This was an okay story. I’m all for body positivity, but I felt like she was harping on the fact that she’s a big girl. It was alright.

I’m always drawn to a book about books (writers, agents, readers) but this one was not for me. I couldn’t get into the couple and the story bored me.

The narrator wasn’t bad though.

Such a fun take on a grumpy/sunshine read. I loved the characters and banter throughout. The narrator really brought their voices to life.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein is a delightful romantic comedy that masterfully juxtaposes two contrasting personalities: a moody, introverted hero and an exuberant, sunny heroine. Stein’s sharp, witty writing brings both characters to life, making their banter and chemistry incredibly engaging. The narrative is infused with humor and heart, exploring themes of vulnerability and acceptance as the characters navigate their differences. Stein captures the essence of opposites attracting beautifully, resulting in a story that's both playful and poignant. Perfect for readers looking for a lighthearted romance with depth, this book is sure to leave you smiling!

I'm in the middle on this one. I was a fun romcom - and I love a good grumpy cinnamon roll story - but It fell flat in some parts and then the ending was a bit abrupt.

DNF

I picked up When Grumpy Met Sunshine because of the adorable cover and my favorite trope - grumpy/sunshine. I think this book could be enjoyable for someone who loves very silly, quick writing. If you like slapstick comedy like people poorly reading from cue cards while on a phone call, or hiding behind potted plants, or accidentally referring to a plus sized woman as a "cupcake", then this might be the book for you! It might have been for me if the writing style was a little different. The first four chapters felt like I was stuck in the main character's head, swimming in her thoughts and reactions, as opposed to living in the scene or watching it play out like a movie. I would have liked it to be slowed down a bit, with less inner thinking and more action and dialogue.

I loved the narrator, and thought she might actually help me to enjoy the book, although I found the writing to be choppy. But unfortunately, as entertaining as she was to listen to, I could not engage with the material.

oh i had such high expectations for this read, but sadly it just felt flat. the author's writing style just wasn't for me and it was very difficult to get through this book.

Unfortunately for me, this one fell a bit flat. I was not convinced by their chemistry, it felt like there was none. Some parts were cute but others were flat and not well fleshed out. The ending was a cute gesture but again it was a bit flat. I did like the plus sized FMC character rep and it was handled fairly well but along with other hard topics, nothing dived super deep. Compared to other romances I've read, I don't think I would reach for this one again. It was mostly cute but I was wanting more.

This fun fake dating trope was an easy and delightful read for me. This does have the miscommunication trope. For me this isn't a negative - but it can be for many. I genuinely enjoyed this book!

3.5⭐️ When a retired footballer meets up with a ghostwriter to write his book, media gets a hold of the pairing and a fake relationship ensues.

I listened to the audiobook format and love that the narration had fun dialogue and banter, and British accents.


WHAT TO EXPECT
-grumpy x sunshine
-sports romance
-one bed
-a light read
-fake relationship
❌miscommunication trope (not my fave)

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press/Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
3/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

A bit of a meh read for me with characters and interactions. There is a lot of miscommunication which is not my favorite but I did enjoy Mable and the idea of her being a ghostwriter. Both characters’ awkwardness transferred well to the page and if you LOVE the grumpiest of grumpy characters, this one may be for you!

Read this book if you like:
-grumpy x sunshine
-pro-footballer x writer
-humor filled situations

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is out now! Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/cassykaybooks/">Review on Instagram</a>

I lovced this book, the dialogue and banter was EXCELLENT. it was great steamy love scenes, and I liked the characters surrounding the lead characters.

Retired footballer, Alfie, wants to write a book and is paired up with Mabel to ghostwrite it. Of course shenanigans ensue when the press believe they are dating.

And then every trope comes into play, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, he falls first, fake dating, I'm sure I'm forgetting some now🤣

It's funny, light and the audiobook has the endearing British accents 😍

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin Press for the listen!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

This audiobook was really fun. I really enjoyed it. There's fake relationship, one bed tropes. Mabel is a ghost writer and she's hired to write a memoir of a famous soccer player. There's some spice in this book. The way he talks to her, is really cute. They really work well together.

Holy cow the language. If the swear words would have been cut in half I could have actually enjoyed the story instead of trying to figure out what the story was between all the unnecessary language. A no go for me!

Wow this book was unexpectedly steamy! I loved the plus size representation and how sassy the main character is. It was a very fun read!

Mabel is a ghostwriter who knows she is up for a huge challenge when she is hired to write the memoir of Alfie Harding, a notoriously grumpy soccer player. PArt of her job is that no one can ever know she’s ghostwriting, so when they are spotted together in public and people assume they are dating, she can’t correct them. In fact, they decide to double down and lean into the assumption that they are in a relationship. But as they get to know each other better, their chemistry becomes harder to ignore.

Alfie very much gave Roy Kent vibes and I was so here for it. The entire time reading this book, I could clearly picture Roy Kent in my mind and that definitely added to the story. As the title suggests, this is very much your typical grumpy/sunshine romance and having them end up in an accidental PR relationship was a hilarious touch. This story is very much a slooooowwww burn but the witty banter was on point. I would have loved for this to be a dual POV to get more into Alfie’s head throughout the book, and it would have added even more to the already strong character growth.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a charming and playful romance that explores the age-old trope of opposites attracting. Charlotte Stein creates a steamy chemistry between the grumpy ex-footballer Alfie and his vivacious ghostwriter Mabel, as they navigate writing his memoirs and, eventually, their feelings for each other.

While the novel's premise is engaging and the characters are likable, there are moments when the story feels predictable and relies too heavily on familiar romcom tropes. Nevertheless, the witty banter and sizzling tension between the protagonists make for an enjoyable read.

Overall, "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a fun and lighthearted escape that will satisfy fans of the genre, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights of more innovative romantic fiction.

As for the narrator, I had never listened to her but I was impressed! It was a very pleasant listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlotte Stein, and Macmillan Audio for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Another perfect example of the audiobook making the book! The narrators were perfect and made this book so enjoyable!