As a successful plus-size adult film star with a huge following, Bee Hobbes couldn’t be happier. But when her producer offers her the chance to star in a Christmas movie—for the squeaky-clean Hope Channel, Bee’s career is about to take on a more family-friendly direction. Forced to keep her adult film work under wraps, Bee quickly learns that that’s a lot easier said and done. Especially when her new co-star turns out to be her childhood crush Nolan Shaw, the ex-boy band member infamous for his bad boy attitude and now in desperate need of career rehab. But things heat up quickly when Noah gets his first glimpse of his new co-star—and realises it’s none other than the ClosedDoors adult film star he’s been following for years. Now Bee and Nolan are sneaking off during set and trying desperately to find a way to stay together, despite their respective managers telling them to keep it in their pants. The stakes are high if anyone finds out about them—Bee could lose her film deal and be exposed as a porn star and Nolan’s last chance at earning enough money to take care of his family could be squashed within minutes. If their secret’s exposed, can the two of them withstand the media’s attention and find a happily ever after all?
As a huge fan of both authors, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this story and what can I say? This co-written novel absolutely delivered. I loved how both authors brought their individual strengths to the table and how their writing styles just seamlessly intertwined. Murphy’s talent for writing confident plus-size characters who take no shit morphed together beautifully with Simone’s gift of writing steamy, intimate encounters that leave you fanning yourself. Not to mention that this romcom had so many elements that worked together perfectly: discussions of fatphobia in the media paired well with Nolan’s goal to keep his image clean so he could provide for his family, Bee’s sex-positive attitude clashed wonderfully with the traditional image of “clean” holiday movies that we all have cringed at before—and yet still can’t get enough of. Overall, all the elements of the novel and different plot strings made for one unputdownable read!
A Merry Little Meet Cute is also trope galore: from forced proximity to celebrity crush to forbidden romance all the way to pining and hidden identity, chances are that there’s a trope in here that you’re a sucker for (god knows I like every single one of them)! Much of what makes these tropes work so well together is the undeniable chemistry between Bee and Noah. They’re incredibly fleshed-out on their own with goals and fears and family to consider but together? Dayuummm. All of their encounters (not just the steamy scenes that were to die for) are filled with tension and so much chemistry that you can’t quite believe these characters are fictional. Meanwhile, they also struggle on their own. Nolan is desperate to find a solution to help his ill mother while being hundreds of miles away and Bee is questioning whether she could ever move over into “clean” movies completely. So whether you’ll keep flipping the pages because you’re desperate to learn more about what incident blacklisted Noah in the media or because you need to know what happens when Bee’s and Noah’s secret inevitably blows up in their faces, I can guarantee that there are some twists and turns no one will see coming.
Really, the only thing that bogged down the pacing a bit was the plethora of secondary characters but I can’t even be mad about it because I would read entire books about Noah’s fellow INK bandmates and Bee’s colleagues from the adult film industry (Sierra and Julie, if you’re reading this, please give us more!!). Honestly, I’m just (im)patiently waiting for these authors to give us more co-written content!
Spicy, sexy and charmingly cheerful with two self-proclaimed bi disasters that you can’t help but fall madly in love with, A Merry Little Meet Cute is the sexy, unputdownable holiday romcom that will make your days (and TBR) merry and bright this holiday season!
A Merry Little Meet Cute is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
