This was a such a hard read for me. I found it was choppy and almost confusing. I had to go back and reread pages because I just couldn't figure out what was happening...I even considered DNFing this book on multiple occasions

Here is what you need to do before you start this book: you need to picture Roy Kent in your brain or watch a few Roy Kent vids on TikTok or an episode or two of Ted Lasso. Now dive in and picture Alfie as exactly that. *Chefs Kiss!*

While this book could have used some editing and doesn’t need to be quite as long - I felt it was a very enjoyable listen on audio.

I am SO happy I decided not to let goodreads scare me away from this book! Maybe it's a curvy sunshine. Maybe it's a misunderstood grumpy. Maybe it's that my mind goes 900 mph in the same way that hers does as she talks herself out of believing that she is so easy to like and love. And a curvy lead that is sexual. Hello bad boy, it's me Bubbly curvy slightly more grumpy than sunshiny sunshine.

Whatever it is, this book was a recipe for success for me. Did I see the ending coming? Obviously, but when has that stopped a Rom Com lover or a Hallmark movie watching binge? Once I started listening to this book I couldn't stop and honestly, I plan to read it on paper too.

#netgalley #MacMillanAudio #WhenGrumpyMetSunshine #charlottestein

The narrator of this book was delightful, and I wished I had enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, the narration couldn’t even save it for me. This started out interestingly enough, but the longer I spent with the story, the less I wanted to pick it up. I feel like the writing kept me distanced and I didn’t actually get to know these characters. I get the vibe the author was going for, but it just didn’t work for me.

This book was just not for me. It moves very slowly and the plot did not interest me. I could not connect with the characters. It was supposed to be a funny romantic comedy, but it wasn't funny at all.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narration was fine. The narration is the only reason this book gets three stars.

I enjoyed this story very much! I adore the FMC and her personality. The epilogue! A year... oh my goodness!
I was not a fan of the narrator. If I would not have also been lucky enough to have an ARC of the e-book, I would have gotten lost in all the banter. She had the same voice for everything. The characters quick exchanges made it very hard to know who was saying what.

The audio was done really well, and without it, I don’t think I would have finished. Bravo for a great narration!

Quick Summary: Grumpy footballer Alfie Harding enlists the help of ball-of-sunshine Mabel Willicker as a ghostwriter for his memoir. What happens when a wildly famous grump is seen with a pretty girl? The fans go wild! How do Alfie and Mabel respond? They decide to fake a relationship. Their journey is filled with highs and lows and will they or won’t theys


My thoughts: The incorporation of social media in this was so fun and added something really unique to the experience. The narrator also was wonderful - I’d definitely listen to more books read by her. The final chapter and epilogue were beautiful and honestly, completely brilliant.

The summary/description was super cute and had me really interested in reading this but I have a hard time with “miscommunication” in relationships and didn’t see it all coming until I was in it. Unfortunately, I was so stuck on all the miscommunication that I had trouble enjoying a lot of the ride. Overall a sweet fake-dating story with a HEA.


**will post to Goodreads as book instead of audio with appropriate information

If you know me, you know I love a book with a plus size FMC!❤️ So happy that I was able to get the audiobook for this. It gave me everything I was craving and more!

It's not often that I get to read (or, in this case, listen to) a novel with a plus size FMC. I appreciated that I could identify with this aspect of the character. Further, I love novels where the main characters have ties to sports, whether it be hockey, baseball, or futball. That being said, I don't know if it was the story or the narrator, but I overall found this book lacking. I didn't get as much grumpy/sunshine as I would have liked from the beginning. I got more mystery than grumpy. The book seemed mostly dialogue and left me wanting more descriptions of where and what the characters were doing/seeing. Further, the narrator didn't have the inflection that I hoped, and sometimes it was hard to tell what character the narrator was portraying. I find myself wondering if I would have liked this novel better had I read it instead of listened to the audiobook.

I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator’s accent hard to understand. I was looking forward to this one, I usually enjoy this trope and I love having a positive plus size main character but this wasn’t what I was expecting. Neither main character were particularly likable at all and I just didn’t find their romance very believable. I’m sure this will be a favorite for some but it was a miss all the way around for me.

If you want a witty banter filled rom com with some decent spice this is a solid read.

I loved the characters and the general premise, but something was lacking in the delivery for me. The banter came across as too unrealistic and staged. The MMC felt all over the place, its marketed as grumpy/sunshine but he didnt come across as grumpy to me and so much about him just came across again as unrealistic.

🥰Enjoyment: This was a cute little palate cleanser. It felt a bit repetitive at parts but I thought the tropes were cute and the narrator did a nice job. Would recommend if you need a quick light read to recover from something heavier.

🎭Mood Reader Classification: Probably do not need to own or re-read, open to trying other releases from this author.

When grumpy met sunshine by Charlotte Stein

3.5/5 Stars

Main Characters: Mable and Alfie

Mable is contracted to ghostwrite for Alfie a famous retired footballer where many others tried and failed. The two become close and their business arrangement is mistaken for romance, they decide to go with it and pretend to be a couple.

Mable is a cute and curvy. Alfie is a total cinnamon roll, grumpy but a heart of gold.

So I really wanted to like this book and was very excited to read this one but this just didn’t do it for me. The banter was almost there between the two characters but just wasn’t quite there. The book just felt like it was dragging. There just didn’t feel like much of a plot either.

Many thanks to Netgally and St Martins press for providing me with a ARC to review.

This book started off strong. Fun banter! I love fake dating and grumpy/sunshine tropes. The cover and description promise me an adorable read.

On audio, it was confusing. There was so much dialogue I got lost not being able to follow who was saying what. There were also text messages, emails, and news articles or twitter entries that weren't always clearly distinguished. I think the book would make more sense in paper, so, I won't knock it for that specifically, but I don't recommend the audio. The narrator's accent was also difficult for me to understand at times (probably not a problem if you are British), but I had to replay a few scenes/give up on ever figuring out what she was saying on a few of them, no matter how slow I made it.

I mostly enjoyed this story. It got REAL spicy about 2/3s of the way in, which I wasn't prepared for given the innocent banter that lead to it. And the spice was a bit dirty. If you don't like the c word (my least favorite) be warned.

Frankly, the ending didn't make sense. This is a spoiler, so close your eyeballs if you don't want it. A full year passed before they sorted out their miscommunication? Nope, no, no. It should have been a day. Or a week at most. He just totally changed his entire personality to confess his love to her through a book she supposedly ghost wrote and she asked no questions/read none of the drafts until the book party? No, not buying it. Go back and rewrite that.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC!

When grumpy met sunshine. I would not consider the female character sunshine. She is obnoxious and a snob. I did not like her at all

This was light story with good banter, steam and a sweet ending. It missed a little for me because of all the inner monologue and the extremely slow story progression only to feel like it hit fast forward during the last third or so. Grumpy/sunshine tends to be one of my favorite tropes, but this one just didn’t fully work for me.

Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillian.audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The whole time I listened or read this book, I could only picture the MMC as Roy Kent from Ted Lasso. Now maybe that is what the author was going for. But I like Roy. I did not care for Alfie. The relationship seemed very disjointed and unnatural. The banter felt immature. Also, I can’t stand unnecessary miscommunication.

The spiciness of the book and the narrator were the saving graces here.

2.5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #netgalley #goodreads #ltbreaderteam

I enjoyed this so much! I loved that the main character was plus sized! She seemed more real and raw, insecurities and all. The male main character is suppose to be the grumpy one, but I think he's just misunderstood. The female main character had more push back and grumpy moments than he had. I loved how this was a fake relationship trope, it beautifully played out. Some bits seemed to slow roll by but keep pushing through it's a worthy read!

I received this ARC from NetGalley to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading it.

DNF at 20%. I felt the plot was repetitive and overall kept me disinterested.

The narrator wasn’t the worst I’ve ever listened to, but also did leave much to be desired.

Super bummed because I was looking forward to this one.