Swoon. Swoooon. SWOOOON.

First of all, I might always have a soft spot for a romance novel with a plus size heroine. I think Mabel is perfect and sweet and messy and funny and I love her. I found myself relating to her in so many moments. Alfie is also perfect and sweet and messy and funny and I love him. I was surprised to find myself relating to him in so many moments as well.

Something I think was top tier aside from some of my favorite tropes (grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, one bed) was the banter. Oh, the freaking banter. These could go back and forth for hours, and while it was seamless, I so appreciated that at first, we see Alfie struggling to keep up with Mabel. But once he gets his footing, his banter and wit is just as good and quick as hers.

Usually I don't really mention the spice in my reviews of romance novels aside from a quick "Yeah it was good," but I do just need to mention. The spice in this was PHENOMENAL. A man whose kink is a woman being turned on? The dirty talk? The slow burn of it all? Amazing. Amazing. Amazing. And just as much as I loved the spice, the sweet moments had me kicking my feet and giggling. From Alfie braiding Mabel's hair, to the hand holding, and of course to the softening of Mr. Grumpy's face whenever he looked at Sunshine. It was incredible. I loved this book so much.

The second I opened this book, I knew I would be obsessed with it! It was funny and brilliant, and I could not get enough of that Sassy banter from our leads. I loved how absolutely clueless that MMC was! He was gruff and sour and utterly clueless, and it was perfect! Our FMC was funny, sassy, and didn't back down. I enjoyed how the relationship between our MCs developed and all those believable twists and turns. It wasn't a perfect fairytale romance where the girl got the guy, and the hot jock saw the vixen under the nerdy girl exterior. I am not generally fond of third-act break-ups because by then, I'm rooting for all the good things to happen for our heroes, but sometimes it's exactly what's needed; some may disagree with that, but I feel like that ending was perfect for them.

It was chaos in the most brilliant way possible and I have never wanted to share snippets of a book so much because the personalities were so amazing. The romance wasn't detailed and explicit but it was woven so well and so genuinely that it felt real and well, genuine; which is often hard to pull off.

10 Stars!!! This is the best book I've ever read (at least in this genre). The characters - OMG. I adored Alfie and Mabel so much. The vulnerability the author conveyed while they were pretending was so clear and heart-wrenching. And the giggles and laughing and the hysterical laughter from me throughout this book! There was one part I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. I'm not a morning person (although I'm better than my teenage self by far), but I woke two hours early the other day and immediately grabbed this book. I read it every second I had available. But then, of course, you know something's going to happen, and it does. But the ending, oh it was so sweet!

Thank you to St Martins Press, St Martins Griffin and NetGalley for providing this eARC. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this book and had high hopes for it as the synopsis had so many elements that I usually love, but I could not get into this and ended up DNFing at the 56% mark. I really struggled to connect with Mabel and since the story is told from her point of view, being stuck in her head was difficult for me. That being said, the framework of the story is adorable and I probably would have finished if Mabel was a likeable character for me.

3.75 stars rounded up!

First and foremost - thank you NetGalley and Griffin for this arc, I always appreciate the chance to preview plus sized romance books :)

If you're looking for a silly goofy time with tropes like: grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, and don't hate miscommunication as a trope - this one's for you! (I know some of y'all *hate* miscommunication so I wanted to give a head's up to those folks, personally it doesn't frustrate me too too much)

I really enjoyed Mabel and Alfie's dynamic, they had an interesting banter that was open and friendly and you could tell that they both really think highly of each other and are rooting for the other one. There were a few times when I felt like Alfie's character wasn't particularly realistic - but I'm also not really *needing* realistic characters in this genre, you know? If you're like me, looking for feels and laughs and "kick your feet" moments, I think you'll enjoy this one. These two get pretty horny for each other, almost to the point of annoying me - it went from "respectful distance" to "every time they're in the same room they're dirty little rascals - but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of the story and that's just my personal preference when it comes to the degree of explicit sexual content in books - there definitely is that in this one.

Fat-friendly? You know I have a complicated relationship with books featuring fat women - I want more of them, more more more, but only if done well (aka not making their singular personality trait their relationship with their body or their "journey" about body acceptance and not euphemizing bigger bodies) - and I'm happy to report that I think this one was well done! There was the extra layer of a fat woman dating a famous male athlete and the anti-fat bias that comes with dickheads on the internet commenting about people's body size - and I think the author demonstrated how absurd that is, and how freakin' hot fat women are! Adding it to my list of "Books I'd Recommend with Fat FMCs"!

This book was overall ok... it was a bit hard to get into and follow along. It seems choppy and lots of long dialogue. I do love a good grump/sunshine trope which is why I kept reading. But overall, I fell short and I didn't love it!

Thank you to netgalley and St. Martins Press for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest revuew.

Guys, I was really excited about this one a had high hopes. As an ex-footballer, as an overweight woman, a writer, I was here for the representation, the fake dating trope, all of it. But it fell disappointingly flat for me. The story lagged at the beginning - so much of it is Mabel's rambling exposition of her obsrvations ... there's very little dialogue and what there was, was choppy and hard to follow at times. I was hoping it would get better but the story just didn't deliver the way I'd hoped it would.

2.5 stars

I wasn't able to read this book because life has been extremely busy, so I will rate this 5 stars to compensate. The blurb looked very promising though, and I will read this when I get the chance and I will edit my review

Cute story by a new-to-me author. I liked the characters and the story was well-written. I'll look for another book from this author in the future.

This was a fun and easy debut novel! I liked the main characters and found the writing to be easy to read. It was a cute and fast read.

I had a lot of fun with this one! It was both sweet and spicy. And the title is straight to the point on the trope this book embodies. Alfie is a retired footballer grump (think Roy Kent from Ted Lasso), but really it’s just an exterior and therefore he is often misunderstood. Really what it comes down to is that he is an awkward, technological grandpa. Mabel is his sunny ghostwriter, who helps him in more ways than one. She helps him write his book, uncovers secrets about him (not really secrets, just things he doesn’t really say)… he even gets a Twitter! (The bio is hilarious). However, no one knows that she is his ghostwriter, and with the time they spend together, they get mistaken for dating. She gets some backlash for it, because she’s plus sized and curvy and therefore different from his model ex girlfriends, and she doesn’t really feel like she would deserve him, even if it is fake. Meanwhile, he just does not see it at all. Because who couldn’t love a ray of sunshine like Mabel?

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the copy!

Alfie is a grumpy footballer with Roy Kent vibes who's approached to write a memoir. The only problem? He hates the idea of writing about himself. Especially when it requires him to express emotion.

Enter sunny Mabel, who's determined to get Alfie's story onto paper, not matter how much bickering is involved. Things are further complicated when the pair decide to fake date. And we all know fake dating *always* leads to real dating.

This was an adorable, charming love story that was a pleasure to read!

A plus-sized ghost writer is hired to write the memoir of the grump, ex-footballer in the UK. A notorious recluse, the tabloids peg her has his new girlfriend with her comings/goings at his house. So what's to do, play it up for the media only true feelings get in the way.

The witty banter, and subsequent growth of both these characters had me rooting for a happily ever after. The heroine was fierce in her ability to stand-up for herself, but her disbelief he'd actually pick some one like her after years of super models taunts her until his grand gesture.

This was a fun fake dating read with some truly funny lines: "full frontal snagging" I guess you'll have to read the story of Alfie and Mabel to understand.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press

Yet another romcom centered around a sports dude, but this particular one became one of my favorite reads of the year! I love a good fake relationship, but this one is reassuringly real and adorably awkward from the get-go in the best way. Read it!

"I'd fight God if he got in her way."

The very British comedic romance When Grumpy Met Sunshine by self professed naughty rom com author Charlotte Stein is steeped in steamy European romance and smart comedy.

Footballer (soccer player) Alfie needs a ghostwriter for his bad boy memoir. Enter curvaceous Mabel, suffering lingeringly pain from body shaming exes and school bullies. He hates most things, she sees him as a Neanderthal but time together changes minds and hearts. When the press sees them together they fake date so no one knows she's his ghostwriter.

Reading and listening to narrator Emily Spowage spew the quick witted banter is highly entertaining for this fan of all things British. I do prefer dual POVs but Mabel's thoughts are hilarious and often endearing as her insecurity lessens and her love for Alfie grows. When these two meet as lovers there's only sunshine.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

DNF @ 25%

*A special thank you to the author and St. Martin’s Press for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*

I just couldn’t get into this one, friends. From the beginning there was just so much going on that I was confused as to what was actually going on. Now, I love banter in a book but, there was so much that it was kind of washing out the plot. So much so, I’m not really sure what the plot was. I really wanted to like this one, but with so many other ARCS and books on my TBR to read, sticking with a book I’m not liking isn’t in the cards for me.

I was a bit disappointed by the book. I couldn’t really find a connection with the characters and the story was a bit slow the first half. The second half was too rushed and too spicy for my liking.

One of my favorite tropes in romance books is the grumpy x sunshine trope, and I must admit, that I LOVE a grumpy male lead....the grumpier, the better. Alfie just may be one of the grumpiest characters I've read about to date, so I think it is absolutely safe to say that I really enjoyed this book. Alfie and Mabel were each perfect leads, and I found myself fully invested in both of them from the beginning. I think what I love the most about the grumpy male is that there is usually a reason why he is so grumpy/closed off, and I love when that is revealed. I also love when we start seeing a softer side of him with the female lead, and this book had both of those. It also had the fake dating trope, which is another one that I love because we all know what happens when they try to deny their feelings. In addition, there was plenty of humor and wit that kept this book entertaining. I actually found myself laughing out loud and snickering as I was reading it. Thank you to the publisher for giving me the chance to read an early digital copy of this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. Unfortunately this was not for me. I love the cover and the synopsis sounded like it would be right up my alley. Instead, I struggled to get through this, and while I do think it got better toward the end it wasn't worth it.

I didn't think too much banter was possible, but this book showed me I was wrong. I think it was supposed to be an homage to movie rom coms, but there was too much repetitive and lengthy banter. I don't feel like I knew these characters at all, we got little hints of their stories through the banter, but not enough to provide a full picture. Somehow though they never stopped talking these two were the worst communicators.

I know someone loved this and I think it's a book you either love or hate. If you read a sample and enjoy all the banter you'll probably have a great time. If you want a character driven story, less talking and/or hate the miscommunication trope this isn't going to be for you.

This book started nice and I found the characters interesting enough to continue. Unfortunately the farther I read the less I liked the book and found the characters less and less intriguing. I found the book very overwritten at times and way over the top.

Mable is an up-and-coming writer and has been invited to ghost write an autobiography for the hottest, sexiest man in the country. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for her and she jumps on the chance.

Alfie is a national superstar footballer, but doesn’t act like it very much. He hates revealing anything about himself. My immediate problem with this situation is: if Alfie hates drawing Attention to himself so much, why would he ever consider an autobiography? That is the very opposite of a quiet life out of the limelight.

The book is about two bruised souls. Mable is described as “fluffy” and “curvy”. She is very outgoing and sociable. Alfie hides behind a thick shell and uses it to hide who he really is. As a result the flamboyant social life with dates to the hottest and most glamorous women is a complete sham.

I loved the witty banter between Mable and Alfie at the beginning, but even a good thing can be overdone. My engagement with the characters and the novel waned the further I read. Still, I appreciated the opportunity to read this book.