The Charmer by Ava Rani

The Charmer

A Biotech Billionaires Novel

Ava Rani

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · May 13, 2025

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER • When a charming billionaire and a reclusive lawyer tie the knot to outsmart an inheritance scheme, sparks fly and unexpected love blossoms in this sizzling romance from Ava Rani, author of The Spare and The Heir.

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Who it’s for
A marriage of convenience meets guarded wit, easy charm, and feelings that refuse to stay convenient.
Themes
Love versus family obligation, Inheritance and financial stakes, Corporate espionage
Pacing
Fast

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About this book

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER • When a charming billionaire and a reclusive lawyer tie the knot to outsmart an inheritance scheme, sparks fly and unexpected love blossoms in this sizzling romance from Ava Rani, author of The Spare and The Heir. Sometimes love outsmarts the best laid plans. Penelope Chen-Astor ran away from the stifling expectations of her wealthy family in Singapore for an independent life as a high-powered Manhattan lawyer.

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But familial duty comes crashing back when her grandfather’s will demands she be married for a year to claim her inheritance. She’d walk away from it all, but her mother’s assets are at stake too, and this is the only way Penelope can see to protect her. Enter Xander Sutton, the billionaire co-founder of investment group Dawn Capital. With his effortless charm and easy smiles, he’s used to winning hearts, but Penelope’s always proven immune to him. When she’s backed into a corner and asks Xander to masquerade as her husband for a year, he sees a golden opportunity to finally win over the only person who’s kept him at arm’s length—but the closer they get, the harder it becomes to play pretend. What begins as a strictly business arrangement quickly spirals into steamy encounters and genuine emotions. When meddling relatives, corporate espionage, and high-stakes legal battles come into play, Xander and Penelope will have to decide if the inheritance is all they stand to lose when the year is done... From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the serene beaches of the Hamptons and the skyscrapers of Singapore, The Charmer is the third and final novel in the Biotech Billionaires universe. TROPES YOU'LL FIND IN THE CHARMER: - Black cat/golden retriever - Marriage of convenience - "My wife" - Friends to lovers - Only one bed - They're both rich-rich - Spicy to-do list

Pretend, Then Feel

A marriage of convenience meets guarded wit, easy charm, and feelings that refuse to stay convenient.

Come here for

  • A reclusive lawyer and a billionaire with charm to spare
  • Romance tangled with family pressure and corporate intrigue

Expect

  • A business arrangement growing less businesslike
  • Steamy encounters, meddling relatives, and legal battles

Where it sits

Billionaire Romance87%
Fake-Dating Romance48%
Contemporary Romance35%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Multicultural & Interracial Romance
  • Romantic Comedy
  • Billionaire Romance
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Workplace Romance
  • Legal Fiction
  • Women's Fiction
  • Marriage & Divorce
Authors
Ava Rani
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
May 13, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Love versus family obligation · Inheritance and financial stakes · Corporate espionage
Reading lane
Contemporary Romance