The idea behind this story was cute but I think it fell a little flat. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the articles at the end of each chapter. I felt like they weren’t really important to the story and took away from it.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
3/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

A bit of a meh read for me with characters and interactions. There is a lot of miscommunication which is not my favorite but I did enjoy Mable and the idea of her being a ghostwriter. Both characters’ awkwardness transferred well to the page and if you LOVE the grumpiest of grumpy characters, this one may be for you!

Read this book if you like:
-grumpy x sunshine
-pro-footballer x writer
-humor filled situations

Really fun book that lives up to the title! It also reads as a sort of follow-up/alternative story about Keeley and Roy (Ted Lasso) and the football/soccer-isms are great! I could've spent less time in the FMC's head but that is more of a "me" thing (some of her anxieties were giving me anxiety!) and the witty banter, the back and forth-ness reminded me why rom coms are good fun.

Absolutely adorable. This felt like a Ted Lasso inspired romance and Alfie has a very Roy Kent personality. I loved it!

read this book containen my review until smp speaks up! we need smp to speak up so I am able to talk about the books I love please!

I could not for the life of me get into this. Even though I love the grumpy x sunshine trope, I was not feeling the dynamic going on here. I wasn’t very interested in the characters, I felt like their inner monologues and conversations dragged on and on and I couldn’t get into it so I finally decided to DNF at the 25% mark.

This was a hard one for me. I loved the premise of this book but I had a hard time getting into it. I think I expected a sweet love story and it felt not believable amd the language seemed a little crass. I did like the way they figured out how they felt about one another but it just didn't do it for me. I would have a hard time recommending it based on the content.

This was in one word, squishy.
It was adorable, laugh out loud silly, hot when it promised to be, and had me doing the anticipation wiggle. That giggling and kicking of the feet? I did that as well. It was tender and hilarious and just really made me happy to read.
Alfie is perhaps my favorite rendition of the grumpy in a grumpy/sunshine trope. Where the grumpy character is just unhappy and no filtered ready to defend Mabel to anyone and everyone even herself. But secretly he is the warmest, sweetest person in the room. A cute, silly homage to Roy Kent. I have never seen Ted lasso, but being a romance girly I have heard gushing reviews nonstop.
The shared history of Alfie and Mabel is quiet and healing. Just a lovely layer to their dynamic. I cannot wait to read other works by Charlotte Stein!

Free book, review is my own.

I wanted to love this so much but it fell flat. All the right pieces but for some reason it just didn’t play out well enough? Everything was too easy while also pretending to be difficult. I wanted to love it.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a fan of author Charlotte Stein for many years, even going back to her erotica backlist at Ellora’s Cave, so when I got the chance to read one of her newer titles, I jumped at the chance.

I loved this quirky sexy romance, which had the perfect amount of honest humor, sexy times and banter that I love in a proper romance. Yes, I was picturing the main male character, Alfie Harding a la a Roy Kent from Ted Lasso, while reading. And Mabel Willicker, who is a ball of sunshine in the best titular possible way. Watching their romance blossom was joyful to read.

Ms. Stein never disappoints.

If you're looking for a cute romcom, then this is perfect. Grumpy/Sunshine and fake-dating are just the most obvious reasons for wanting to read this. What I didn't see coming was the care the author took to portray these characters and their supposed flaws.
Mabel thinks she is prepared to spend time with the gruff, sexy and famous footballer Alfie, but is definitely not prepared for the real person beneath these characteristics. It also seems that Alfie is not at all prepared for her.
This is one of the reasons this story is so cute, but another is the sweet way they have with each other. And then there's the spice!
I had a lot of fun reading this one!
Out February 6, 2024!

Enjoyed every mintune of this book. It was a cute romance book with few spicy scenes. I was laughing out loud few times. It was great. Can't wait to read more from this author.

I'm not finishing this one. I can't read it anymore. I didn't like the writing style of this one, I couldn't connect to the story nor to Alfie and Mabel. I also felt that Alfie liked Mabel really fast - instalove doesn't really work for me. Their relationship progressed so fast, one minute she is walking away from their meeting and hating him, the next he is kind of stalking her and being really good friends in a matter of few pages.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Right off the bat, I knew this wasn't going to be a book for me. I'm DNFing this one early on because the writing and the characters didn't work me. I really wanted to love this one because the premise sounds right up my alley, but unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.

Absolutely fell off the face of the earth during my first trimester but THIS SLOW BURRRNNNNNNNN. Such a solid read and who doesn't love a good grumpy/sunshine trope ?!?!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This story was definitely much longer than it needed to be, but it was still enjoyable.

I loved the grumpy-sunshine trope. I loved the plus size representation.

A large section of this story is purely spice and nothing else. The plot doesn’t develop. They just have a lot of sex.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein is a heartwarming and humorous contemporary romance that explores the classic opposites-attract trope. The story follows the grumpy, introverted Will and the cheerful, optimistic Daisy as they navigate their unexpected connection.

Stein's writing is engaging and witty, capturing the essence of both characters' personalities and the dynamics of their relationship. Will's gruff exterior and Daisy's sunny disposition create a delightful contrast, leading to numerous amusing and tender moments. The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, making their gradual romance both believable and satisfying.

The novel excels in its character development, with both Will and Daisy undergoing significant personal growth throughout the story. Their interactions are filled with genuine emotion, humor, and a touch of vulnerability, which adds depth to their relationship.

While the plot follows a somewhat predictable path, the charm of the characters and the quality of the writing keep readers invested. Stein's ability to balance light-hearted romance with deeper emotional themes makes "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" a standout in the genre.

Overall, "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a delightful read for fans of contemporary romance, offering a perfect blend of humor, heart, and character-driven storytelling. Charlotte Stein delivers a feel-good love story that is sure to leave readers smiling.

I had to DNF this book. I couldn't connect to the characters and the IMMEDIATE projection and misunderstanding didn't work for me. I found the main character off putting and couldn't find myself rooting for her. I appreciate the e-arc in exchange for an honest review, but couldn't make myself finish something that didn't resonate with me at all. Since I have to give a rating, it'll be a 1 star but know that this book was ultimately not for me and I am sure that someone else may appreciate it.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein is a delightful and hilarious romance that perfectly captures the magic of fake dating and opposites attract tropes. Alfie Harding, the grumpy ex-footballer (think Ted Lasso’s Roy Kent), and Mabel Willicker, the sunshine-y ghostwriter, create an irresistible dynamic. Their banter is sharp and witty, making their journey from business partners to something more utterly engaging. Stein masterfully develops their relationship, turning their laugh-out-loud bickering into undeniable chemistry that sizzles on every page. Mabel's cheerful disposition contrasts beautifully with Alfie's gruff exterior, revealing layers of vulnerability and depth in both characters. This book is a perfect blend of humor, heat, and heart, leaving readers rooting for Alfie and Mabel's happily ever after. A must-read for fans of romance with a delightful twist!

Read if you like:
🪴 Fake Dating
🪴 Opposites Attract
🪴 Sports Romance
🪴 Forced Proximity
🪴 Plus Size FMC