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BOOKWORM REVIEW: A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone

 

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥

This is not your typical love story.

Bianca Von Honey has been given a new assignment. She is to star in a feel-good historical holiday romance that involves time traveling on the Hope Channel. Definitely a change of pace for the curvy beauty who normally works in the adult film industry. The only drawback to this change is that she must keep her current job and identity a secret, thus creating Bee Hobbes, up-and-coming Hollywood starlet.

What she did not bank on is being paired with Nolan Shaw, the former member of boy band INK and Bee's childhood idol. 

Nolan has his own set of secrets. He is struggling to make a comeback to provide for his mom and sister, and he is on thin ice with his manager because of his bad boy image. This movie is his last chance, so he is vowed to celibacy. Unfortunately for him, the woman of his closed-door fantasies is now his leading lady. Can he keep his vow, and can Bee keep her secret?

This is definitely not your regular celebrity secret romance. I absolutely enjoyed the body positivity and the unconventional road to a happily ever after. Bee is definitely a boss. I love her confidence and self-awareness. I adore that Nolan embraces that completely and wholeheartedly. Their chemistry was on par; it felt natural for two people who have adored each other from afar prior to their actual meeting.

There were a few things that took me away from the full experience. For two sex-positive people, this was not quite as spicy as I expected. Their scenes seemed more aligned with the Hope Channel, which is unfortunate. I also found that it was hard to follow Nolan's drama because there was a lot going on and I felt like it required some mental gymnastics to get everything sorted out.

** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, Avon and Harper, and Netgalley for providing an ARC. **

ABOUT THE BOOK

Cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—a steamy plus-size holiday rom-com about an adult film star who is semi-accidentally cast as a lead in a family-friendly Christmas movie, and the former bad-boy pop star she falls in love with.

Bee Hobbes (aka Bianca Von Honey) has a successful career as a plus-size adult film star. With a huge following and two supportive moms, Bee couldn’t ask for more. But when Bee’s favorite producer casts her to star in a Christmas movie he’s making for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take a more family-friendly direction.

Forced to keep her work as Bianca under wraps, Bee quickly learns this is a task a lot easier said than done. Though it all becomes worthwhile when she discovers her co-star is none other than childhood crush Nolan Shaw, an ex-boy band member in desperate need of career rehab. Nolan’s promised his bulldog manager to keep it zipped up on set, and he will if it means he’ll be able to provide a more stable living situation for his sister and mom.

But things heat up quickly in Christmas Notch, Vermont, when Nolan recognizes his new co-star from her ClosedDoors account (oh yeah, he’s a member). Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off for quickies on set, keeping their new relationship a secret from the Hope Channel’s execs. Things only get trickier when the reporter who torpedoed Nolan’s singing career comes snooping around—and takes an instant interest in mysterious newcomer Bee.

And if Bee and Nolan can’t keep their off-camera romance behind the scenes, then this merry little meet cute might end up on the cutting room floor.


MEET JULIE MURPHY

Julie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time.

When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.

She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.

Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.

MEET SIERRA SIMONE

Sierra Simone is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling former librarian (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk). Her notable works include Priest, American Queen, and Misadventures of a Curvy Girl, and her books have been featured in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, and Buzzfeed. She lives with her husband and family in Kansas City.

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