Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. And I do plan on rereading this one at some point.

I was pretty excited to read this one and had high expectations. I’m not saying I didn’t love it. But it just wasn’t my favorite!

I liked the main characters, and enjoyed their relationship and banter. I always enjoy a main male character. That’s a little little grumpy and rough on the edges.

But when it came to the end, and overall, it just wasn’t the book for me. I’m giving it three stars because I think it’s a good book for other people, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

Holy dialogue! There was so much inner dialogue from Mabel that I found myself getting confused. This book was very difficult to follow and because the book was so full of her inner thoughts, it took away from the whole story altogether. This was not an enjoyable read, and because of that i felt myself not liking the characters. Unfortunate because I think the concept and everything sounds great. This book couldve helped with some more edits or beta feedback. The cover is cute though.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine was a cute romcom full of banter, slow burn, then steamy steaminess that’ll swoon you to the next level.

Mabel Willicker is a ghost writer who can’t get a job. Alfie Harden is a footballer who can’t find a ghost writer. Lo and behold! Match made in heaven. After the 2 start working together they’re mistaken for a couple and decide to just run with it. Who doesn’t love a little fake dating?

I really wanted to love this. It was cute but some scenes went on a little too long. I love some good banter but the story shouldn’t completely rely on that. These 2 have excellent chemistry though so I loved that. There was just something about the story as a whole that just didn’t hit the mark for me. I’m also not a huge fan of the single POV as it removes agency from the other MC and in romance I feel like we need the 2 sides to really connect.

I would still recommend this to a friend, especially those that love a slow burn. Extra points for body diversity!!!

Read if you love:
Misunderstood Grump/Sunshine
Footballer hotties
Slow Burn
He Falls First
Single POV
BANTER ALL DAY

Overall I give this 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free copy in exchange for my honest review

Unfortunately, When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein just wasn't for me.

Mabel is a young, perky, completely capable ghostwriter with the daunting task of working with a notoriously grumpy/difficult footballer to write his memoir. Personalities clash, and ultimately these two find common ground and love.

I found the narrative style to be a bit difficult to follow with streams of consciousness piled on between lines of dialog, so much so that I found myself going back to reread the dialog to figure out where I was in the conversation. It was a bit of a distraction.

The banter was good but there was almost too much of it. The main characters constantly pecked at each other.

I'm grateful to Charlotte Stein and her publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

DNF

I could not finish this book. When I first started it, the idea seemed very interesting and cute but once I got a little more into it I simply could not do it.

The characters did not meet the expectation of the prompt of sunshine and grumpy at all. The male main character was probably my breaking point for having 0 personality and pretty much acting like a “man child” — completely immature.

Unfortunately, this book was not it for me.

DNF @ 7%.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but the first 23 pages was not really it. It was weird and kind of confusing. And yet another FMC who refers to the MMC by his full name. Why?? It’s not needed. He also called her a human cupcake which was weird and then it lead her to eventually pepper spraying him in the face.

This one is just not for me unfortunately.

3.5 Stars
When Grumpy Met Sunshine has some wonderfully swoony five-star moments that I absolutely adored and fully believe I will keep thinking about in the way you do special moments from your favorite romantic movies. Outside of those lovely parts, however, the rest of the book was just okay for me, and at times I was struggling to stay engaged. I'm not an easy sell on rom-coms, and the intended banter didn't work for me (for the most part), which is often the case when it comes to me and comedic material. The steamy bits are a slow-burn (which I enjoy) and everything is done very tastefully with emphasis on consent and has that "oh, this is so filthy!" giggle vibe when it's really just normal and actual pretty minimal, albeit with some naughty words for those that don't like that sort of thing. The Roy Kent-ish hero was adorable, and not really as grumpy as the title implies, and the plus-size heroine was very relatable in many ways and likewise, not as sunshine-y. The side characters are very minimal, so much so they made almost no impression on me, and I forgot who they were supposed to be when their names came up later in the book, but it didn't matter so much since the main couple was the show. As such, I wish we had more interaction scenes between them and slightly less thoughts, just a bit. I enjoyed the various media snippets at the end of the chapters, and how they expanded on elements mentioned in the story or moved things along; I thought they were creative and modern. I've always enjoyed this author's voice, and this book was no exception, looking forward to what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin and the author for this ARC.

3/5. Releases 2/6/2024.

Vibes: I mean... grumpy meets sunshine, sports x celebrity romance, ghostwriter shenanigans, and tabloid chatter

Alfie Harding, ex-footballer and tabloid fixture (mostly because he hates them), needs to write a memoir. The issue? He ain't doing that. Which is why his team hires ghostwriter Mabel. Her job is to get to know Alfie, to capture his voice. However, Alfie is... grumpy. He doesn't like to talk. And he definitely doesn't like to talk to people like sunshiney Mabel. This becomes an even bigger issue when the press--and Alfie's fans--mistake Mabel for his new girlfriend. And to avoid a major mess, they have to go along with it.

This was a real mixed bag for me. There were components I really liked--it's funny, there's a lot of witty banter, and the sex scenes are great--but there was also some stuff that brought it down a notch for me. None of the things I liked were quite stellar enough to overcome those issues. Charlotte Stein is a good writer, and I definitely wouldn't say no to reading more from her (this is my second read of hers) but this just didn't quite click. Despite it being solid in many ways.

Quick Takes:

--I like grumpy meets sunshine. I mean, it's an easy setup to like. But there's a difference between liking something and being a die-hard for something. I suspect that if you are a grumpy x sunshine die-hard, a lot of what I will critique about this book won't super matter for you. Because this is a classic, wholehearted grumpy x sunshine dynamic. This isn't some umbrella thing where it basically means "a mean one and a nice one", where mean could be a bitchy neighbor and could be like, a mob boss.

Alfie is not an asshole--he's very literally a grump. Kind, but surly. Grouchy, but soft on the inside. (And if I'm being real about personal preferences--I could've used him being a bit more of an asshole.) Mabel is nice and bright, but not sugary. They have good chemistry; it's a good dynamic. In a lot of ways, I think it would work really well--perhaps better?--in a movie setting.

--Because where I think this book began to go wrong for me was in a structural issue (that probably could've been fixed, for what it's worth, in the editing stage.) It's very dialogue-heavy. Overall, the initial banter is good, the chemistry is conveyed, we like it.

However, when there's this much dialogue and banter in a book thing long, it becomes a bit more of a struggle. It's just a lot of talking for one book, and that that slowed the pacing. Because there wasn't really a lot of action--so much as it was them talking about the action. And as that dialogue and banter kept going on, it began to feel immature, especially for the more seasoned Alfie.

And when we didn't have dialogue, we had a lot of internal monologuing. Which is honestly basically dialogue? So again, summarizing instead of showing us what's actually going on in the story.

--I'm a sucker for a fake tabloid moment. Stein uses gossip columns, social media, and notes in a really great way. It's funny--and it keeps the story moving in a way I think it really needs. I wish the plot kind of met that aspect on its level.

--Another thing that did bug me... Mabel is plus-sized. Love that. What I loved a lot less were the little internalized comments about her weight--Alfie, a huge guy whose thighs are the size of tree trunks, must not have ever touched a girl without a flat stomach, right? He must be noticing how broad and big her face is when he stares at it, right?

I'm not saying it's bad to have insecurities. I have insecurities. But as someone who shops in the plus size section myself, I'm kind of super over the lingering on the fat heroine's insecurities. That said, I know my thoughts on this are not at all universal. I don't think this lacks authenticity. It's just an authenticity I personally can't relate to, and it does give me a negative vibe.

--Overall? Not a lot happens in this. It is a lot of feelings and tone. And here's the thing--that isn't for me, but it is a very popular approach to contemporary romance right now. I felt like the conflicts were so low stakes that they weren't actually believable conflicts. However, a lot of readers are going to see that as "no stupid conflicts". Figure out what type of reader you are-- if you like that kind of approach, a lot of my critiques here may not matter to you.

The Sex:

Charlotte Stein writes a great sex scene. They do take a while to happen in this one--it's a slow burn--but when they do... It's hot. I could've used a bit more dirty talk from Alfie, though, because that shit WORKED.

This is a mix of things I think could've been tightened during the editing process, and simply a mismatch. If this had been a bit more eventful, paced with less focus on dialogue and more focus on events, and more dialed up on the personas... It might've been more for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The entire time I was reading this book, all I could think of was Roy Kent and Keeley Jones. I love a good grumpy x sunshine trope. It's one of my absolute favorites. I felt like this was an exceptional take on it. It was very much an opposites attract romance. VERY SLOW BURN. I felt like I was walking through the sahara desert with no water and I kept seeing a mirage of a serenely beautiful lake until I ended up stumbling upon a giant puddle. Not what I was expecting but good enough! This books is like a 3 star for me.

*3.5 Stars round up*

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a funny, banter-filled romance comedy between Alfie, a retired footballer and Maybel, a ghostwriter assigned to write Alfie's memoir. I loved the immediate chemistry between Alfie and Maybel and caught myself laughing out hysterically over some of the awkward situations the couple gets into. However, I think this is one of the few books that the spice deterred away from the story line. I loved the first 40% of this book but the storyline seemed to stop and focus only on the spice for the next 30%. Nothing seemed to progress until close till then end, making the ending seem rushed. I am all for spicy scenes but wished the author progressed the story line while including these scenes. However, I did still enjoy this as romantic comedy.

Audiobook: I had the opportunity to listen to When Grumpy Met Sunshine while following along with the digital copy. I enjoyed the narrator and felt that the audiobook enhanced the story. If you are planning on buying this book. I highly recommend the audiobook.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine comes out February 6th, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review When Grumpy Met Sunshine. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The characters were cute!
The plot was cute!
But somewhere it lost me, and really wanted to like it!
It's funny and cute, and maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it?
I'm not sure, it just didn't hit how I had hoped.

But i will forever stan a curvy fmc!

Mabel Willicker is hired to be a ghostwriter for retired footballer Alfie Harding. This is set in England so to American readers he played soccer. Mabel is curvy, kind and good at getting him to share stories about himself. Alfie is grumpy to her sunshine. He can be blunt and socially inept. There is a big difference between his public persona and the real man. When seen together by the public they pretend they are in a relationship.

There is a lot of talking, especially in the first half. At times I just wanted them to do something or have something happen. I love the curvy representation. Alfie is always open about his interest in Mabel but her own insecurities have her questioning his attraction. The book turns steamy at the typical 60 percent point. I'd like a little more build up to that. I did see their similar childhood stories as helping create understanding of each other.

Overall the book is funny with cute moments. But with all their banter they are bad about talking about their feelings or their relationship. And I didn’t love the time jump at the end. I’d have liked a little more solid ending so I was confident in their HEA. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.

This book was everything I've wanted. At times the chapter end articles didn't give as well. But overall, I adored Alfie, my consent king. I need this book physically in my hands today.

There are parts of this book that actively made me laugh, the wittiness of their banter was off the charts. But Alfie is so very similar to Roy Kent on the show Ted Lasso, it did take me out of the book at times because I kept expecting other characters on the show to appear and they never did. A lot of the Alfie dialogue in the book, I kept hearing Roy Kent's gruff and growly voice in my head and I don't know if that was necessarily a good thing. I wish there had been some clear delineation between the two that didn't muddy the water so much for me. Likewise, I've read this author before and I've enjoyed her books and writing style. I feel like this book was kind of softened to appeal to a broader audience and while there's nothing wrong with that, I missed the acerbic wit she's known for. Also, did not expect this level of slow burn, and I felt like a lot of the first half of the book was missing that sexual tension. It was a very very slow build up. But A+ for the very last "one year later" part, that was extremely well done. I just wish the first half of the book had offered more by way of spelling out the attraction.

Content Notes: alcoholic and abusive fathers (in past); fat phobic commentary from strangers

ARC from publisher, opinions are all mine;

Mabel Willicker is sunshine on the outside but she is full of self doubt in the inside. She is a ghost writer who has no confidence she can write as herself. Alfie Harding is a famous footballer. Since he can no longer play, his agent has tried acting, commercials and talk shows. He is not good at any of them. So they want a memoir and has run through several ghost writers. Now they are going to work together, they are like oil and water. Also let the hilarity begin. Fake dating and their antics just had me laughing out loud. Underneath is all, both are afraid to speak their mind. It take his memoir to bring everything out in the open. I just loved reading this book.

When Grump Mey Sunshine - Charlotte Stein had all the elements I thought I would love; unfortunately, there were shockingly some areas I didn't love.

The cover is super cute and had me wanting to read this more than the description of a grumpy man and a sunshine woman, especially a plus-size woman - This is right up my alley. However, the problem that I ran into was something I never thought I would say

There was way too much banter - with the desire to keep the dialogue engaging; we lost the story and the cuteness of the storyline.

The banter between Mable and Alfie started on their banter - the plot was so lost I missed the spicy scene, which could have been good. Mainly because time stood still

This made me realize that. If we were to reduce the chatter about what happened in this book - not much - we would have a smaller book.

I did enjoy the fake dating part of this book. However, I wish they played up more on the antics while they were dating.

This book had a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it didn't do it for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately I just could not get into this book which has been happening a lot lately. I was excited about this, especially when seeing the cover with some plus sized representation but it found it too dialogue heavy, and too childish/immature in the writing for my tastes.

Been disappointed with a lot of books lately and have been getting my hopes up going into them. Loved the concept of this, was excited to read but did not enjoy.

We all know by now that fake dating isn’t my favorite trope, but I didn’t mind it this time. I do have to say, the title was a little misleading. Alfie wasn’t really grumpy, especially not around Mabel. And with basically no secondary characters in this story, that means he really wasn’t grumpy at all. But I still enjoyed the story. It felt like it had a natural progression in the relationship and it wasn’t full of unnecessary drama and miscommunication. Overall it was cute and I felt like the characters were very genuine.

Mabel Willicker is curvy, caring and cute combined with the perfect amount of sunshine and sass. Alfie Harding, a retired footballer, is just the opposite with his grumpy disposition and aversion to sharing any kind of emotion. When Alfie is pressured into writing a memoir of his life, Mable becomes his ghost writer. The pair are complete different, but the chemistry between them is undeniable. The big question is, will this chemistry fizzle out or turn into a happily ever after?

I was so excited for his book because it had everything I love! It’s an opposites attract romance with undeniable chemistry, a sports romance in a sense, a grumpy/sunshine trope and I absolutely loved the cover. It seemed to have everything I was looking for in a book, but this one fell way short for me. The story was well written, but I didn’t have any feelings for the characters. I couldn’t get into them or find myself rooting for them. The book was very dialogue heavy in a way that definitely took away from the overall romance for me. A lot of the what the characters talked about and did seemed almost childish for the ages that they supposedly are. I really, really wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t get into it and found myself having to force myself through so that I could see how it ended because I can’t admit defeat and DNF. Maybe this book is for you, but it wasn’t for me.