e-ALC, 09:05:04
Narrated by: Mark Sanderlin
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Published by: Harlequin Audio
Read from: January 1, 2026
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received this ALC free from the publisher and Netgalley. This did nothing to influence my review!)
Content Warning: Panic Attacks/Disorders, Sexual Content, Mental Illness, Cursing, Infidelity, Chronic Illness, Death, Toxic Relationship
For Readers Interested In: 2sLGBTQ+, Adult, Adventure, Audio, Billionaire Romance, Classic Retelling, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Sparkly Cover, Most Anticipated, Own Voices, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Stand-aloneThe spiciest risks lead to the sweetest rewards in this delicious, MM retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Dario Cotogna has a problem. Per his late grandfather’s wishes, if Dario’s not married by his thirty-second birthday, his family’s chocolate empire will go to his philandering little brother. To make matters worse, Dario’s agoraphobia keeps him locked away from the rest of the world. How can he put himself out there and meet “the one” if he literally can’t put himself out there?
The solution? A global competition. Five lucky contestants get an all-expenses-paid trip to Dario’s luxury Italian villa for a chance at becoming his lawfully wedded spouse.
But aspiring tattoo artist Charlie Moore isn’t looking for love—he’s looking for a miracle. As his grandparents’ sole caregiver, he’s desperate to keep their bill collectors at bay. Marrying into the Amorina Chocolate fortune could save his family home from foreclosure. But when Charlie meets the brilliant heir, their attraction is instant—and very, very real.
After a whirlwind week of wine, indulgence and temptation as spicy as it is sweet, will Dario and Charlie melt under the pressure…or find a love that’s truly worth savoring?
*MY THOUGHTS*
Before I started reading this I spent a long time trying to figure out how in the world they were going to do a retelling of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I just couldn’t see it. But I needn’t have worried. Timothy Janovsky is going to do it every time.
I know this seemed pretty basic, but I loved it. Mostly because of the nostalgia that it brought me and the way it was so damn unique. I ad never heard of, let alone read any other Charlie retelling, so I was so excited. And omg it was actually so close! The golden tickets were there, the other visitors were there, the chocolate maker, the sick grandparents, and all. (Although I DID get mad at Janovsky for not making his grandpa get up randomly once he won to say he’d go with him lolol) This was a great story with a solid nod toward the original.
This also had the signature Janovsky humor and charm. I laughed so much (and sometimes at the wrong times) while I read this. The part where I laughed the hardest? The one trying for the Guinness World Record lol I wasn’t even the one who ate it and my stomach was hurting. And when he was done and started talking about what had happened, Idk why but I lost it lol I laughed at that person because why would you even consider that? And the way the others got out were also some of the things I laughed at as well. That first person was a big WTF tho. I couldn’t do anything but laugh at that crazy.
The only thing was the plot. It was cute, but it wasn’t exactly riveting. Like there wasn’t anything that made it its own until you got to the end. And that was mainly the third act break-up. I did like that he used that opportunity to close all the other plot lines tho. Like his agoraphobia and the thing with his brother. Those things deserved to be looked at, so I was glad to see that he didn’t forget about them.
I enjoyed this for the most part. It was creative and unique and I was already smitten with that. Throw in the fact that it’s a Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and it made for a pretty sweet story. I hope someday we get some more obscure retellings from Janovsky because this was a wild ride lol
Overall, I give this
