BEWARE, THIS IS GONNA BE MORE OF A RANT THAN A REVIEW. SPOILERS!!!!!
Also: I will use a lot of curse words so if you're bothered by it, don't read this.

Right, let me start by saying I enjoyed this book, I really did. It was long but I had quite a lot of fun reading this story. The characters were great, the relationships were okay, some dialogues were quite funny... overall it was good.

Or it would be, if not for the fact that the romance had no leg to stand on. It was supposed to be a meet cute, Christmas romance between a porn star and pop star and I expected it to develop nicely through their time together on the set of Duke the Halls. But it didn't. The relationship between Nolan Shaw aka Nolan Kowalczk (KOWALCZYK KURWA, his surname is spelled wrong! And yes I know that's how Americans of Polish descent write it but it's still wrong) and Bee Hobbs aka Bianca von Honey was purely sexual right from the start all the way till the end and it was clearly based on them being each other's fantasies. Nolan has been Bianca's follower for years, just as Bee has been a massive fan of Nolan's career since she was a teenager. With a base like that, to make a romance between them believable the authors would have to give them time to get to know each other without using their genitalia EVERY SINGLE TIME. We are told they had some cute moments together but we are never shown that! Everything we see as readers is them having sex and shooting some scenes in between. Oh and going to the strip club together because obviously that's a brilliant idea when you're working on a movie made for Christian-holier-than-thou families and you're hiding your identity as a bad boy and a porn star.

Jesus, this book was so frustrating. I loved the ending but it felt so detached from the rest of the book because there was no reason for their supposed love for each other because AGAIN, we haven't seen them going on cute dates and all that, we've only seen them FUCKING!
Speaking of which: there was a scene in this book that really pissed me off. Imagine this: Bee is wearing a wedding dress and thinking about how it would be nice to wear something like this during an actual wedding and how she never thought she could have that because of her profession. Nolan bursts into the church and you'd thing he'll be romantic and tell her how beautiful she looks like and give her a kiss and we'll get this amazing cute scene between them... NOPE. He tells her to get down on her knees and proceeds to fuck her. At the altar. How freaking romantic.

Also, throughout the book he expresses numerous times that the only way they could be together is for her to be his secret girlfriend. When later on shit blows up in their faces because of course it does, he not only firstly denies he knew about her career but then proceeds to again ask her to be his dirty little secret and to convince her he says he loves her. Fortunately she refuses but still.
I've been there, I had been someones dirty secret for 2 years and trust me when I say this: men who do that are nothing but pieces of crap. I don't care that Nolan decided to later be honest on cameras and admit he knew about everything and all that. He knew from the start who she was! She was literally the reason he had a permanent erection and the only way he could get rid of it, so for him to play the victim is just unacceptable. And yes, I know he had a sick mum and all that but if he knew being with Bee would jeopardise his whole career, he should have at least been honest with himself about what he would do in case of their lies coming out. Don't get me wrong, Bee was also guilty for lying to herself and seeing Nolan more as a fantasy coming true than a human being.

Also, I'm very sorry but I just cannot support this 'porn is female empowerment' movement. I understand some of you may believe this but I just can't. I understand some women may find it empowering to do OF or porn but let's not pretend this industry is not built on objectification of women.

Nonetheless, thank you to the publisher for giving me this arc and I am very sorry for reviewing this book after more than a year.

This was an easy festive read, that definitely helped get me into the holiday spirit! I found the characters a little difficult to connect to though, so I wasn’t really invested in the relationship like I would love to have been. It was good for the time of year though and would recommend!

Such a wonderful body positive read.
I loved that the main characters were imperfect & it was a very sex positive story!
Looking forward to reading other work by these authors

This is a cute festive easy read. At times I felt it got a bit too smutty compared to how it seems to be advertised... but maybe that's just me! The concept was nice and it had that combination of steamy romance meets rom-com vibes. Sadly it wasn't really for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Julia Murphy and Sierra Simone for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#AMerryLittleMeetCute #NetGalley

Sadly this book did not live up to the hype that social media has created for it.

I wanted to love this book but unfortunately it fell flat. I know a lot of authors are pushing for representation in their novels but that doesn’t mean it always works or adds to a story.

Bee Hobbes makes a successful living as the beautiful, plus sized porn star Bianca Von Honey but she now wants to pursue some more wholesome acting work. So, when she is flown in as the replacement female lead on a cosy Christmas film, she knows that this could be her big break. It's even more exciting when she discovers that she'll be starring alongside Nolan Shaw, the ex boybander who Bee grew up crushing on. Bee knows that she needs to keep her career a secret because there's no way that the squeaky clean Hope Channel would want to be associated with a porn star. But Bee has no idea that Nolan has been a fan of hers for a while...

I really enjoy romance novels with plus sized protagonists and I really love Christmas rom-coms, so I was fully expecting to be obsessed with this book. However, I wish with all my heart that the porn wasn't a factor. I don't mind smut in books and there's really not very many sexual things that can shock me. I also think that there is absolutely no reason for fat people not to do porn. However, there is a very prevalent bisexual stereotype that this book could have torn apart by not making Bee a porn star and Nolan a fuckboy. Instead, it chose to do the opposite and, in my opinion, wholly perpetuated the assumption that bisexuals are highly promiscuous.

I also really didn't believe that Nolan was physically attracted to Bee. Not because she isn't beautiful but because I find it really hard to be convinced that conventionally attractive, confident men who are attracted to women genuinely find plus sized women attractive. I don't know whether the authors wrote Nolan as a fantastical, utopian idea but I found it really hard to believe that he was a man who genuinely exists in our world. Does that imply that I am full of fatphobia or is it just a really sad reflection on society's ridiculous beauty standards? Perhaps it's a bit of both but as a woman who has been plus sized her whole life, it's just really not how things actually happen.

These were my two biggest sticking points with the book. I really enjoyed the majority of the side characters and I was actually fully invested in Bee's happiness but sadly, I think the problems I had with it were too big to translate to lots of enjoyment.

We follow Bee and Nolan as they film a movie together and life begins to heat up, This double act author team have done a great job of creating what could be a Hallmark movie in book form. There are laugh out loud moments, cringeworthy moments and hot under the collar moments. An enjoyable escape in book form. Recommended.

This was a gorgeous and delicious book with the perfect amount of romance and smut. I fell in love with Bee and Nolan within the very first chapters, they were both such rebelled characters but in the most juiciest of ways, you wanted to root for them to continue being a little mischievous. The chemistry between them was off the charts and while their first meeting wasn't the most romantic of "meet cutes", it was perfect for them. Although their love may have been forbidden in the world of Hollywood, I absolutely adored the fact that Nolan supported and admired Bee's career. I think this is definitely my favourite of the series and a hard one to beat! A beautiful story with beautiful characters.

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have concocted a holiday miracle with "A Merry Little Meet Cute" – a romance that sneaks into Christmas in the sexiest way possible, as Tessa Bailey so aptly puts it. This delightful romcom is a treat that you absolutely need in your life, a charming holiday escapade that's as intoxicating as a cup of rich hot chocolate.

When Bee Hobbes takes on the lead role in a squeaky-clean romantic Christmas movie, she agrees to abide by three simple rules. But as we all know, the best-laid plans often go awry, especially when it comes to love. Set in Christmas Notch, a town that celebrates the holiday spirit all year round, Bee is about to discover that sometimes, it's impossible to keep things under wraps, especially when you're working alongside the irresistible Nolan Shaw.

The chemistry between Bee and Nolan is electric, and as their on-screen romance heats up, it's clear that sparks are flying behind the scenes as well. Their steamy affair is a rollercoaster of desire and attraction, and the authors do an excellent job of keeping the reader hooked, waiting to see if these two can navigate their forbidden love without ruining everything.

The characters are vibrant, relatable, and endearing. Bee's secret identity and Nolan's bad-boy past make them intriguing and multifaceted. As their relationship blossoms and their worlds collide, the emotional depth of their connection becomes a captivating focal point.

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have a knack for infusing their storytelling with humor, sensuality, and genuine cheer. "A Merry Little Meet Cute" is not just a run-of-the-mill holiday romance; it's a sexy, progressive, and hilarious holiday romcom that celebrates the warmth and joy of the season.

The authors weave a story that blends sizzling romance with the charming, feel-good vibes of the holidays. It's a unique fusion that captures the essence of love and the magic of the Christmas spirit. The book provides a refreshing take on romantic comedies, embracing progressive themes and a playful tone.

In a world filled with traditional holiday romance tales, "A Merry Little Meet Cute" stands out as a beacon of modernity and passion. It's a celebration of love, desire, and the audacity to seize happiness when it presents itself, even when it's the least expected.

In conclusion, "A Merry Little Meet Cute" is the perfect holiday romcom that will leave you feeling warm, merry, and ready to dive into the festive season. Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone have created a story that's enchanting, delightful, and filled with a good dose of holiday cheer. So, grab a cosy blanket, a cup of cocoa, and prepare to be swept away by this sexy, heartwarming holiday romance. It's the gift that keeps on giving, long after the holiday season has passed.

What a wonderful book. After becoming hooked immediately, this book was totally impossible to put down. A truly amazing story, great messages throughout and a brilliant array of characters. I loved the dual narrative; especially because we really got to see both of the main characters perspectives and inner thoughts.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This book takes the notion of the feel good, predictable romantic Christmas movies and mixes it with it's extreme 'adult' opposite. There is realism aplenty as the characters include an ex-boy-band member and a social media less-than-wholesome star. There are some hilarious moments and very steamy sessions which are described in full. Balanced against this is the amount of unnecessary swear words used, and I thought the amount of bisexual characters was atypical, almost as though the writers were trying to make a point. As an English, older reader there were a lot of references to American people and ways of life such as tax laws and eateries which meant nothing to me. Consequently the book took me a long time to read because I wasn't sufficiently engaged to read it non-stop but I do think many younger readers will enjoy and identify with it, hence my 'average' rating.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

A Merry Little Meet Cute is an absolute delight! The authors, Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone, have crafted a heartwarming and hilarious holiday romance that will leave you with a big smile on your face. The story follows Bee Hobbes, a lead actress in a Christmas movie who's hiding a scandalous secret, and Nolan Shaw, her charming and charismatic co-star who's also her biggest fan. The chemistry between Bee and Nolan is off the charts, and their banter is witty and entertaining. I loved how the authors incorporated the secret identity twist, which adds an extra layer of intrigue and excitement to the story. The setting of Christmas Notch is also lovely, with its festive atmosphere and charming small-town vibe. Overall, A Merry Little Meet Cute is a perfect read to get you in the holiday spirit. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed the writing style and thought it was very cute and funny. I liked that this was an easy read. Yes there were a couple of cringy moments but it’s a romance book, those are to be expected. I would have liked to have seen some nearly getting caught scenes as it seems all the sneaking around went a bit too smoothly. One thing I will say is there was a lot of diversity in this book, which is great when done right. However, this came across more as a tick box exercise and less authentic to me. Big shout out to the horse Whitneigh Houston, the name has me cracking up every time I read it.

I'm used to reading some very vanilla rom coms, with cute moments and very little sex, this one went the other way, with some very pleasingly steamy moments, but felt more built on desire than on mutual connection. However, it was certainly sex positive, which was so refreshing to read!

"Makes me feel like something's being yanked out of me. Something important, something that I need to breathe and eat and live."

3.5 Stars!

A fun story with characters that match the energy and the flow of the book.

The main characters follow the want to prove themselves outside of the preconceived notions that already surrounds them. Whilst the main characters shined the brightest, I enjoyed the inclusion of other characters that - whilst there isn't a deep exploration or insight into - I felt held their own liveliness and amusement for the reader.

This story includes many spicy scenes (🌶 🌶 🌶) which added a steamy and enjoyable moments between the main characters. But do be aware of them if you are a reader looking for a softer, less explicit romance.

My only wish is that the story held the same flow I experienced in the first half when entering the second half and ending. It felt for me as a reader that something had been slightly rushed, or something was missing.

Thank you to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for the eARC, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I ADORED this book. I loved it from the moment I started reading and I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters, Bee and Nolan are my EVERYTHING. I loved the steam, I loved the representation. I just loved it.

Oh woah, this was steamy!! I think the cutesy cover and title gave me the slightly wrong impression of this novel. It was still a brilliant novel and I enjoyed the romance between the two main characters. The premise sounded good and I liked the setting of the year round Christmas village, I would love to visit there!
But I found the title of 'meet cute' a little strange as there was no meet cute in this story, meet cutes tend to be unexpected, not an orchestrated meeting of two actors. I loved Julie Murphy's YA series, I'm not familiar with Sierra Simone and sadly I don't think I'd read another adult book by these two, there just wasn't enough substance to the story for me.

I was sold as soon as I saw that Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy had teamed up for A Merry Little Meet Cute. The premise of this holiday romance was great: the typical squeaky-clean Christmas movie getting directed by a porn director, who casts one of his stars as the female lead.
The story was funny and body positive, with Bee Hobbes as a plus-size woman embracing her looks and sexuality. I liked that Nolan and Bee were secretly admirers of each other, and also enjoyed the diverse cast of characters.
This is not your typical holiday romance, but a very entertaining read!

A Merry Little Meet Cute by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone was a pleasant surprise.

There was a lot of other things to like about this. I appreciated that the book was all about female empowerment. It was sex positive, body positive and featured queer characters without them feeling 'slotted in'. I also liked that the MCs were both fans of each other before working together too, as it maintained a balance and kept any disparity at bay.

What I will say though, is that I think it was a touch too long. I didn't care for the third act issues and I felt that it ended up dragging a little by the end. This was a bit of a shame as I did enjoy it, but it won't stop me reading further books in this series.

Thank you to HC for providing me with a copy of this book- I ended up buying a physical edition too!

I really enjoyed this book. I connected well with the characters and was somewhat invested in their individual plights. This was especially helped by the rarety that is getting to read about a plus size female lead - and one in touch with and flaunting her sexuality as well.

I think most women would be thrilled by the idea of having a chance at love with the boy and member who's face they plastered all over their walls. Bea is living all our best lives!

Much spicier than the cover suggests, which was pleasant surprise!