Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

I’m enjoying everything Charlotte Stein puts out!! I love plus size representation in my romance novels!

Love me some good plus size rep in romance! I also am always here for a grumpy sunshine trope. This was a quick fun read and I really enjoyed the banter between Mabel and Alfie.

As a woman with curves, I like the growing trend of authors writing stories about curvy women having romantic lives. This was a fun story and I will look forward to checking out other stories by this author.

I went into this with no expectations other than a light, fun read while I travelled. I was not disappointed.

I hadn’t read much about it before I started, but it becomes very clear (especially if you’ve watched Ted Lasso) that this is a Roy Kent fanfic. Alfie is Roy Kent, a watered down version and not as grumpy as one would think, more misunderstood. Mabel is the sunshine, she’s a plus sized happy person who has a few insecurities that are relatable to all women. I also love a book set in the UK.

One thing to note is most of the other characters fall into the background, this is the Mabel and Alfie show, but I didn’t mind that at all. Another small complaint is that we didn’t get deep down into either of their feelings or past traumas/relationships/life because it was surface level.

It was a fun, light read for summer about a famous ex-footballer and his ghost writer. The reviews are mixed on this one. If you go into this novel thinking you’re going to get a deep background and many characters, you’ll be disappointed. If you take it for what it is, a fun little read, perfect for the beach or an airplane, you will enjoy it.

Rounded up to a 4 because I did not have expectations and it was exactly what I wanted to read while I was travelling.

I did not enjoy this book at all, I found it really hard to follow along and just did not connect to any of the characters

This is a sweet opposites attract love story. I found myself rooting for the characters and loved their love story.

3.5
A cute, funny story where he just keeps fumbling all of their initial interactions and she has to try to figure out what he actually wants from her

'When Grumpy Met Sunshine' by Charlotte Stein illuminates an opposites-attract romance between Alfie Harding, a grumpy ex-footballer, and Mabel Willicker, a vivacious ghostwriter. The novel blends humor, romance, and a touch of fairytale charm, delivering on many fronts while falling short in others.

Mabel's sunny disposition and endearing quirks beautifully contrast Alfie's gruff and guarded demeanor, evolving their dynamic into a complex relationship. Their transition from professional collaboration to a personal connection, masked by a fake romance, offers moments of genuine warmth and entertainment.

However, the book's pacing feels uneven. The first half sparkles with humor and rich character development, setting high expectations. Yet, as the story progresses, it becomes weighed down by excessive dialogue and steamy scenes that, while enjoyable, contribute little to plot advancement. The charm of the characters' interactions risks being diluted by repetitive and prolonged conversations, akin to a sitcom stretching a single joke too far.

I just finished "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein and I'm still grinning from ear to ear! While the title may have led me to expect a more pronounced contrast between the grumpy footballer and his sunshine counterpart, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the dynamics between the two protagonists were more nuanced than that.

What I loved most about this book was the banter and development of their relationship. The dialogue was witty and engaging, with a perfect balance of humor and tenderness. The author did an excellent job of showcasing the attraction and desire between the characters in a way that was both sexy and respectful. And let's not forget the steamy moments - oh boy, they were unexpected but utterly delightful!

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the way it tackled body positivity. Our plus-sized heroine is refreshingly unapologetic about her appearance, and I appreciated how she wasn't fetishized or reduced to her weight. The author handled her insecurities and self-doubt with sensitivity, making her a relatable and authentic character.

The male lead, often touted as the grumpy one, is actually a charming and kind-hearted individual who is genuinely drawn to our heroine. I loved how he reacted to the press's fatphobic remarks about her, showing that he's not just a pretty face.

If I have any criticisms, it's that the beginning of the book could benefit from a bit more setup to establish the characters' personalities and public images. However, once I got into the story, I was hooked. The audio narration was superb, capturing the British nuances perfectly.

Overall, I'd highly recommend "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" to fans of Olivia Dade or anyone looking for a romantic comedy with substance. It's a sweet, sexy, and satisfying read that will leave you feeling uplifted.

I'm bored. There is a lot of English UK humor, the "I don't get technology so I use a flip phone & Windows 95 XP" because I refuse to learn how to use technology in this day and age... Like I just don't see the charm in it.

Next, please.

This book has a little bit of everything:
A fun twist on fake dating? Check.
Roy Kent vibes? Check
Plus size rep? Check
Flawless banter? Check
Perfect grumpy-sunshine vibes? Double check!

Sure the beginning is a bit slow and at times relies a bit too much on miscommunication (or just.... lack of communication) but this one is a steamy fun romp in total.

Yes Yes Yes!!!! This is author is now an auto buy author for me!

Get ready for a swoon worthy romance ! I love this kind of trope. But what really makes me love this author is the relatable female characters! The full body representation! My heart swoons! Full figured girls deserve love and happy endings too!

Grumpy footballer gets sprinkled on by sunshiny love in this super cute romance.

This was a good read. Fun and easy. The perfect getaway from real life. The characters were interesting and the story was not too predictable.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein is a charming romantic comedy that explores the dynamics of opposites attracting. While the storyline is enjoyable and the characters are endearing, the plot occasionally feels predictable. Nonetheless, Stein's witty writing and heartfelt moments make this an entertaining read for fans of light-hearted romance.

The grumpy/sunshine trope is always a favorite of mine! The romance was very cute and I was rooting for it the whole time! I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Unfortunately the amount of miscommunication in this book was maddening which was disappointing. After a while Mabel's "I'm not good enough for him because i'm plus size" really started to bother me. While I understand what the author was trying to accomplish it really took away from the romance and the story. There is also some really long winded banter in this that I don't feel needed to be dragged on the way it was. Because of the amount of banter between the two main characters, there wasn't a whole lot of movement forward in the actual plot. This made for an unnecessarily longer read then it should have been. That being said I did tandem listen to the audio and the narrator was an absolute delight. And there were some parts of the book that I really did enjoy.

✨️💚✨️Audio Book Review✨️💚✨️

Book: When Grumpy Met Sunshine
Author: Charlotte Stein
Rating: 4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Such a good book!

I laughed so hard and found myself falling in love with the main characters so quickly.

I loved how the FMC is described as the sunshine character, but has no problem standing up for herself with the MMC. They are both so quick witted and the banter flowed back and forth perfectly.

I love that they both brought out the best in each other and how protective he was over her.

My only gripe is that the FMC fought with her insecurities for so long, even with constant reassurance from the MMC. But, he was so kind and caring about it, and always made sure she knew that she was just in her head.

You get:
• Football Player MMC
• Ghost Writer FMC
• Grumpy X Sunshine
• Plus Size
• Social Media
• Celebrity
• Witty Banter

You should definitely pick this one up! It's available on Amazon through ebook, paperback, and audiobook!

Sadly this was a DNF for me. I did not like the writing style. Also the MC was not exactly grumpy, in my opinion he was just an ass and very unlikable. This just wasn’t for me.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine was a light fun read by Charlotte Stein. I enjoyed the banter in this book, but couldnt get by some things, such as the inability for Alfie and Mabel to believe they could like each other. It was a light hearted read, so it was enjoyable, but it lacked a spark that I enjoy in Romance books. I loved that the book was body positive. The characters were mostly enjoyable and it was a fun and quick read.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Very cute romance with engaging characters that were hard to put down. Fake dating is such a classic trope. Fake dating put together with grumpy/sunshine was absolutely perfect (especially when the grump knows good and well that they are a grump and don’t care) The characters played off each other so well and I needed them together, rooting for them the whole time.