regarding other peoples intentions is so over the top but 100% relatable. It’s written in a way that you want to laugh/roll your eyes when you’re reading it but then you stop realizing ‘oh crap - this is so me’.

The male main character in this is the epitome of a cinnamon roll. I really like that the author shares his life setbacks. Instead of his current actions explaining that he’s a cinnamon roll we see it in the characters history, which is very refreshing.

I’d also like to take a moment to note that while this is a rom com that will have you giggling and kicking your feet it also beautifully shows the evolution of friends to lovers and true character growth for both main characters.

I rated this book 4 ⭐️ and 3🌶️’s. I was lucky enough to receive the audiobook for this rom com. I really enjoyed the narrator’s cadence and accent for the female main character but I struggled with her male main character voice. The rhythm was just slightly slower when she changed accents and it felt choppy/slow at times instead of the savvy intellectual and book editor the male main character should sound like. There were also a few words that were spoken from the male main characters American accent that did not sound like any kind of American accent that I know of. While that only happened a few times It was enough to pull me from the story in that moment. Due to this I rated narrators reading of this seriously adorable audiobook is 3.5⭐️.

**Book Review: *My Big Fat Fake Marriage* by Charlotte Stein, Narrated by Imogen Wilde**

Rating: 4⭐️ (Story) | 5⭐️ (Narration)

*My Big Fat Fake Marriage* by Charlotte Stein is a heartwarming, feel-good romantic comedy that brings together two unlikely characters in a fake marriage agreement. The story follows Henry Samuel Beckett, a charming but quirky editor, and his next-door neighbor Charlotte. When Beck's work bully causes him trouble, Charlotte agrees to pretend to be his wife at a book retreat to help him out. The agreement sparks delightful moments of humor, chemistry, and, of course, romance.

The hero, Beck, is a true "cinnamon roll" type — sweet, kind, and just a little vulnerable. The heroine, Charlotte, is equally likable with her quirky personality that adds a charming dynamic to their interactions. Their chemistry is palpable, making for a truly enjoyable reading experience.

Imogen Wilde’s narration is a standout, effortlessly bringing each character to life with distinct voices, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the book. Her narration is engaging, capturing the humor and emotional depth of the characters with ease. The pacing and tone are spot-on, making it a delightful listen.

The story is cute and definitely geared toward hopeless romantics, with a happy ending that ties everything together nicely. It’s not the most complex plot, but it’s fun and heartwarming — perfect for readers looking for a lighthearted, feel-good escape.

In conclusion, while the story itself is sweet and enjoyable, it’s the stellar narration that elevates this book. If you’re a fan of cozy, romantic comedies with charming characters and a happy ending, *My Big Fat Fake Marriage* is sure to be a hit.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

***Five HOLY FREAKING HOT Stars***

This book started by grating my nerves. The amount of talk about "nice guys" as if every man on the planet this chick ever met was a "nice guy". Seriously yes, they're out there but OMG okay already. I stuck with it though, and I'm really happy that I did because the spice was SPICING! Holy crap, I didn't think this was something I'd like but it was so. freaking. good. AND THAT ENDING!!! OMG all the swoon.

So even though I was a bit annoyed at the start, this one gets 5 stars anyway. I'd happily read it again and again.

Imogen Wilde was perfect for this narration.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan audio, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this story. I LOVED IT!

I was expecting more of a fleshed out story from this book, but the characters and story lacked depth. I also found the way Beck talks to be unrealistic and, especially when listening to the audiobook, obnoxious.

This book hit all of the sweet and spicy spots just right.

When Connie stumbles across her next door neighbor, Beck's, secret that he has told his entire job that he has a fake wife, she takes it in her hands to help him fight his work bully. This leads to them spending two weeks together at a writers retreat having to act like husband and wife, when one of them has not even made out with another person, ever.

If you love a good cinnamon roll and a let me teach you trope, this book is for you. I cannot get enough of these two and want more more more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I did not like many of the characters and the narration dragged for me. I think that there will be an audience this book does super well with, I just am not in that audience.

This was not it for me. 2⭐️

The book is written in first person perspective of Connie, the curvy neurotic FMC. Connie is just her stage name - the reason for the need of a fake name remain, and shall always be, a mystery to me. She said it made her “sound cooler”. I guess there were already too many cool girls around her named Gertrude, so she went with the second hottest name she could think of.

Connie has been with some garbage men and trusts none of them. In this way, Connie is a GD genius. Then Connie meets her neighbor, a caricature of a nerdy American man who says “oh fudge”, probably also “jeepers”, “zoinks”, “oh gawrsh!” Beck is a 6ft-something cinnamon roll virgin in his 30’s who has never even been kissed, and is pretending to be married. Enter Connie/Hazel who steps in as his fake wife, and to show him the ropes of relationships.

At this point, the book turns into American Pie: Middle Aged Edition.

Pros: It’s sweet, funny, spicy, has a lot of tropes that people tend to like (one bed, fake marriage, inexperienced MMC x teacher FMC, forced proximity), curvy FMC rep. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was pretty good.

Cons: whiny FMC, constant (bad) miscommunication trope, the characters were not consistent at all with how they were first described. Mostly my qualm was that there were so many threads that were introduced and then completely unexplored so the characters felt shallow and boring. It could have been so good if the author had given us more on their whys. Personally, I didn’t enjoy the writing. Other than the spicy scenes, which were pretty good, the rest was boring and a little juvenile.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC of the audiobook.

This book feels like the author was asked to write a movie based on “How to Date for Dummies” but then turned it into a book - in the best way! I did feel that the beginning was a little jarring - it almost felt like I started the book on chapter 10 and it was difficult to connect to the characters. The MMC is definitely not my type of book boyfriend but loved how it all came together at the end. As the story continued I started to gain more appreciation for the plight of the characters. I think readers can relate to many of the characters in this book or know someone like them.

This was hallmark meets 00s romcom and I loved every second of it!

Beck, our MMC, is absolutely delightful and a huge cinnamon roll/golden retriever fake husband. He's a big-shot editor, a nerd, and the sweetest mid-30s man I've ever read about! His innocence is kind of unrealistic, but that's literally why I loved it LOL

Connie, our FMC, is sassy and untrusting (as she should be!) and really makes Beck open up during their fake marriage. She is the strong one in their relationship and really keeps Beck on his toes.

If you're looking for a cozy, hallmark, romcom style read, this is definitely for you!

Tropes:
-fake marriage
-one bed
-forced (ish?) proximity
-slow burn
-friends to lovers

An adorably hilarious unhinged fake marriage, I loved it. This is the book you read when you want to have a good time and escape from reality. Individually the characters are special and together they make a great team to fool a Beck’s coworker on a marriage that doesn’t exist.

3.5⭐️
We need to start by viewing this book as what it is… wonderfully hilarious, fluffy romance! 💖 And sometimes you just need that.

Henry Samuel Beckett aka “Beck” is the epitome of a jolly green giant. This adorable golden retriever of a man sports a mustache while rocking, bowties, and baking for his cute neighbor. 👨🏻The man is in touch with his emotions, all about consent, and in his own quirky way, supports Hazel to be the best version of herself.
Connie (actually Hazel) has always been suspicious of “nice guys” after being burned by every man she’s been with, and can’t imagine that Beck is as genuine as he seems.

🙅🏼‍♀️ Take logic out of the equation and we get a wacky and spicy time on a writers retreat! Tbh, the pacing goes back and forth… from slow burn and pining, to full blown spice! 🔥And the man curses like a 4 year old, so I wasn’t expecting much, but surprisingly hotter than anticipated. The banter and vibes pulled through, and again, taking logic out of the equation, I can rock with the ending. 👏🏼

TROPES:
❤️Fake Dating
❤️Virgin MMC
❤️Plus Size FMC
❤️Romantic Comedy
❤️One Bed


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to receive an ARC of this book and give a review! 💕

My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein is a charming and playful rom-com that blends humor, heart, and a touch of fake-relationship magic. The story follows Connie, a woman who has always been wary of nice guys, convinced that behind their sweetness lurks something sinister. Enter Henry “Beck” Samuel Beckett—adorable, cheerful, and everything Connie doesn't trust. But when Beck confesses that he’s been lying about being married to avoid career fallout, Connie, in a moment of defense, becomes his "fake wife."

The setup is fun, but it’s the chemistry between Connie and Beck that truly shines. As they embark on a writing retreat, surrounded by a group of people who believe in their fictional marriage, the tension between them grows, leading to moments of vulnerability and undeniable attraction. Their first kiss, first touch, and nights spent together in a single bed spark a journey of discovery that’s both hilarious and heartwarming.

Stein expertly balances humor with genuine emotion, making Connie’s journey from skepticism to potentially finding love feel authentic and endearing. My Big Fat Fake Marriage is the perfect read for anyone craving a lighthearted romance with quirky characters, sizzling chemistry, and a sweet, satisfying ending.

Hilariously funny. Sweet and tender and incredibly sexy, this story kept me up at night as I made the mistake of listening as I went to bed. Didn’t realize until partway through that this story exists in the same world as Whrn Grumpy Met Sunshine so it was fun to see Mabel and Allie make an appearance. Loved how earnest Beck is and how sweet and deep he is. Rolled my eyes a bit at how long it took Hazel to get with the program. Confused about why they are staying with Doug at the retreat - where is everyone else staying? Would definitely read more by this author.

What a delightful surprise this story was! I wasn’t a huge fan of Beck at first, but he really won me over by the end. Despite there being a little too much miscommunication and self-pitying for my taste, the spice in this book was so weirdly wholesome that I ended up enjoying the story more than expected.

Will definitely be reading more of Charlotte Stein’s work. Would recommend this story to anyone who loves a good cinnamon roll hero, bookish vibes, or wonderfully unselfish MMC. :)

About the narration — perfectly done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this ALC and provide an honest review.