The Charm Offensive

I'm going to attempt (and expect to fail spectacularly) not to gush about this book. I went into it expecting a cute LGBTQIA+ romance and got a witty, heartwarming story that had a lot more depth than I anticipated. 

I simply loved it!

The story is set around a Bachelor-type reality TV program. I am not a Bachelor/Bachelorette fan, so I only knew the basics about these relationship reality TV shows, but it was enough to get the gist of the setting and backstage drama for this queer romance. 

This is the debut from Alison Cochrun, and it is a sweet romance that has a perfect balance between emotion, character development and depth. But it was its ahhhmazing focus on mental health and gender identity that impressed me the most.

Cochrun also adds an impressive diversity to her cast with wonderful LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent representation. The two main characters are easy to connect with and are supported by a gaggle of secondary characters who hold their own. I particularly liked Charlie's BFF Parisa whose talent for slinging sassy one-liners and her fab banter added great tidbits of humour.

This absolutely charming, witty, wow-I-can't-believe-this-is-a-debut read and gets a high five, a chef's kiss and a rose from me. Look for it in stores September 7th from Atria Books (or preorder it now!)

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books for my advanced copy provided in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 5 stars

Author: Alison Cochrun

Genre: LGBTQ, Romance

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Atria Books

First Published: September 7, 2021

Opening Lines: Dev Deshpande knows the exact moment 

he started believing in happily ever after.

Book Description from GoodReads: Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.

Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.

As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.