The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun: My Book Review

If you’re looking for an utterly delightful and charming romance, then look no further than The Charm Offensive.

This debut novel from Alison Cochrun is one of the best I’ve read in 2021 and should make everyone’s must read list. Check out my book review below to find out why!

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales, which is why he loves working on the reality dating show Ever After. But this season may be his toughest yet, when disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw is cast as its star.

Charlie 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.

The Charm Offensive was just that – so completely charming and definitely one of the best books I’ve read in 2021!

It’s definitely deserving of its nomination as one of the best romance books of the year according to the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards.

A book that weaves a sweet, slow burn romance with beautiful writing and exquisite character development with a much needed look at mental health.

For a debut novel, Cochrun came out swinging with a romance book that is pure excellence and enjoyment.

I found it impossible not to love Charlie and Dev – two wonderfully diverse characters who felt so real in their fake world of reality TV.

Fans of The Bachelor will adore the premise of this one. Charlie is the latest “prince” on the reality dating show, Ever After.

He’s desperate to right this reputation which was destroyed after a panic attack, leaving him blackballed in the tech industry.

But for a man with OCD, anxiety and panic disorder who doesn’t like to be touched, Ever After proves to be his worst nightmare form the word go.

Luckily Dev, a producer on the show, knows a thing or two about scripting others and finding their happily ever after, even if his own love life has crashed and burned.

As Dev steps in to “handle” Charlie, he comes to see the real person under the crown.

There is so much to love about this book I don’t know where to start:

• the beautiful way Cochrun addresses mental health and the importance of self care,
• the amazing relationship development of Dev and Charlie behind the scenes, where two struggling men are finally and truly seen for who they are and finally believe themselves deserving and worth of love.

Even if you aren’t a fan of MM romance, I highly recommend reading this as it is what all romance books should be – an absolute delight!

More Books by Cochrun:

• Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun

Related Lists:

• Must Read MM Romance Books
• Best Romcom Books That Will Make You Laugh Out Loud
• Best Enemies to Lovers Books in MM Romance
• Romance Books That Feature Mental Illness
• Best Reality TV Romance Books
• Best Forced Proximity Romance Books

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