No rating since I DNF'd at 17%. Maybe just me but this felt like it took forever to get anywhere. Too long winded and the characterers were very childish for being in their 30's and I just couldn't connect with them.

I was not able to get into this book. It felt slow and repetitive. The cover is cute and the synopsis is interesting. It just didn't work for me.

This book is absolutely absurd and I absolutely loved it. If you’re not into highly open door romances where the plot is getting to the spicy encounters then this is definitely not the book for you. Even though I don’t read for spice, this book was so much fun, it’s also super sexy. Like my face was burning bright when reading this book sexy. My biggest complaints are that there wasn’t a lot of atmosphere or character development - it was definitely a book where the characters just talk to each other all of the time until sexy things happen. And sometimes, that’s the type of book you need in your life I just really want to see what this author can do outside of that because I feel like it would be fantastic.

Curvy chipper ghostwriter meets grumpy soccer star on a mission to write his memoir. The premise was good. I liked the plus sized heroine, and the chemistry was palpable. But for me the story fell a little short because there was just way too much talking... whether vocally or through inner dialogue. I'm an introvert, and the amount of talking crossed a line I didn't even know existed in a book. I enjoyed the steamy banter scenes but didn't find it all that funny. Maybe the British humor went over my head?

2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
Contemporary romantic comedy.
Grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into writing his memoir. He knows he doesn’t want to write it himself because he hates revealing anything personal about his life. So the publisher hires ghostwriter Mabel Willicker to help. Their initial meeting doesn’t go as she expected and then he turns up at a restaurant she’s at and then a coffee shop on way home. What the heck is he doing? He doesn’t want to work with her so why is he following her?
They end up working together but and he does share things with Mabel but he continually puts conditions on what she can and cannot include. Eventually their working together is noticed by the media and since the contract is confidential they end up posing as a romantic couple. Until feeling become more than a simple contract.

🎧 I alternated between an ecopy and an audiobook. The narrator is Emily Spowage who does a marvelous job between the male and female voices, the emotions and the comedic timing. I essentially read this book twice because I couldn’t decide which format I liked better. The fun of the writing had me laughing out loud while listening to the audiobook and bookmarking passages I wanted to note. I believe everyone will be happy with either format. A good narrator can make an audiobook entertaining and this definitely hits the mark.
I listens to the audiobook at my usual 1.5.

I had so much fun highlighting laugh-out-loud lines! There is so much witty banter, I fell in love with the grump and the ghostwriter and while it’s not all smooth sailing, in the end I was crying the happy tears.

Excerpt:
“A mess of a million scary arguments.
Him, coming up with increasingly horrible insults.
Her, eventually tossing him into the nearest wood chipper.
And she just didn’t have easy access to machinery like that.”
Excerpt from When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio.
I’m buying a copy to revisit this wonderful comedic romance.

Grumpy/Sunshine is one of my all-time favorite tropes and When Grumpy Met Sunshine navigates that trope and their banter magically! Also, I cannot turn down a body-positive book, especially when the love interest is a sports player. COME ON, I LOVE IT!

QOTD: What is your favorite trope?

Mine is grumpy/sunshine, which is why I requested this ARC from @netgalley. And wow. This book was so cute! Alfie is terribly awkward, he hates technology, and can never say that right thing. Mabel is adorably sunny, sensitive and loves pastels. This book starts slow and then the spice shows up in a big way. Both of these characters have trauma that they have to heal form and learn to live with. Alfie definitely steals the show in this book even though the POV is Mabel’s. There is a lot of discussion on self-worth which was really heartwarming, and somehow the author even made it humorous without being mean and also plenty of miscommunication. Miscommunication is not my favorite, and my only critique would be that I wish we got more time with Alfie and Mabel at the end once the miscommunication is resolved. It felt very rushed and I wanted to see more of them being together without that.

Recommended for fans of grumpy/sunshine, miscommunication, rom-coms, and celebrity romances!

When Grumpy Met Sunshine had my attention from the title alone, and the premise of the plot of opposites attract and forced proximity plus fake dating. In the end, while it was an entertaining read, it did not live up to the hype I gave it unfortunately. There is a major plot point of miscommunication, which really isn’t my favorite but when done well it can work out. This one fell a bit flat for me on that front. I did enjoy the banter between Alfie and Mabel, as well as the tension between them as you could really feel it coming right off the page.
I would recommend this one to someone who is starting to get into the rom com genre as it would be a great starter book.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love love loooooved this, character development was spot on.

Would definitely love to read more by this author, they have a very unique voice which I thought came through in their writing style.

I will not be providing an actual review until St Martin's Press takes accountability and response to the boycott that has been happening for months. As an avid reader and promoter of diversity, I wholeheartedly stand with the SMP Boycott started by Leen. There are only three simple demands but until they are met I will continue to stand in solidarity with the boycott and withhold my reviews from SMP Titles.

Address and denounce the Islamophobia/racism from their employee.

Offer tangible steps for how they're going to mitigate the harm this employee caused.

Address how, moving forward, they will support and protect their Palestinian, Muslim, and Arab readers, influencers, and authors in addition to their BIPOC readers, influencers, and authors.

I did not make it very far in this read. The writing felt so choppy and was really hard to follow. I couldn’t tell where we were at or what was happening. I got lost several times and had to fully restart chapters to remind myself how they got where they were at or even remember where they were at to start with. It is very dialog heavy and already repetitive. I really wanted to like this book based off the comparisons of the MMC to Roy Kent from Ted Lasso. However, the writing style was just really not for me. I wont be posting this review on my instagram or tiktok but I will be posting it to my goodreads.

The dynamic between grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding and the vibrant ghostwriter Mabel Willicker captured my attention from the beginning. Mabel, portrayed as a relatable plus-sized character, added a refreshing authenticity to the story. Initially depicted as grumpy, Alfie reveals his vulnerability, making him incredibly endearing. Their witty exchanges and undeniable chemistry had me laughing and swooning throughout the book. The fake relationship plot was masterfully executed, blending humor and passion seamlessly. I was deeply impressed by the characters' complexity and genuine emotions. This novel was a joy to read, and I found it hard to put down.

Mabel is a ghostwriter assigned to work on the memoirs of former footballer Alfie. They have a terrible first impression, mostly because Alfie is extremely gruff and Mabel is insecure and awkward. They continue to have awkward meetings with each other, mostly due to Alfie’s complete and total lack of social skills. And then somehow, they settle on a truce of sorts, only to be photographed together and assumed to be in a relationship. They end up leaning into the rumors and starting a fake relationship with each other. Both of these people are deeply insecure about their looks and personality and really cannot believe that the other person could truly like them, so it makes for a lot of awkwardness overall. However, Alfie is a total softie and caring and protective and Mabel is embarrassingly smitten with him, even though she’s self conscious that she’s not as beautiful as his former girlfriends. We get a lot of really funny banter here with a lot of accidental lusting after each other, but the deep-seated insecurity is going to be a tough one to overcome.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein is a hilarious romantic comedy featuring an opposites attract romance between ghostwriter Mabel Willicker and retired footballer Alfie Harding. Mabel is hired to ghostwrite his memoir after 17 others have been rejected. Alfie doesn’t want to do this but has been badgered into doing it. Mabel is curvy, bubbly, warm, kind, and cute, yet insecure and self-conscious. She also blushes easily and can get elicit thoughts and feelings from others that work well in a memoir. Alfie is known to be grumpy, blunt, and hates revealing anything about himself. He easily gets annoyed, cranky, and indignant; yet he is also perceptive, practical, kind, and intense. Their dynamic is great, if a little over-the-top at times. Once their relationship is discovered by the public, people think she's the new woman in his life; forcing them to pretend to be a couple and making things complicated. Especially as these two get closer while learning not just about Alfie's life but also Mabel’s, they find themselves falling for each other.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

i’m submitting the reviews for books by you that I already have, but I will never request another one. In October one of your employees made a horribly racist statement and you have chosen to do nothing about it. People have continuously asked you to say that you don’t stand with what the employee said, and you refuse to. This is not someone who I want to promote ever because you are sending the wrong message. These reviews will not be posted on social media because you don’t deserve the promotion. By not speaking out you are also not preventing your followers from stalking and harassing people who are participating in the boycott. Your silence speaks volumes. I hope that all of your authors move to other publishers because you are standing with a genocide. You are also currently saying that you support black women in black history month but you have ignored their concerns for months and shown them no support.

Watch this video for more information https://www.tiktok.com/@vivafalastinleen/video/7288407369313307947?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7211704101519296042

I appreciated the slow burn of the romance and the Roy Kent vibe the hero had, but I really just didn’t vibe with this book. Just not the book for me I think lots of romance readers will enjoy it.

With my favorite trope in the title, I thought I was sure to love When Grumpy Meets Sunshine. Although the setup was a bit slow, I enjoyed the story line quite a bit until a little over halfway in when things got very steamy in a super cringey way. I don't love much steam at all, but I think this would be way too much for a lot of people. Skip to the epilogue, and the author's talent is very evident with the sweet, surprising wrap up. I think it could have been a great book if there had been more closed doors.

“You’re sadistic, you are. Like an evil Mary Poppins.”

Mabel Willikins knew ghostwriting a memoir for ex-footballer Alfie Harding wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. After all, he’d rejected seventeen other people before she showed up. What she didn’t expect? Blurry photos and speculative rumors flying all over the internet. Rumors about Alfie Harding’s new mystery woman.

Oh my gosh, I giggled so much while reading this book! The ridiculous situations and the banter between Mabel and Alfie were just so delightfully absurd. I think my favorite one might be when he chastises her for diluting pepper spray while his eyes are full of said diluted pepper spray.

Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Fake Dating, Sport Romance, Curvy Girl vs the World, Miscommunication

Side Note: I enjoyed the chapter titles in this book. They’re all snarky little tidbits that give you a brief glimpse of what slightly absurd thing is going to happen next.

I was very excited to start reading this book, as I love the grumpy/sunshine trope, and especially when the MMC is a footballer! However, I found myself having to re-read sections of this book because it seemed the FMC's train of thought keep going off on a tangent. I couldn't tell if this was the author's writing style, or if it was meant to display a neuro-atypical character trait of Mabel. Either way, it took me a long time to get even 25% of the way through this book because I had to go back to keep track of their conversations and banter.. I think the premise of the book is great, and I really do want to find out what happens with Alfie and Mabel in the end, but I'm going to have to DNF this book for now and come back at another time to finish it. Thank you #NetGalley.

⭐️rating: 2.5/5

I was really hoping I’d like this one more than I did, but I struggled a bit getting through it. It was hard to get into and hard to follow sometimes. Part of this, for me, I think was that it felt like I was often reading a stream of consciousness, so it felt jumbly and was hard for me to follow. It probably also didn’t help that there was a ton of British slang that I didn’t know.

The story was cute and I liked the slow burn, though it sometimes felt like the characters or their actions were unrealistic. But Alfie did have great dirty talk, so that was a plus. Also, the jump to a year later at the end was a bit jarring. It was still an alright resolution overall, but I didn’t love that it jumped a whole year when it felt like it didn’t have to.

Overall, it fell far below my expectations cause I really hoped I’d like this one. Since it was so hard for me to get into, I considered DNFing, and that’s why I gave it such a low rating. Maybe others will enjoy this more, but I wouldn’t re-read. The cover, though, is gorgeous! I love Leni Kauffman‘s work.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.