The Charm Offensive is a 2021 debut romantic comedy by American author Alison Cochrun. The novel follows Charlie Winshaw’s journey to repair his public image while appearing on the fictional reality dating show Ever After. Charlie falls in love with his producer, Dev Deshpande, highlighting LGBTQ+ Love and Representation and Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance, two of the novel’s central themes. A best book pick by both Harper’s Bazaar and Entertainment Weekly, The Charm Offensive was also a selection for The American Library Association’s Reading List.

This guide refers to the 2021 e-book edition published by Atria Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Content Warning: The source material includes discussions about mental health topics, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder. This guide summarizes and analyzes these passages relating to the text’s themes.

Plot Summary

A limited third-person narrator introduces Charlie Winshaw and Dev Deshpande via alternating perspectives on the first night of filming the reality dating television show Ever After. Dev, recovering after a painful breakup with longtime boyfriend and co-worker, Ryan Parker, is reassigned to work as Charlie’s handler. The other producers find Charlie difficult, but Maureen Scott, the show’s creator, trusts Dev to coach Charlie into fulfilling the suave prince charming role. Dev immediately recognizes that Charlie doesn’t like to be touched and is incredibly nervous. He helps Charlie get through the first night of filming and moves into the guest suite with Charlie to build a close, working relationship.

Parisa Khadim, Charlie’s publicist, convinced Charlie to star in Ever After to repair his reputation after being fired from WinHan, a company Charlie co-created with his college roommate and close friend, Josh Han. Charlie has no intention of finding a happily ever after while on the show. This news upsets Dev, who strongly believes in true love. Dev hopes to change Charlie’s mind about finding a soul mate. To help Charlie feel more comfortable around the contestants, Dev takes Charlie on practice dates. In doing so, the men grow close and comfortable with each other. Dev shares with Charlie an LGBTQ+ rom-com movie script he wrote. When Charlie shares positive feedback about the script, he realizes he is physically and emotionally attracted to Dev. Dev also observes a growing affection for Charlie, especially after Charlie divulges essential details about his mental health. Charlie has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and anxiety. Dev comforts Charlie with various support mechanisms, often involving physical touch, when Charlie experiences panic attacks.

Charlie and Dev’s relationship grows and becomes physical when the cast and crew of Ever After begin filming at various destinations worldwide. Though they try to convince each other that they are still practicing, Dev and Charlie fall in love. Diagnosed with depression, Dev experiences a major depressive episode while filming in Munich, Germany. Charlie comforts Dev. Although they attempt to keep their relationship a secret, Dev’s close friend and co-worker, Jules Lu, and Parisa discover their romance and encourage the men to fight for each other. Both Charlie and Dev are contractually obligated to refrain from serious involvement with each other. Meanwhile, Dev must coach Charlie into developing relationships with several women constantly prodded into dramatic situations.

By the time Charlie has selected his final three “princesses,” Charlie and Dev are profoundly in love with each other and fantasize about their future together. Charlie and Daphne Reynolds, a contestant on the show who is questioning her sexuality, devise a plan to enter into a fake engagement for Ever After’s sake. Daphne and Angie, another contestant, know about and support Charlie’s relationship with Dev. The cast and crew return to San Francisco to film Charlie’s introduction to Angie’s family. While there, Charlie and Dev meet with Josh to discuss a potential work opportunity for Charlie. Dev harshly reprimands Josh when he belittles and dismisses Charlie’s mental health, and Charlie learns that he has enough self-acceptance to never conform to someone else’s standards again.

On camera, Daphne dramatically reveals her and Charlie’s plan to fake their engagement. She suggests Charlie attempt to publicly celebrate their true love while she explores her sexuality. Maureen angrily interrupts the scene and insults Daphne, manipulating Daphne and Charlie into continuing their relationship even after Charlie comes out as gay to the entire production. Charlie hopes the other producers will support him and Dev, but when they fail to do so, he carries on with the heterosexual script devised by Maureen. Dev leaves for Raleigh, North Carolina, the following morning, cutting off all communication with Charlie and anyone associated with Ever After.

Three months later, Dev recognizes vast improvements in his mental health after working with a therapist. He writes daily and signs with an agent who will promote his script. Dev misses Charlie tremendously and refuses to watch Ever After as it airs. A week before the live finale, Dev wakes up to Ryan, Parisa, Jules, and Skylar, the show’s director, in his parents’ house. They force Dev to watch Ever After, which features Charlie and Dev’s love story. Parisa filed a discrimination lawsuit against the network, removing Maureen from the show. Skylar now serves as the executive producer and intends to usher in a rebranded, more inclusive version of Ever After.

Dev returns to Los Angeles for the final, live episode of Ever After, during which he emotionally reunites with Charlie. The couple declares their love for each other, kissing passionately. Several months later, Charlie and Dev watch the next season of Ever After from the comfort of their living room. Daphne, who has since identified as a lesbian, stars as the season’s princess looking to find her partner.