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D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding
D’Vaughn and Kris have six weeks to plan their dream wedding.
Their whole relationship is fake.
Instant I Do could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either.
D’Vaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. She’s sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs.
All they have to do is convince their friends and family they’re getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses they’re not for real, they’re out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake.
But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake. A reality show isn’t the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts.
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. Discover a new Carina Adores book every month!
Their whole relationship is fake.
Instant I Do could be Kris Zavala’s big break. She’s right on the cusp of really making it as an influencer, so a stint on reality TV is the perfect chance to elevate her brand. And $100,000 wouldn’t hurt, either.
D’Vaughn Miller is just trying to break out of her shell. She’s sort of neglected to come out to her mom for years, so a big splashy fake wedding is just the excuse she needs.
All they have to do is convince their friends and family they’re getting married in six weeks. If anyone guesses they’re not for real, they’re out. Selling their chemistry on camera is surprisingly easy, and it’s still there when no one else is watching, which is an unexpected bonus. Winning this competition is going to be a piece of wedding cake.
But each week of the competition brings new challenges, and soon the prize money’s not the only thing at stake. A reality show isn’t the best place to create a solid foundation, and their fake wedding might just derail their relationship before it even starts.
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters. Discover a new Carina Adores book every month!
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2022
About the author
Chencia C. Higgins
34 books320 followersChencia C. Higgins is just a girl from Texas writing about sassy, southern women finding love. With a multitude of titles under her belt, she has made it her mission to create stories in which Black women are loved out loud. In 2019 she won a Romance Slam Jam Emma award for her debut paranormal romance, Janine: His True Alpha. When she isn’t hunkered down in her writing cave, Chencia can be found with her nose in a book (or two, or three), saving recipes on Pinterest, and traveling as much as possible with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,330 reviews
January 2, 2023
3.5 stars. This was a fun quick read and put me in the mood to watch reality TV. I like the premise for this fictional show and wish it existed in real life! Imagine all the fucked up messiness if this played out IRL lol. I wish there was more drama and that the stakes were higher though. For a book about reality TV, things worked out for the characters so easily and there was very minimal conflict, which is incongruent to how these entertainment networks play out. Can be enjoyed by readers looking for something simple and sweet though.
January 31, 2022
4.25 Stars. A fun and enjoyable read. This is the perfect read for people looking for a love story that is lower angst, fluffy, and sweet in the right moments but still has a bit of heat. Sometimes we just need a feel good book and this fit that bill. I am new to Higgins writing, but now I would read her again in a heartbeat. She knew how to draw me into a story from the first page, while keeping my enjoyment level up until the end.
I have mentioned before, and recently, that one of my guilty pleasures is watching reality TV shows. It’s funny, but I just read another book about two people on a reality show. I ended up enjoying both books about the same, but that was a cooking show so this being a dating/fake wedding show, the books felt so different which I appreciated. I’m not a fan of getting deja-vu while I’m reading. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was my all-time favorite trope, a fauxmance. I love a good fauxmance and this book had a great hook, which was just different feeling enough that it was a treat to read.
I loved the characters. I often talk about being a character driven reader and boy does that seem to matter as I read more and more books. Not only were the mains great, but the whole cast of secondary characters were as well. The premise of this book is that are mains are on a reality show where they have to convince their families that that have fallen in love and are planning a wedding that will happen in only two months (I think it was only 2). Because of this premise, the families of both characters are important in the book and I enjoyed getting to know them. There was only one brother character who was too over the top for me, but everyone else was just well done.
I would not call this romance insta-love, but because of the premise, the romance does and has to move at a fast pace. While it may have been faster than I normally prefer, it fit the storyline so I was fine with that. The two mains had crazy chemistry together so it was easy for me to believe that they were falling for each other. And while this story could feel fluffy at times, the sex scenes were a different story all together. They had more heat than I expected, and I’m definitely not complaining.
TLDR: This was a really enjoyable, feel good story. It was fun and sweet, but the characters still had great chemistry together and some spice. I would easily recommend this one to fans of fauxmances and reality show premises. While the angst level was on the lower side, there was still plenty to drive the book forward and it never slowed down or got boring. I enjoyed meeting these characters and their families, and I can’t wait to read another sapphic book by Higgins.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
I have mentioned before, and recently, that one of my guilty pleasures is watching reality TV shows. It’s funny, but I just read another book about two people on a reality show. I ended up enjoying both books about the same, but that was a cooking show so this being a dating/fake wedding show, the books felt so different which I appreciated. I’m not a fan of getting deja-vu while I’m reading. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was my all-time favorite trope, a fauxmance. I love a good fauxmance and this book had a great hook, which was just different feeling enough that it was a treat to read.
I loved the characters. I often talk about being a character driven reader and boy does that seem to matter as I read more and more books. Not only were the mains great, but the whole cast of secondary characters were as well. The premise of this book is that are mains are on a reality show where they have to convince their families that that have fallen in love and are planning a wedding that will happen in only two months (I think it was only 2). Because of this premise, the families of both characters are important in the book and I enjoyed getting to know them. There was only one brother character who was too over the top for me, but everyone else was just well done.
I would not call this romance insta-love, but because of the premise, the romance does and has to move at a fast pace. While it may have been faster than I normally prefer, it fit the storyline so I was fine with that. The two mains had crazy chemistry together so it was easy for me to believe that they were falling for each other. And while this story could feel fluffy at times, the sex scenes were a different story all together. They had more heat than I expected, and I’m definitely not complaining.
TLDR: This was a really enjoyable, feel good story. It was fun and sweet, but the characters still had great chemistry together and some spice. I would easily recommend this one to fans of fauxmances and reality show premises. While the angst level was on the lower side, there was still plenty to drive the book forward and it never slowed down or got boring. I enjoyed meeting these characters and their families, and I can’t wait to read another sapphic book by Higgins.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
Read
February 2, 2022Reality show romance, where the protags must persuade their families they're having a whirlwind wedding. D'Vaughn is Black, femme, fat, and closeted to her religious mother; Kris is butch, muscly, Afro-Latina, and using a fake dating show to find true love. (Look, D'Vaughn has volunteered to go on a reality TV show although she specifically doesn't like being in the spotlight. It's romance protagonist logic: roll with it.)
Kris is fiercely supportive and protective--almost pushy on that at a couple of points, for me, as when she insists on PDAs in front of D'Vaughn's family that D'Vaughn is uncomfortable with--but D'Vaughn really wants that level of someone fighting her corner. D'Vaughn comes across as rather insecure in her relationship with Kris, in part because she's been undermined throughout her adult life by her fear of coming out to her mother, but she's determined to try for the chance of love. They have an instant connection and each other's backs from the start, and the relationship is both sweet and hot throughout.
There wasn't much focus on the reality show aspect, eg the couple performing for the audience in any way that goes against their inclinations, or competing with the other couples--the 'fake relationship' aspect is the part the book is here for, with the show just providing a reason for it. That goes hand in hand with the very rapid progress of the relationship--instant lust followed by near-immediate trust and partnership. Kris wants love and D'Vaughn needs to come out to her family, and those goals are way ahead of winning the show for both of them. Again, this is absolutely right for the people they are. This does mean that there's a lot of potential for edge and conflict that isn't used, but the decision not to use it is very much a conscious one. This is a super low angst book, where there are a couple of difficult and painful moments but these are quickly dealt with; one in which we see two queer Black women loving and being loved by each other and their families. The aim of this romance is to be a super-warm, kind and loving space, and goodness knows that's profoundly needed.
Glorious cover, doing illustrated right. However, I just want to state for the record that if anyone in my life dragged me around for SIX WEEKS to help them plan a whirlwind wedding and then said "Psych! It was all for a reality show!" I would quite literally murder them. Luckily D'Vaughn and Kris's families are nicer than me.
Kris is fiercely supportive and protective--almost pushy on that at a couple of points, for me, as when she insists on PDAs in front of D'Vaughn's family that D'Vaughn is uncomfortable with--but D'Vaughn really wants that level of someone fighting her corner. D'Vaughn comes across as rather insecure in her relationship with Kris, in part because she's been undermined throughout her adult life by her fear of coming out to her mother, but she's determined to try for the chance of love. They have an instant connection and each other's backs from the start, and the relationship is both sweet and hot throughout.
There wasn't much focus on the reality show aspect, eg the couple performing for the audience in any way that goes against their inclinations, or competing with the other couples--the 'fake relationship' aspect is the part the book is here for, with the show just providing a reason for it. That goes hand in hand with the very rapid progress of the relationship--instant lust followed by near-immediate trust and partnership. Kris wants love and D'Vaughn needs to come out to her family, and those goals are way ahead of winning the show for both of them. Again, this is absolutely right for the people they are. This does mean that there's a lot of potential for edge and conflict that isn't used, but the decision not to use it is very much a conscious one. This is a super low angst book, where there are a couple of difficult and painful moments but these are quickly dealt with; one in which we see two queer Black women loving and being loved by each other and their families. The aim of this romance is to be a super-warm, kind and loving space, and goodness knows that's profoundly needed.
Glorious cover, doing illustrated right. However, I just want to state for the record that if anyone in my life dragged me around for SIX WEEKS to help them plan a whirlwind wedding and then said "Psych! It was all for a reality show!" I would quite literally murder them. Luckily D'Vaughn and Kris's families are nicer than me.
March 7, 2023
this book gave me major butterflies. i need more Black sapphics ASAP!!!
November 30, 2021
D'Vaughn and Kris plan a wedding is a book that makes you believe in true love. As I was reading, I kept thinking to myself "I could only hope that someone loves me this much one day." It was truly a refreshing and romantic novel, where so much of the conflict is less our two main characters against each other, but more along the lines of them against the world, facing the conflict as a team. They communicated as a couple, as partners, with such honesty and love, that it truly elevated the story for me. It was so affirming to see a healthy lesbian couple portrayed, as a lesbian reader. The atmosphere of the book was filled with such love, warmth, and light, it was an easy, cozy novel to sink into! This will be a perfect read to anyone who loves reality show romances, fake engagement romances, and romances that make you fall in love right alongside the characters.
March 6, 2024
i love bojack horseman.
someone said that this book was similar to that show, in the sense that it seemed fluffy but actually had soul-wrenching, heartstrings-tugging depth.
and they were wrong.
review to come!
——————
gloria has rightfully not finished this yet, let’s pray together that she doesn’t read about the "jiggling cheeks" that i have.
reading this with an angel that stomached 2739301 uses of the word preciosa with me <3
fake dating just got taken up a notch. mrs. painter,
take notes while i read this pls.
someone said that this book was similar to that show, in the sense that it seemed fluffy but actually had soul-wrenching, heartstrings-tugging depth.
and they were wrong.
review to come!
——————
gloria has rightfully not finished this yet, let’s pray together that she doesn’t read about the "jiggling cheeks" that i have.
reading this with an angel that stomached 2739301 uses of the word preciosa with me <3
fake dating just got taken up a notch. mrs. painter,
take notes while i read this pls.
June 28, 2022
Reread via audio June 2022
Original review:
This book is an absolute delight. I read the entire thing with a stupid grin on my face and almost immediately fell in love with both of our MCs. This book is both fun and funny while also having a side dose of a little bit of seriousness. It is the perfect light and fluffy rom-com that y'all need in your life.
The entire premise of the book kind of cracked me up because as an arospec asexual person my brain doesn't always comprehend the trope of love at first sight or committing to someone that you barely know and I consider it a success that I fully believed in this romance and their love story even though it all happens in 6 weeks.
So both of the MC's, Kris and D'Vaughn are contestants on this show called Instant I do and basically these contestants are randomly paired and they have to convince their families that they are engaged and have to plan a wedding in 6 weeks. If they make it to the end of the 6 weeks they either say I do or they each win $100,000. Kris goes on to the show claiming that she's looking for the love of her life. She walks in there fully intending to find a wife and is the hopeful romantic of the duo. D'Vaughn goes on to the show so that she has an opportunity to come out to her conservative religious family.
This one is a whirlwind. A lot of things happen and D'Vaughn's coming out scene is super super emotional. Make sure that you maybe have a tissue or two nearby. The representation in this book is also the stuff of dreams. Kris is an Afro-Latina stud lesbian and D'Vaughn is a fat Black lesbian. There are a ton of secondary queer characters including a fat Black trans woman, non binary character, Black gay men, I'm pretty sure that there's also a pansexual secondary character in addition to lesbian and gay characters. Kris is also bilingual and there's a decent handful of Spanish in the book.
So I loved both Kris and D'Vaughn, but Kris's family absolutely took the cake for me. They are the definition of joy and that type of family connection is so unheard of to me that I love reading about it. They're all so invested in each other's lives and supportive of everything.
Y'all I cannot recommend this book enough. It comes out later this month and I am super grateful that I was able to read an advanced copy of this through NetGalley (and that I actually read it before it's pub date). I can easily see myself rereading this book especially if it comes out on audio. It will 100% be a comfort read for me. Also there's a fucking rainbow cake on the cover, of course I love this book.
Original review:
This book is an absolute delight. I read the entire thing with a stupid grin on my face and almost immediately fell in love with both of our MCs. This book is both fun and funny while also having a side dose of a little bit of seriousness. It is the perfect light and fluffy rom-com that y'all need in your life.
The entire premise of the book kind of cracked me up because as an arospec asexual person my brain doesn't always comprehend the trope of love at first sight or committing to someone that you barely know and I consider it a success that I fully believed in this romance and their love story even though it all happens in 6 weeks.
So both of the MC's, Kris and D'Vaughn are contestants on this show called Instant I do and basically these contestants are randomly paired and they have to convince their families that they are engaged and have to plan a wedding in 6 weeks. If they make it to the end of the 6 weeks they either say I do or they each win $100,000. Kris goes on to the show claiming that she's looking for the love of her life. She walks in there fully intending to find a wife and is the hopeful romantic of the duo. D'Vaughn goes on to the show so that she has an opportunity to come out to her conservative religious family.
This one is a whirlwind. A lot of things happen and D'Vaughn's coming out scene is super super emotional. Make sure that you maybe have a tissue or two nearby. The representation in this book is also the stuff of dreams. Kris is an Afro-Latina stud lesbian and D'Vaughn is a fat Black lesbian. There are a ton of secondary queer characters including a fat Black trans woman, non binary character, Black gay men, I'm pretty sure that there's also a pansexual secondary character in addition to lesbian and gay characters. Kris is also bilingual and there's a decent handful of Spanish in the book.
So I loved both Kris and D'Vaughn, but Kris's family absolutely took the cake for me. They are the definition of joy and that type of family connection is so unheard of to me that I love reading about it. They're all so invested in each other's lives and supportive of everything.
Y'all I cannot recommend this book enough. It comes out later this month and I am super grateful that I was able to read an advanced copy of this through NetGalley (and that I actually read it before it's pub date). I can easily see myself rereading this book especially if it comes out on audio. It will 100% be a comfort read for me. Also there's a fucking rainbow cake on the cover, of course I love this book.
July 14, 2022
3.25 stars. This was amazing! Review to come.
Content/ Trigger warnings- anxiety, self-harm, fatphobia, homophobia, colorism, coming out, bigotry, racism
Content/ Trigger warnings- anxiety, self-harm, fatphobia, homophobia, colorism, coming out, bigotry, racism
November 12, 2021
rep: fat Black lesbian mc, Afro-Latina butch lesbian mc, Black side characters, Afro-Latine side characters, lesbian side characters
tw: bigotry, colorism
2.5 ☆
ARC provided by the publisher.
If you’re looking for a quick, breezy romance novel that will leave you believing in true love, then D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is absolutely for you. You won’t shed a tear while reading it, unless you count happy tears, but you will end up content.
What I loved most about this book is the cast of characters. Both main characters are Black lesbians, which isn’t very easy to encounter in the published world, still. What’s even better, though, we’re introduced not only to them, but to their families too (and quite a few more LGBT characters while we’re at it). This allows for some beautiful portrayals of family dynamics, and even more specifically Black family dynamics.
The whole premise of the novel is a fake engagement stunt, but frankly the fake part falls away pretty quickly. Which isn’t to say that’s a bad thing: it’s very clear that’s how things were supposed to be progressing & that the quickly blooming love was the real idea behind D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding.
That’s simultaneously the main problem I personally have with this book, though. I prefer my romance with a side of angst, with some broken hearts before they can get mended. The ladies here communicate too well for any of that to happen. They’re very adult about the whole thing, and incredibly in love with each other, so it’s basically 95% fluff. To each their own, of course.
Some day a few hundred pages of two ladies being completely enamoured with each other is exactly what you want to read, and for those days D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding will be a true gift.
tw: bigotry, colorism
2.5 ☆
ARC provided by the publisher.
If you’re looking for a quick, breezy romance novel that will leave you believing in true love, then D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is absolutely for you. You won’t shed a tear while reading it, unless you count happy tears, but you will end up content.
What I loved most about this book is the cast of characters. Both main characters are Black lesbians, which isn’t very easy to encounter in the published world, still. What’s even better, though, we’re introduced not only to them, but to their families too (and quite a few more LGBT characters while we’re at it). This allows for some beautiful portrayals of family dynamics, and even more specifically Black family dynamics.
The whole premise of the novel is a fake engagement stunt, but frankly the fake part falls away pretty quickly. Which isn’t to say that’s a bad thing: it’s very clear that’s how things were supposed to be progressing & that the quickly blooming love was the real idea behind D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding.
That’s simultaneously the main problem I personally have with this book, though. I prefer my romance with a side of angst, with some broken hearts before they can get mended. The ladies here communicate too well for any of that to happen. They’re very adult about the whole thing, and incredibly in love with each other, so it’s basically 95% fluff. To each their own, of course.
Some day a few hundred pages of two ladies being completely enamoured with each other is exactly what you want to read, and for those days D'Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding will be a true gift.
July 12, 2022
5 ⭐️
🌶
Literally amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book this fast but once I started I could not stop until the very end!! It’s late and I can’t form many coherent thoughts so I’ll write a review later but honestly I really loved this!😍
🌶
Literally amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book this fast but once I started I could not stop until the very end!! It’s late and I can’t form many coherent thoughts so I’ll write a review later but honestly I really loved this!😍
January 18, 2022
I don’t watch reality TV shows – I have enough reality in my life, thank you very much – except for an episode here and there of baking shows when the people close to me are watching, but I would absolutely have rooted for Kris and D’Vaughn had Instant I Do been on my TV.
In Instant I Do, strangers have six weeks to convince their families that they’re getting married, but falling in love isn’t mandatory. It isn’t forbidden either, however.
D’Vaughn hopes being on the show will help her come out to her family, Kris hopes to find true love. While both work with kids – D’Vaughn as a ninth-grade guidance counsellor, Kris as a middle school gym teacher -, they couldn’t be more different. Kris is all swoony butchness, her charisma and sexiness obvious whenever she enters a room. D’Vaughn seems a bit on the shy side, unaware of how gorgeous she is.
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding could have been a 5-stars read had the editing been more convincing. First of all, I love the energy. There’s something in the way this story is written, especially in the dialogues (and the Jitter Cam moments) that I find extremely satisfying.
I also love the characters. I have a huge crush on D’Vaughn. She’s unassuming but sharp. Watching her come into herself was a thing of beauty. She’s full of surprises, especially once she’s out and lets herself just be. Her relationship with her mother broke my heart and I half wanted more of it and also not. There’s so much unconditional love mixed with a failure to understand, the ambivalence was hard to take. D’Vaughn’s siblings made up for it. Also, her friendship with Cinta is wonderful.
My feelings about Kris are more layered. D’Vaughn chokes on her drink the first time she sees her and that would be me too. Too much sexiness intimidates me. She has her share of insecurity though, and I liked that, I like that she’s not all stud and no personality. I wish the author had delved further into Kris’ social media gig, though. The reader is told Kris’ public persona isn’t who she shows herself to be with D’Vaughn but we don’t get to see who that is, nor, really, why she’s the big deal she seems to be. I decided to believe it anyway but I could have done with more details. My favourite thing about Kris, however, is her family. They’re warm, they’re welcoming, they’re fun. I loved the bilingual aspect, the starting a sentence in one language and finishing it in another, it made me feel very at home.
I‘ll have to look up Chencia C. Higgins’ other f/f books…
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
In Instant I Do, strangers have six weeks to convince their families that they’re getting married, but falling in love isn’t mandatory. It isn’t forbidden either, however.
D’Vaughn hopes being on the show will help her come out to her family, Kris hopes to find true love. While both work with kids – D’Vaughn as a ninth-grade guidance counsellor, Kris as a middle school gym teacher -, they couldn’t be more different. Kris is all swoony butchness, her charisma and sexiness obvious whenever she enters a room. D’Vaughn seems a bit on the shy side, unaware of how gorgeous she is.
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding could have been a 5-stars read had the editing been more convincing. First of all, I love the energy. There’s something in the way this story is written, especially in the dialogues (and the Jitter Cam moments) that I find extremely satisfying.
I also love the characters. I have a huge crush on D’Vaughn. She’s unassuming but sharp. Watching her come into herself was a thing of beauty. She’s full of surprises, especially once she’s out and lets herself just be. Her relationship with her mother broke my heart and I half wanted more of it and also not. There’s so much unconditional love mixed with a failure to understand, the ambivalence was hard to take. D’Vaughn’s siblings made up for it. Also, her friendship with Cinta is wonderful.
My feelings about Kris are more layered. D’Vaughn chokes on her drink the first time she sees her and that would be me too. Too much sexiness intimidates me. She has her share of insecurity though, and I liked that, I like that she’s not all stud and no personality. I wish the author had delved further into Kris’ social media gig, though. The reader is told Kris’ public persona isn’t who she shows herself to be with D’Vaughn but we don’t get to see who that is, nor, really, why she’s the big deal she seems to be. I decided to believe it anyway but I could have done with more details. My favourite thing about Kris, however, is her family. They’re warm, they’re welcoming, they’re fun. I loved the bilingual aspect, the starting a sentence in one language and finishing it in another, it made me feel very at home.
I‘ll have to look up Chencia C. Higgins’ other f/f books…
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 7, 2023
Now I can confidentally say I don't like books about famous people and reality shows.
The romance was nice, but the premise of the book, the way they needed to convince their family that they were in love and will be married made me really uncomfortable. I mean I would do this to my immediate family, because who cares about their opinion, not me, but both of these women had so close relationship with their family. It turned out to be okay for them, because they fell in love at the end, but even then, if I were their family I would have things to say to them. Because they literally accepted them into the family, loved them and were excited for their daughters, and for that to turn out to be just a reality show... nah. I would be pissed doesn't matter how it ended.
The romance was nice, but the premise of the book, the way they needed to convince their family that they were in love and will be married made me really uncomfortable. I mean I would do this to my immediate family, because who cares about their opinion, not me, but both of these women had so close relationship with their family. It turned out to be okay for them, because they fell in love at the end, but even then, if I were their family I would have things to say to them. Because they literally accepted them into the family, loved them and were excited for their daughters, and for that to turn out to be just a reality show... nah. I would be pissed doesn't matter how it ended.
Read
May 14, 2022This book had me in a chokehold start to finish.
I had been looking forward to it since I heard about it late last year and I have finally gotten to it and I couldn't be happier with how much I loved it. I went in for the fun strangers to lovers fake dating to win a reality show premise and got so SO much more out if it.
I adored Kris and D'Vaughn's relationship, it was -to me- the perfect balance of sweet and sexy. The way their relationship was built on explicit communication and the book had no third act breakup as a result was exactly what I like in books. Not to say that there was no conflict or rocky moments. There were. Especially with D'Vaughn being insecure and plagued by doubt, but those were resolved in a way that I appreciated, with gentle reassurance and adult conversations. The attraction between the two of them is not only clear to them but the chemistry can also be felt by the reader.
The chaotic family dynamics and relentless sibling teasing was a touch that I particularly appreciated. Ofte, in romance books, the story feels like it's happening in a bubble with how uninvolved everyone else seems to be. That wasn't the case here and it made for both some hilarious and heartfelt moment.
One thing that I particularly appreciated here is the way D'Vaughn's coming out to her mom was portrayed, it was somewhere in a hurtful and confusing middle, neither full acceptance nor complete rejection, acknowledging that even the "I've known all along"" is hurtful and quietly violent when you have been struggling in hiding for so long, without the other person ever extending a branch. Usually it's either/or and I was happy to see this weird hazy middle reflected in the story.
So yes, the gays have won with this one.
I had been looking forward to it since I heard about it late last year and I have finally gotten to it and I couldn't be happier with how much I loved it. I went in for the fun strangers to lovers fake dating to win a reality show premise and got so SO much more out if it.
I adored Kris and D'Vaughn's relationship, it was -to me- the perfect balance of sweet and sexy. The way their relationship was built on explicit communication and the book had no third act breakup as a result was exactly what I like in books. Not to say that there was no conflict or rocky moments. There were. Especially with D'Vaughn being insecure and plagued by doubt, but those were resolved in a way that I appreciated, with gentle reassurance and adult conversations. The attraction between the two of them is not only clear to them but the chemistry can also be felt by the reader.
The chaotic family dynamics and relentless sibling teasing was a touch that I particularly appreciated. Ofte, in romance books, the story feels like it's happening in a bubble with how uninvolved everyone else seems to be. That wasn't the case here and it made for both some hilarious and heartfelt moment.
One thing that I particularly appreciated here is the way D'Vaughn's coming out to her mom was portrayed, it was somewhere in a hurtful and confusing middle, neither full acceptance nor complete rejection, acknowledging that even the "I've known all along"" is hurtful and quietly violent when you have been struggling in hiding for so long, without the other person ever extending a branch. Usually it's either/or and I was happy to see this weird hazy middle reflected in the story.
So yes, the gays have won with this one.
June 15, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
A reality TV show where you compete to convince family and friends you're getting married, and then decide whether to say I do or take the money instead....
D'Vaughn is a fat, Black femme lesbian using the show to come out to her religious family.
Kris is a Afro-Latinx masc-presenting lesbian looking for love after being burned by people who were only with her for social media clout.
They are paired for the show and are really into each other, but will those feelings turn into something real?
This was a very good sapphic romance with great representation and a fun concept. I liked the reality show idea and the weekly challenges added interesting structure to the plot, though it also made it feel rushed at times, perhaps due to page constraints.
Something that some readers might like (but was a bit much for me) is the couple engages in a LOT of PDA in front of their families AND gets it on in a semi-public space at one point. Again, some readers will find that hot, I found it to be nerve-wracking. To each their own.
One issue I had with the audio narrator is the internal voices of the characters were too similar most of the time and I had a hard time figuring out which perspective we were in. I'm not sure if reading the book physically would fix that. But overall, I really enjoyed the romantic development. And it's a rare romance that doesn't use the miscommunication trope or third-act breakup! I would definitely read more from this author.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
A reality TV show where you compete to convince family and friends you're getting married, and then decide whether to say I do or take the money instead....
D'Vaughn is a fat, Black femme lesbian using the show to come out to her religious family.
Kris is a Afro-Latinx masc-presenting lesbian looking for love after being burned by people who were only with her for social media clout.
They are paired for the show and are really into each other, but will those feelings turn into something real?
This was a very good sapphic romance with great representation and a fun concept. I liked the reality show idea and the weekly challenges added interesting structure to the plot, though it also made it feel rushed at times, perhaps due to page constraints.
Something that some readers might like (but was a bit much for me) is the couple engages in a LOT of PDA in front of their families AND gets it on in a semi-public space at one point. Again, some readers will find that hot, I found it to be nerve-wracking. To each their own.
One issue I had with the audio narrator is the internal voices of the characters were too similar most of the time and I had a hard time figuring out which perspective we were in. I'm not sure if reading the book physically would fix that. But overall, I really enjoyed the romantic development. And it's a rare romance that doesn't use the miscommunication trope or third-act breakup! I would definitely read more from this author.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
August 11, 2022
This was an amazing, funny, beautiful, Black sapphic romance story that I absolutely LOVED!!
These might be the most likable characters ever!! Literally all these characters were so wonderful. There was never a boring moment!
D’vaughn and Kris are soulmates and it was so beautiful to read about them falling in love and being so happy together.
I love how there was no miscommunication trope or any big conflict towards to end. The whole story was about them learning about one another and slowly building the trust and communication they needed in their relationship Gosh, I adored everything about that!
READ THIS BOOK IT WAS WONDERFUL!!
These might be the most likable characters ever!! Literally all these characters were so wonderful. There was never a boring moment!
D’vaughn and Kris are soulmates and it was so beautiful to read about them falling in love and being so happy together.
I love how there was no miscommunication trope or any big conflict towards to end. The whole story was about them learning about one another and slowly building the trust and communication they needed in their relationship Gosh, I adored everything about that!
READ THIS BOOK IT WAS WONDERFUL!!
July 8, 2022
4.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Lesbians entering a fake dating show where they have to convince their families they’re in love with and marrying a perfect stranger and the lesbians in questions fall in love for real!?
I usually have to suspend my disbelief for insta-love plots but the chemistry between D’Vaughn and Kris were so off the charts that I hardly noticed the timeframe. They have the type of love where you don’t even hesitate to root for a very real wedding at the end of them only knowing each other for 4 weeks.
Although I would’ve liked some more in-depth explorations and acknowledgments of the culture(s) Kris belongs to (because I genuinely don��t recall what part of the diaspora her mother’s side of the family belongs to), I think the Spanglish and terms of endearment flowed beautifully with Kris’ character. It didn’t deal clunky or out of place.
The conversations surrounding one’s relationship to religion, their comfortability in their sexuality, and learning to break away from preconceived notions of various communities were so refreshing and good to see sprinkled in this Romcom.
This was a good time.
CW: explicit sexual content, recurring (but brief) discussions surrounding race and ethnicity, brief moments discussing internalized homophobia, recurring discussions/focus surrounding homophobia from family/loved ones
Lesbians entering a fake dating show where they have to convince their families they’re in love with and marrying a perfect stranger and the lesbians in questions fall in love for real!?
I usually have to suspend my disbelief for insta-love plots but the chemistry between D’Vaughn and Kris were so off the charts that I hardly noticed the timeframe. They have the type of love where you don’t even hesitate to root for a very real wedding at the end of them only knowing each other for 4 weeks.
Although I would’ve liked some more in-depth explorations and acknowledgments of the culture(s) Kris belongs to (because I genuinely don��t recall what part of the diaspora her mother’s side of the family belongs to), I think the Spanglish and terms of endearment flowed beautifully with Kris’ character. It didn’t deal clunky or out of place.
The conversations surrounding one’s relationship to religion, their comfortability in their sexuality, and learning to break away from preconceived notions of various communities were so refreshing and good to see sprinkled in this Romcom.
This was a good time.
CW: explicit sexual content, recurring (but brief) discussions surrounding race and ethnicity, brief moments discussing internalized homophobia, recurring discussions/focus surrounding homophobia from family/loved ones
April 21, 2023
you know how you have a book that’s been sitting on your shelf for months and you never got around to reading it even though you’ve only heard good things about it? that’s d’vaughn and kris plan a wedding. every
person with book reviews i trust said i needed to read it (hence me buying it damn near a year ago) but for some reason my stubborn self didn’t pick it up until recently and boy did it blow my mind.
this is what i mean when i say i want to read a rom-com. this book had all the elements that make me go feral. a secret agreement. fake dating (kinda). arranged marriage (kinda). mutual pining (heavy). lusty spice scenes. reality tv dating show.
i’m a straight woman so i don’t know what it’s like to come out to family. i’ve never went through the difficulty of hiding parts of myself out of fear of losing my family but i think chencia did a beautiful job with explaining d’vaughn’s story to the readers. kris was the perfect person for d’vaughn. i think they balanced each other out perfectly. reading them falling in love with each other had me kicking my feet while giggling. i loved this books so much.
if you were thinking about reading it, go now!
person with book reviews i trust said i needed to read it (hence me buying it damn near a year ago) but for some reason my stubborn self didn’t pick it up until recently and boy did it blow my mind.
this is what i mean when i say i want to read a rom-com. this book had all the elements that make me go feral. a secret agreement. fake dating (kinda). arranged marriage (kinda). mutual pining (heavy). lusty spice scenes. reality tv dating show.
i’m a straight woman so i don’t know what it’s like to come out to family. i’ve never went through the difficulty of hiding parts of myself out of fear of losing my family but i think chencia did a beautiful job with explaining d’vaughn’s story to the readers. kris was the perfect person for d’vaughn. i think they balanced each other out perfectly. reading them falling in love with each other had me kicking my feet while giggling. i loved this books so much.
if you were thinking about reading it, go now!
February 23, 2022
I feel like I'm being a bit of a downer, but this was just an OK book for me. There were some parts that I enjoyed reading, but although it was supposed to be funny, I didn't find it funny. Perhaps it was because I don't watch reality shows. Or perhaps because I don't understand the social media influencers phenomenon. Or the insta-love trope. I don't know.
But anyway, this was a fresh and sexy romantic comedy, with almost no angst, and with a very lovable main character: D'Vaughn.
But anyway, this was a fresh and sexy romantic comedy, with almost no angst, and with a very lovable main character: D'Vaughn.
February 18, 2024
i’m so sad i can’t believe i’m giving a low rating to a book that has TWO black lesbians as main characters when i’ve always been so starved for rep like that, but it is what it is.
i was kinda bummed that i had to switch from audiobook to ebook right in the beginning. i liked the narrator, her voice was great! that is until she started speaking spanish… i could barely understand and couldn’t listen to it without cringing. if you’re going to make another language such an important part of a book and character, at least get a narrator that can speak said language. but even when it came to the writing the spanish still felt a bit off. i’m not even a spanish speaker but even i could tell there were many mistakes there and it annoyed me a bit. some phrases felt like they were just thrown in the google translator.
i spent a considerable amount of time thinking kris also used male pronouns because her own mother was talking to her in spanish using male pronouns, until kris confirms later that she only uses she/her. did no one proofread this?
that aside, the story itself did nothing for me. nothing happens and its just boring. the whole tv show concept was so weird to me because what do you mean you have to convince your family that you’re marrying someone they’ve never seen or heard about? and you’re fine with that? but okay i guess.
kris’s relationship with her family was great and very heartwarming. they were so supportive of her because they trusted her and believed in what she was saying. so when there was no conflict by the end when they found out the truth just felt unrealistic. the same goes to d’vaughn’s family.
i do think they were oversharing when it came to certain topics. the amount of sexual innuendo and PDA in front of their family was just weird. why would you say that d’vaughn likes to call you “daddy” to her sister???? why why would she need to know that? and why would your brother tell you that he likes his “meat throbbing”? no sir keep that to yourself please.
i liked the sweet moments between kris and d’vaughn. but it was kinda hard to enjoy them because i just didn’t feel the connection between the characters. my favorite part about the fake relationship trope is seeing the main couple pretending to have these feelings for each other and then slowly realizing they’re not that fake. i couldn’t really tell that here. there is a lot of telling instead of showing, which i hate.
giving this 2 stars for the diversity (oh kris and d’vaughn are beautiful), the few sweet moments there and the both times i laughed out loud when the author thought calling a woman’s breasts and ass “round globes” would be hot during a sex scene.
i was kinda bummed that i had to switch from audiobook to ebook right in the beginning. i liked the narrator, her voice was great! that is until she started speaking spanish… i could barely understand and couldn’t listen to it without cringing. if you’re going to make another language such an important part of a book and character, at least get a narrator that can speak said language. but even when it came to the writing the spanish still felt a bit off. i’m not even a spanish speaker but even i could tell there were many mistakes there and it annoyed me a bit. some phrases felt like they were just thrown in the google translator.
i spent a considerable amount of time thinking kris also used male pronouns because her own mother was talking to her in spanish using male pronouns, until kris confirms later that she only uses she/her. did no one proofread this?
that aside, the story itself did nothing for me. nothing happens and its just boring. the whole tv show concept was so weird to me because what do you mean you have to convince your family that you’re marrying someone they’ve never seen or heard about? and you’re fine with that? but okay i guess.
kris’s relationship with her family was great and very heartwarming. they were so supportive of her because they trusted her and believed in what she was saying. so when there was no conflict by the end when they found out the truth just felt unrealistic. the same goes to d’vaughn’s family.
i do think they were oversharing when it came to certain topics. the amount of sexual innuendo and PDA in front of their family was just weird. why would you say that d’vaughn likes to call you “daddy” to her sister???? why why would she need to know that? and why would your brother tell you that he likes his “meat throbbing”? no sir keep that to yourself please.
i liked the sweet moments between kris and d’vaughn. but it was kinda hard to enjoy them because i just didn’t feel the connection between the characters. my favorite part about the fake relationship trope is seeing the main couple pretending to have these feelings for each other and then slowly realizing they’re not that fake. i couldn’t really tell that here. there is a lot of telling instead of showing, which i hate.
giving this 2 stars for the diversity (oh kris and d’vaughn are beautiful), the few sweet moments there and the both times i laughed out loud when the author thought calling a woman’s breasts and ass “round globes” would be hot during a sex scene.
July 12, 2022
I liked the concept of this book very much, the idea of a fake relationship in the context of a reality TV show is something I haven’t seen before. I’m not a fan of reality TV but I don’t mind reading about it so I recommend it even if this is not to your liking, especially if you enjoy the fake relationship trope.
D’Vaughn and Kris are paired as a soon-to-marry couple on the TV reality show Instant I do. In six weeks they have to convince their families that they are in love, engaged and planning their impending wedding. When both families buy into the idea and as both women get to know each other, the lines between fake and real start to blur…
This is a very enjoyable and feel-good butch-femme story in the fake relationship trope. What I liked most about this book is the cast of characters, mains and secondary alike, especially in its diversity. D’Vaughn and her family are African American and Kris is Hispanic. Additionally, D’Vaughn is a plus-size lady which is always great to read about as they are normally underrepresented in Sapphic fiction.
As Kris is Hispanic, this book has a few sentences in Spanish which are contextualized in English, so you don’t need to be bilingual to understand everything. However, there is some grammatical gender confusion that possibly comes from the written version and I don’t think is related to a gender-neutral approach to Kris because she’s referred to as male or female on different occasions. It confused me as a native Spanish speaker but I’m sure most English readers won’t notice anyway.
This is the first time I listened to Rebecca Lee narrating. I liked her general performance of emotions though I sometimes got confused with some voices. As I said above, this book has a few sentences in Spanish and even though the narrator doesn’t sound like a native speaker she does a good job. She shines mostly in the performance of some characters, especially when there is humor and histrionics involved.
Overall, an entertaining and sweet audiobook with diverse characters. 4 stars.
Length: 8 hours, 47 minutes.
Available in Scribd
D’Vaughn and Kris are paired as a soon-to-marry couple on the TV reality show Instant I do. In six weeks they have to convince their families that they are in love, engaged and planning their impending wedding. When both families buy into the idea and as both women get to know each other, the lines between fake and real start to blur…
This is a very enjoyable and feel-good butch-femme story in the fake relationship trope. What I liked most about this book is the cast of characters, mains and secondary alike, especially in its diversity. D’Vaughn and her family are African American and Kris is Hispanic. Additionally, D’Vaughn is a plus-size lady which is always great to read about as they are normally underrepresented in Sapphic fiction.
As Kris is Hispanic, this book has a few sentences in Spanish which are contextualized in English, so you don’t need to be bilingual to understand everything. However, there is some grammatical gender confusion that possibly comes from the written version and I don’t think is related to a gender-neutral approach to Kris because she’s referred to as male or female on different occasions. It confused me as a native Spanish speaker but I’m sure most English readers won’t notice anyway.
This is the first time I listened to Rebecca Lee narrating. I liked her general performance of emotions though I sometimes got confused with some voices. As I said above, this book has a few sentences in Spanish and even though the narrator doesn’t sound like a native speaker she does a good job. She shines mostly in the performance of some characters, especially when there is humor and histrionics involved.
Overall, an entertaining and sweet audiobook with diverse characters. 4 stars.
Length: 8 hours, 47 minutes.
Available in Scribd
March 14, 2023
Maybe fake relationship books do deserve rights.
This was just so cute. D'Vaughn and Kris were both such fully realized characters. Genuinely feel like I could find them on social media or run into them on the street. Particularly loved how D'Vaughn's coming out was handled and how Kris showed up for her over and over again. Their emotional and sexual chemistry was immaculate and I ate it up. I was living for both of their families in this book too. Like I know this is a standalone... but I kiinda wanna see some of the siblings find love ok?😭 Also I'm always here for exploring mother-daughter relationships so I appreciated how D'Vaughn's relationship with her mom was handled.
Now even though this is a mostly low angst story, the family's response to the whole thing was way too chill to be realistic. Like idk me personally..you mean to tell me I scrambled to plan your wedding in 6 weeks and it was all for a show!? I would've at LEAST had questions. And based on the ways Kris and D'Vaughn's families were characterized earlier in the book, they should've had questions. So their complete lack of response felt too out of character imo. Also, the reality show was better in concept than in execution.
Overall, my fave thing about this book was how much it made me smile. It's been time for me to dip my toe into sapphic romances, and I'm so glad I started with this one.
This was just so cute. D'Vaughn and Kris were both such fully realized characters. Genuinely feel like I could find them on social media or run into them on the street. Particularly loved how D'Vaughn's coming out was handled and how Kris showed up for her over and over again. Their emotional and sexual chemistry was immaculate and I ate it up. I was living for both of their families in this book too. Like I know this is a standalone... but I kiinda wanna see some of the siblings find love ok?😭 Also I'm always here for exploring mother-daughter relationships so I appreciated how D'Vaughn's relationship with her mom was handled.
Now even though this is a mostly low angst story, the family's response to the whole thing was way too chill to be realistic. Like idk me personally..you mean to tell me I scrambled to plan your wedding in 6 weeks and it was all for a show!? I would've at LEAST had questions. And based on the ways Kris and D'Vaughn's families were characterized earlier in the book, they should've had questions. So their complete lack of response felt too out of character imo. Also, the reality show was better in concept than in execution.
Overall, my fave thing about this book was how much it made me smile. It's been time for me to dip my toe into sapphic romances, and I'm so glad I started with this one.
June 14, 2023
*Minor spoilers below*
I absolutely loved the romance! D’Vaughn and Kris were so honest and open with each other, which was incredibly refreshing. They were in each other’s CORNER.
I lost the plot a bit because the reality show wasn’t all that interesting to me, and it both seemed kinda like a confusing afterthought but also too present lol. The network messing with exes and stuff just felt very random and annoying. It was a unique premise (faking the engagement) but not one I particularly loved.
I also just didn’t really understand what the show was supposed to accomplish? Also the way they chose the winner seemed very random. Also their families didn’t seem at all confused or hurt after the reveal?? I would’ve had QUESTIONS.
Also I would’ve taken the money and had a courthouse wedding LMAO. I know they got another check but I’ve gotta be practical…like they wouldn’t have fallen out of love if they took the original check lol.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I absolutely loved the romance! D’Vaughn and Kris were so honest and open with each other, which was incredibly refreshing. They were in each other’s CORNER.
I lost the plot a bit because the reality show wasn’t all that interesting to me, and it both seemed kinda like a confusing afterthought but also too present lol. The network messing with exes and stuff just felt very random and annoying. It was a unique premise (faking the engagement) but not one I particularly loved.
I also just didn’t really understand what the show was supposed to accomplish? Also the way they chose the winner seemed very random. Also their families didn’t seem at all confused or hurt after the reveal?? I would’ve had QUESTIONS.
Also I would’ve taken the money and had a courthouse wedding LMAO. I know they got another check but I’ve gotta be practical…like they wouldn’t have fallen out of love if they took the original check lol.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶️🌶️/5
December 14, 2022
Stop biting your lip!
September 7, 2022
4.5
this author can write like romantic love and like expressions of love descriptions is the word im looking for. anyways she can write that really fucking well like sheesh
dvaughn queenie we are one and the same it got like freaky at points
i love kris my heart was in my throat reading the last like 30% bc i would’ve jumped through the kindle and fought her thick thighs and all if anything got fucked up
no third act breakup like my hr was through the roof i was so nervous when they dvaughn got down on one knee i could finally relax
screaming at that club chair scene like screaming
very very cute very kicking your feet giggling blushing like very
this only took me longer to read bc i was studying for like 8 hrs straight and didn’t want to read this in a bad mood even tho it would’ve helped but i wanted my experience to be as beautiful and light as possible
this author can write like romantic love and like expressions of love descriptions is the word im looking for. anyways she can write that really fucking well like sheesh
dvaughn queenie we are one and the same it got like freaky at points
i love kris my heart was in my throat reading the last like 30% bc i would’ve jumped through the kindle and fought her thick thighs and all if anything got fucked up
no third act breakup like my hr was through the roof i was so nervous when they dvaughn got down on one knee i could finally relax
screaming at that club chair scene like screaming
very very cute very kicking your feet giggling blushing like very
this only took me longer to read bc i was studying for like 8 hrs straight and didn’t want to read this in a bad mood even tho it would’ve helped but i wanted my experience to be as beautiful and light as possible
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 18, 2023This is my first time reading about a Black lesbian couple in my twenty-four years of life and ugh I needed this. This book was just a celebration of queerness, blackness and love and I will cherish it forever.
June 11, 2022
3.5ish!
June 19, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was so damn sweet and the ending made me cry several times. I love them so much.
This dual POV romance follows D'Vaughn and Kris who are paired on a reality tv show about planning an unexpected wedding in six weeks. Besides not knowing each other before the show, both of them have different reasons for coming on the show. D'Vaughn is closeted and hasn't been ready to be out, but she's going to use the show to tell her family, and mainly her mother that she is a lesbian. Kris on the other hand, is an out and proud stud. She has collected a following on social media, and it has always kept people at a distance. Kris wants to fall in love with someone and she's hoping to find the woman of her dreams on the show.
I loved both of these characters so much!! They are incredible and I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry together. We get to see these two fall in love. It is fast which is the nature of the show, but it still felt realistic. And that's coming from a demiromantic person. This two dive in and they dive in with each other. I loved getting to meet their families and see how their families reacted to the news of their marriage.
Then there's the ending! I cried so many happy tears. Honestly that's all you need to know. Go pick this book up right now.
Rep: Black Tejano lesbian cis female MC, fat Black lesbian cis female MC, Afro-latina lesbian cis female side character, side MLM couple, Tejano gay cis male side character, various Black and Tejano side characters, white pansexual cis female side character, Black femme lesbian cis female side character, white queer cis male side character, fat Black heterosexual trans female MC, nonbinary side character.
CWs: Sexual content, cursing. Moderate: pregnancy, racism, colorism, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, religious bigotry, alcohol consumption, emotional abuse, fatphobia. Minor: infidelity, transphobia/transmisia, outing.
This was so damn sweet and the ending made me cry several times. I love them so much.
This dual POV romance follows D'Vaughn and Kris who are paired on a reality tv show about planning an unexpected wedding in six weeks. Besides not knowing each other before the show, both of them have different reasons for coming on the show. D'Vaughn is closeted and hasn't been ready to be out, but she's going to use the show to tell her family, and mainly her mother that she is a lesbian. Kris on the other hand, is an out and proud stud. She has collected a following on social media, and it has always kept people at a distance. Kris wants to fall in love with someone and she's hoping to find the woman of her dreams on the show.
I loved both of these characters so much!! They are incredible and I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry together. We get to see these two fall in love. It is fast which is the nature of the show, but it still felt realistic. And that's coming from a demiromantic person. This two dive in and they dive in with each other. I loved getting to meet their families and see how their families reacted to the news of their marriage.
Then there's the ending! I cried so many happy tears. Honestly that's all you need to know. Go pick this book up right now.
Rep: Black Tejano lesbian cis female MC, fat Black lesbian cis female MC, Afro-latina lesbian cis female side character, side MLM couple, Tejano gay cis male side character, various Black and Tejano side characters, white pansexual cis female side character, Black femme lesbian cis female side character, white queer cis male side character, fat Black heterosexual trans female MC, nonbinary side character.
CWs: Sexual content, cursing. Moderate: pregnancy, racism, colorism, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, religious bigotry, alcohol consumption, emotional abuse, fatphobia. Minor: infidelity, transphobia/transmisia, outing.
July 15, 2023
i guess this reality tv sapphic novel just wasn't for me. i love that the romance is black and sapphic, that kind of representation is amazing and we need to see more of it in romance novels. i hate that it was insta-love, no conflict, and the premise of the show made no sense. d'vaughn used the show to come out (ew) and kris used it to get famous (double ew). also, the ending??? made no sense. like, what?
June 12, 2022
D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding is a slow burn, steamy, fake dating to lovers sapphic romance.
D’Vaughn Miller and Kris Zavala both find themselves on a dating reality show where they could each win $100,000 as long as they plan a fake wedding in six weeks with their families on board. No pressure.
I really enjoyed the chemistry between D’Vaughn and Kris because both women really brought out something in each other, and the loaded banter between the two of them was flirtatious and even super steamy at times.
I don’t normally enjoy coming out stories because they can be filled with so much trauma, but I really enjoyed how Kris navigated D’Vaughn not initially being out and stepping up in the supportive department when the time came.
There’s also a really fantastic conversation that takes place between Kris and D’Vaughn’s mother in regards to Afro-Latinx folks being a part of the Black diaspora that needs to happen more often.
Oh, and lastly, the steamy scenes in this were *chef’s kiss*.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
D’Vaughn Miller and Kris Zavala both find themselves on a dating reality show where they could each win $100,000 as long as they plan a fake wedding in six weeks with their families on board. No pressure.
I really enjoyed the chemistry between D’Vaughn and Kris because both women really brought out something in each other, and the loaded banter between the two of them was flirtatious and even super steamy at times.
I don’t normally enjoy coming out stories because they can be filled with so much trauma, but I really enjoyed how Kris navigated D’Vaughn not initially being out and stepping up in the supportive department when the time came.
There’s also a really fantastic conversation that takes place between Kris and D’Vaughn’s mother in regards to Afro-Latinx folks being a part of the Black diaspora that needs to happen more often.
Oh, and lastly, the steamy scenes in this were *chef’s kiss*.
Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2023
Content warnings: homophobia, racism, coming out themes.
Rep: D’Vaughn is Black and lesbian, Kris is Afro-Latinx and lesbian (butch/stud), everyone else is BI/POC, other side queer characters.
This book was incredible from start to finish.
I laughed so hard during so many parts! This is absolutely a new favourite and I can’t wait to reread it soon!
There were so many funny parts, wholesome parts, and it was just so brilliant. I laughed, I cried, and I swooned.
D’Vaughn and Kris are couple goals.
First read: 03-05/07/2022
Second read: 10-12/12/2022
Third read: 11-12/09/2023
Bookish links: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: D’Vaughn is Black and lesbian, Kris is Afro-Latinx and lesbian (butch/stud), everyone else is BI/POC, other side queer characters.
This book was incredible from start to finish.
I laughed so hard during so many parts! This is absolutely a new favourite and I can’t wait to reread it soon!
There were so many funny parts, wholesome parts, and it was just so brilliant. I laughed, I cried, and I swooned.
D’Vaughn and Kris are couple goals.
First read: 03-05/07/2022
Second read: 10-12/12/2022
Third read: 11-12/09/2023
Bookish links: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
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