A Book A Week

I was pretty disappointed by the last thriller I read, so I decided my next read needed to be completely different. My bookstagram buddy Jonathan (@rainbow.readerjsw) recommended Alison Cochrun's debut novel The Charm Offensive as a cute queer romance. I figured that was about as different from a thriller as I would probably find, so I made it my next read. It was exactly the change of pace I needed! The book reinvigorated my exuberance with reading, thoroughly pulling me from the edges of my potential reading slump. 

At his core, Dev is a romantic. So much so, in fact, that he finds himself as a producer on the hit reality TV show, Ever After. Dev has made a career of crafting the perfect fairy tale romance, the kind of manufactured love story that draws millions of viewers in with each new season of the show. Despite his expertise, Dev's personal life has no sign of romance. In fact, he finds himself on the outside of yet another unsuccessful relationship, this time with his producing partner Ryan. As much as he wanted the coupling to succeed, the relationship fell apart into an irredeemable vat of toxicity. Worse, Dev now has to face seeing his ex daily at work. This has the makings of a very long season. 

On the outside, Charlie looks like the perfect Prince Charming. He has the kind of hunky good looks that are sure to make the women and viewers swoon. As filming begins it becomes clear that appearance will only get Charlie so far. You see, he's a rich tech tycoon who was recently ousted from the very company he devoted his life to creating. Charlie doesn't believe in true love. He's only agreed to do the show in order to rehabilitate his public image. When the cameras roll, the would-be prince is crippled with anxiety, stunted into an awkward mess of a man, not the kind of person that fairytales are made of. That's where Dev comes in. He's tasked with turning this aloof doubter into the man of everyone's dreams. 

There's something irresistible about Alison Cochrun's writing in The Charm Offensive. She imagines a love story unfolding amongst the artificial version of love that is presented in a reality show akin to The Bachelor. There's a classic opposite attract angle to the romance that is given a fresh twist by the romance occurring between two men. While the main plot unravels much as you would expect it to, Cochrun elevates the material by peppering deeper thoughts around coming to terms with sexuality and coping with mental illness. I found her treatment of the latter to be one of the most impactful parts of the entire work. The Charm Offensive hits all of the right emotional notes, sticking to the formula while offering just enough deviations to stand above similar fare. This is a feel-good read that isn't afraid to go deeper. Cochrun has a holiday-themed romance dropping next month, so I'm happy to say that I'm now eagerly anticipating that release too. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2022, 42)