That Time I Started a Major Sh*t Show

~Maria Ann Germain

Looking for a quick, meet-cute kind of read that will make you laugh out loud? Then Germain’s, That Time I Started a Major Sh*t Show needs to be on your radar when it’s released January 1, 2026.

Charli is the Maid of Honor for her friend Claire and has met everyone in the wedding party – except Quinn, the Best Man. She’s heard plenty about him, none of it flattering. Supposedly he’s a jerk and a serial charmer, and Charli is already primed to dislike him. After finally meeting him (and promptly putting her foot in her mouth), she ends up seated next to him on the flight to the wedding destination, where she continues to spectacularly embarrass herself.

Quinn, genuinely confused about what he’s done to offend her, simply shows up as his authentic self – complete with kindness, patience, and a drink to calm Charli’s very obvious flying nerves. A few drinks in, Charli starts to wonder if maybe, just maybe, she judged him too quickly based on someone else’s opinion.

Will Charli and Quinn manage to extend an olive branch and survive the wedding festivities together? Or will Charli continue her ongoing sh*t show of saying exactly the wrong thing at exactly the wrong time?

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the way this book is written. The diary-style entries and screenshot style of text messages were such a refreshing change from the standard novel format. While there are some traditionally formatted sections, most of the story unfolds through diary entries and texts, and it made the whole experience ridiculously fun to read. I don’t know if it was the format itself or the way the humor landed through it – but either way, it worked beautifully.

With a large cast of characters, I did occasionally struggle to keep track of some of the lesser-known members of the wedding party when they popped up in group texts. That said, Charli completely stole the show. She’s hilarious, messy, raw, and vulnerable – the kind of character most of us can painfully relate to. Quinn, on the other hand, is downright adorable. His patience, empathy, and emotional intelligence make him feel like a dream… right up until he’s pushed too far, at which point his reaction feels refreshingly human. Claire and Tom help keep the story grounded, pulling everything back into focus whenever it threatens to drift.

The pacing is smooth and fast, with each chapter offering something new – whether it’s resolving a misunderstanding or introducing a fresh complication. This book fully immerses you in Charli and Quinn’s world and keeps you turning pages, making it an easy one-sitting read.

The only real struggle for me – and I think this comes down to the formatting – was that the story occasionally felt a bit jumpy. While the pacing itself was strong, a few transitions felt slightly abrupt. Thankfully, those moments were minimal and didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment.

All in all, I would absolutely recommend That Time I Started a Major Sh*t Show if you’re looking for a palate cleanser, a quick read, or just a genuinely good laugh.

I would like to thank Maria Ann Germain for the opportunity to Alpha/Beta/ARC for That Time I Started a Major Sh*t Show. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review.

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