As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns.

So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy-reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch-an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.ĭev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. “ The Charm Offensive will sweep you off your feet.” -PopSugar

(Sept.A MOST ANTICIPATED ROM-COM SELECTED BY * BUZZFEED * LGBTQ READS * BUSTLE * THE NERD DAILY * ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT * FROLIC MEDIA * AND MORE!Ī BEST BOOK PICK BY * HARPER’S BAZAAR * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY Agent: Bibi Lewis, Ethan Ellenberg Literary. Nonetheless, readers seeking romance that prioritizes inclusive explorations of sexual identity and mental illness will treasure this. And in order to achieve a twist ending, Cochrun arranges the denouement in a way that strains credulity. She’s also scrupulous in portraying both Charlie’s and Dev’s struggles with mental health, though Charlie’s panic attacks during difficult social interactions or unexpected physical contact make the premise that he would choose to participate in a dating show even more dubious. Cochrun beautifully captures how inexperienced Charlie comes to recognize his feelings for Dev and takes great pains to portray her diverse cast of LGBTQ characters sensitively. Their relationship deepens in secret as Dev coaches Charlie through filming, but their obligations to the show threaten their happy ending. He’s not expecting to find real love with any of the women competing for his proposal, but he does discover a genuine connection with handsome producer Dev Deshpande, a hopeless romantic tasked with making Charlie seem more personable on camera. After awkward tech millionaire Charles Winshaw is ousted from his Silicon Valley company, he makes the improbable decision to rehabilitate his image by becoming the next star of Ever After, a Bachelor-style reality show. Cochrun probes the realities behind a fairy tale romance in her warmhearted if flawed debut.

Alison cochrun the charm offensive