A review by arielmerm8
The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

5.0

"I don't love you despite those things. I love you because of those things."

The Charm Offensive was deceptively sweet and cute... while addressing real-world mental illness like anxiety, depression, and OCD. The characters of Dev and Charlie were fully-formed and rich. I was rooting for them both from the start.

The story follows Dev, recently out of a long-term relationship, who works for a reality TV dating show a la The Bachelor. Charlie is the new unconventional male contestant that Dev is put in charge of.

The friendship and eventual romance is both sweet and messy as they each have to come to terms with their inner struggles and their commitments to the outside world.

Spoiler (for an ending that DIDN'T happen):
I so wanted to see Charlie at the final crowning ceremony, searching for Dev in the wings with the two remaining women in front if him, and asking Dev to be his prince! But alas! The actual ending was still rewarding!