Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff

Standalone Contemporary Romance Novella

Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff is the first release from a new romance publishing company, 831 Stories. At just 176 pages, it’s a long novella, but luckily, it doesn’t feel like it skimps on anything important. It’s smart, sexy, and honestly, I’m a sucker for a good celebrity/normal person romance.

Maya, once a big-deal political campaign strategist, had her career wrecked after her ex cheated on her, creating a very public scandal. I mean, who wants a campaign manager with that kind of baggage, right? So, after taking a hit, Maya worked on rebuilding her image. She did a piece for Vogue, the same issue that happened to feature her teenage crush—Charlie Blake, former boy-band heartthrob from Mischief. Fun fact: she even started his fan club when she was 15, which is what kickstarted her whole career in politics.

After the article came out, Maya scored a new job with a Governor candidate. And then—get this—Charlie Blake called her, asking for help re-launching his career. Can you imagine your teenage crush just calling you up out of nowhere? Naturally, she agreed to meet him (because, duh), but she turned down the job. Her passion was politics, and she was set on making real changes in the world. But they did end up striking up a friendship.

“At seventeen and eighteen, he was a rangy kid with surprisingly broad shoulders and a wicked dimpled grin. Now he’s thirty-seven and filled out with muscle, crow’s-feet winking at the corner of each eye. His hair is still silky, but it’s dirty blond threaded with the barest hints of silver.”

Maya’s really into UBI (Universal Basic Income), and she took the Governor job because it aligned with that mission. UBI is a major theme in Big Fan, and while I like the concept, and it’s interesting to learn about, at times the book feels a bit like an advertisement for it. When Charlie joined the campaign to help promote UBI, their friendship started to shift into something more, but the last thing Maya needed was another high-profile relationship!

Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff is a quick, easy read. The writing style is short and snappy, which does come off as a bit immature at times, but it makes for a breezy story about smart characters. The whole thing is in 1st person, so it pulls you right in. If you liked The Idea of You, you might get similar vibes here, but without the age-gap dynamic. And, from what I can gather, it may have even started as One Direction fan fiction.

In the end, Big Fan is short but satisfying. If you’re into steamy celebrity/normal person romances and don’t mind a bit of politics, you should check it out. Oh, and if you visit the 831 Stories website, there’s a great song from the book, an epilogue, and even some fanfic scenes from other authors. Just be warned—the hot pink and red color scheme like the cover is a killer for your eyes.