Well grump was an understatement. I just couldn’t get into this book. I wanted to like it but I just didn’t.

First, I feel the reason Smith was so hostile (grumpy just doesn't fit the story at all!), was withheld far too long: this was the main theme of the book and could have been explored so much better had the author told us what happened, even if she still wanted to withhold the who & when. Second, the dialog was very confusing at times. Even though the POV was announced at the beginning of each chapter... whole paragraphs of dialog would go by without knowing who spoke first, second, etc. I had to go back several times. In addition, some characters had no point in the story: what was Alice's Dad's purpose in the story? He did nothing but eat snacks. Finally, the aftermath of the reasons for Smith's hostility was given practically no attention. This was the driving force for the personality flaws of the major character and it was just glossed over with little notice. I will continue to read books by Ella Fields because she's an outstanding author, but this one book was not a favorite.

Thank you to Orange Sky Studio and NetGalley for the ALC in return for my honest review.

I wanted to like this book and I tried to listen to the end but the characters were unlikeable, especially the female MC. There was some many things going on in this book that it seemed it was trying too hard. It just didn’t hold my interest. But, there were positive reviews, so don’t take my word for it.

I tried a few times to get into this but ultimately, not enough chemistry to get me through the first third.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story had an interesting premise, but ultimately I was left unimpressed. I thought the main relationship was a little icky and odd. There was too much miscommunication which is a huge turn off for me.

The story was interesting and engaging enough that I could easily breeze through it but the main characters were not my favourites. The female narrator did an excellent job but the male narrator, in my opinion was not at all good. I have read a few books by Ella Fields before and do enjoy her writing style and story telling but this to mee was a 'just ok' read.

really like that’s what I thought was interesting and different and I liked the narration lots of fun intrigue really like that’s what I thought was interesting and different and I liked the narration lots of fun intrigue

Why I listen to The Grump Who Stole Summer?

The Grump Who Stole Summer caught my eye on Netgalley with its promise of second chance romance. It also sounded very amgsty which is what I was in the mood for at the time that I requested it. Personally, I have to be in a certain mood to read super angsty romances. I much prefer the easy flirting way to falling in love. Trust me when I say this audiobook was anything but that as it deals with some pretty sensitive material that may not be for all audiences.

What's the story here?

Alice and Smith first met in the summer in her treehouse. They were both trying to escape a party being thrown by her sister Tiana. Neither one of them is really into the partying scene. They are also total opposites in personality - he is a grump and she is filled with sunshine. From the moment they meet there is a connection of sorts and the more time they spend together the deeper it grows. Until suddenly something happens to change all of it and they go their separate ways.

Three years later they are thrown back into each other's orbit when Alice is forced to volunteer at a local bookstore. After what happened with Smith, she has been going down a pretty dark path of partying and not worrying about the consequences. Her mother thinks that volunteering at the bookstore will help get her back on the straight and narrow. She does not know the history between Alice and Smith and the chemistry between Alice and Smith is just as strong.

How did I like The Grump Who Stole Summer?

When I finished The Grump Stole Summer, I had a bitter taste in my mouth. This was not anything that I expected. It is just angst, angst, and more angst. Both main characters are so issue filled and would benefit from some serious therapy. Their relationship felt borderline obsessive at times.

I wish I was joking about the borderline obsessiveness of the relationship. It's just so ick. I could not support it. I also had trouble supporting the two characters in general. Alice felt very "poor me. I'm a suffering rich girl" vibe while Smith was very "grumpy asshole". And when I say "grumpy asshole" I mean basically the worst one dimensional grumpy asshole you could imagine. Yes, he has suffered trauma but that is no excuse for his actions. Some of the things he says to Alice I think are supposed to be endearing but, they put up the red flags for me. All of it is a giant no from me.

How was the narration?

The Grump Who Stole Summer is told in a duel perspective. It is narrated by Kelsey-Ann O'Dowd and Brian Meslar and is 9 hours and 22 minutes in length. I listened to it at 1.5x speed. The narrators did what they could with the characters but, they could not help the story as a whole.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

I honestly have no clue what I just read. We have a main character who is a rich it girl who makes awful decisions and it catches up to her. She is not likeable whats so ever, and I do not even know how the male lead finds her enjoyable. This had every plot you can imagine, and I had to really rush through it. Not my favorite- and not well thought out.

I wanted to love this, as the grump/sunshine trope is a favorite of mine, but this was just a situation of constant miscommunication wrapped in a confusing and non-linear timeline. Narrator Kelsey-Ann O'Dowd was the standout for the audiobook but unfortunately Brian Meslar was not my favorite narrator - his sections were kind of jarring and took me out of the story. Since I'm giving this title 2 stars I will not be adding this review on Goodreads so as not to cloud the good reviews - I think there is a large majority of people that will love this but, at the end of the day, it was not for me.

While I thought this was a good story, I did not like either of the love interests. They were both insufferable and I honestly did not care about them working out their issues in this second-chance romance. It was also a little steamier than I thought it would be, but no complaints there!

I loved this audiobook! The narrators did an amazing job! The story was perfect - the push and pull, the mistakes made, the angst of wanting but not being able to have.... it was so good!!

I enjoyed the characters and story of this book. I felt like Alice was a very likable and realistic character. There was a little bit to much sex (and graphic description) for my liking but if that’s your cup of tea this book is for you.

The Grump Who Stole Summer is an angst-filled enemies-to-lovers second chance romance. It's told from two perspectives: Alice and Smith. When we meet Alice, she's a carefree socialite whose mother has had enough of her misadventures and sends her to spend her summer volunteering at a bookshop... Smith's bookshop. The book shifts between the past and present as we learn more about how the pair met 3 years ago and why they're now enemies.

The things I enjoyed: the audiobook narration, the spice and the pacing. The storyline kept me engaged from start to finish.

The things I didn't like as much: to be honest, I just found it hard to connect to the characters. Smith lived up to the title as he was a broody, cold and distant MMC, but both acted quite childish. I'm also one of those people that cannot get behind the miscommunication trope. If Smith had just opened up to Alice at the beginning, well, it wouldn't have been a second chance romance!

4 1/2 stars!

YES! This audiobook was just what I needed!

Ella Fields is the queen when it comes to writing a grumpy, yet sexy hero. It says it all in the title folks. In this book, she gives us Smith and he's one heck of a grump - - but with good reason as you find out. In addition, our main character, Alice has history with him and it's not the good kind. There is something between them that has triggered all kinds of anger and dislike.

When Alice is brought home from school because of too much paparazzi attention and partying. Her mother decides she needs to calm down and learn some responsibility. Hence, she's set up to volunteer in the local bookstore that our favorite cranky man happens to own. It's going to make for an interesting summer for dear little Alice and Smith.

I absolutely adored this audiobook. Not only was the storyline fun and engaging, the narration was perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook. I chose to listen to and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Alexa play Dirty by Christian Aguilera ...

Literally this book brings the steam. I did actually play Dirty in my kitchen in-between some steamy bits to get my excited energy out. Haha I think I was just not anticipating the spice this book had and more so thought it was a contemporary rom-com but was pleasantly surprised. This book is a lusty second chance romance that is set in a book store. What more can a book reading girl want? At times it felt a bit derivative but overall it brought what I wanted it to bring. It is a contemporary romance and it brings the heat. The characters are cute and at times frustrating but overall I wasn't anticipating like The Notebook.

This book is for anyone wanting a steamy quick listen or read. It doesn't take too long to get wrapped in the story, On the plot to smut scale it leans more toward smut but there is definitely a story that develops there. If you are a fan of steamy second chance romances I really recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Alice and Smith is an an angst enemies to lovers second chance, the characters are interesting, the story was angsty and it was entertaining, I was expecting a little more plot, I am used at Ella Fields PNR books that are fantastic, but somehow it felt a bit flat on this one. The audiobook is narrated by Kelsey-Ann O'Dowd and Brian Meslar, it had a good pacing, good pronunciation altogether, the editing and sound was as expected. I think it is a good audiobook for anytime. If you like enemies to lovers then this is for you.

Second Chance Romance 

Grumpy/Sunshine 

Miscommunication trope



I liked the dual point of view and dual timeline of this story. There was potential but nothing really wowed me. I felt kinda bored. What I didn’t like was the characters. To me they were unbearable and childish. I didnt feel a connection to them or their situations. Let alone their connection/chemistry to eachother. The narration was okay. The female narration was good but personally, I didnt care for the male narration. 

Overall, this was just okay.



Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this audiobook for an honest review.

The grumpy MMC who only likes the FMC is one of my absolute favorite tropes and this book did not disappoint. Smith is the perfect amount of tortured and surly, with enough baggage to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Alice isn't quite the good girl she portrays, with plenty of issues herself. The banter, the angst, the heartbreak are all so so good. Kelsey-Ann O'Dowd and Brian Meslar both did a fantastic job with the narration. I will definitely be looking for more books narrated by them. If you want an emotional roller coaster filled with all the feelings, this ones for you.

I was very excited for this book but it fell flat. I almost didn’t finish it because I just wasn’t enjoying it as much as I wanted to. I kept hoping it would get better.