Reviewed by Valerie
TITLE: The Charmer
AUTHOR: Riley Hart
SERIES: The Vers Podcast
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 266 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 6, 2023
BLURB:
Corbin
If you listen to The Vers, a queer podcast I host with my three best friends, you know me as The Charmer. I’m always happy, flirting, and trying to win everyone over. I think most people would be surprised to learn I have a lot more going on beneath the surface.
But ever since all my friends have fallen in love, it’s getting more difficult not to feel left out…
Cue my fascination with Spencer, my neighbor who hates me. There’s something addicting about getting under his skin, and I blame the combination of my confusing emotions and too many drinks for spilling my guts to him about all my insecurities…and about how much I love cuddling.
Turns out, Spencer doesn’t hate me, and my word vomit is the catalyst that makes us decide to be cuddle buddies. When I need affection, I go to him, and he just…holds me. Along the way we become friends, and when I fall for him, it’s surprising that he feels the same. Spencer’s easy to talk to, fun to be around, and did I mention he’s hot? I love how confident he is in his full figure, and there’s nothing like being in his beefy arms.
Spencer has me wanting more for the first time in my life, and he’s determined to help with my disordered eating, but if I want a healthy future with him, I need to work toward being healthy for myself too.
REVIEW:
The Charmer is the final book in Riley Hart’s The Vers Podcast series about four ride-or-die friends and podcasters finding their true loves. This time it’s Corbin’s turn in a friend to lovers, second chance romance. This story has a great message about self-acceptance, body positivity, and seeing the beauty within.
Corbin comes off as charming and flirty, but he’s really just masking his lack of confidence and loneliness. His self-worth is dependent on his appearance. He likes the feeling of being wanted by many men. Also, his three best friends have all partnered up and he’s feeling like the odd man out.
Corbin’s neighbor, Spencer, seems to hate him. Spencer is the opposite of Corbin: he’s carrying a few extra pounds but he’s comfortable with his body. He’s not so charmed with Corbin initially, seeing him as a superficial egoist who cares too much about fitting in rather than being himself. Once Spencer gets over being judgy, they become friends, and then companions who cuddle, to lovers.
The problem for me with this novel is Corbin. He’s not particularly lovable. He’s rarely serious and acts too juvenile and I just didn’t like him. As the book went on, I did find him to be a more sympathetic character and I found myself smiling and happy for him. The book came across largely as Corbin’s journey to self-acceptance with the relationship taking a back seat at times.
My favorite parts of the story involve the found family of Beach Bum friends and their partners. The scenes with all of them are heavy with the humor. But overall, The Charmer didn’t win me over. However, if you’ve read the previous books, I’d recommend finishing the series with this book.
RATING: 
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