It was a cute story at times but ultimately didn’t really stick with me. I enjoyed the female main character but found the male main character a bit overbearing.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the 2nd in a series, but it reads well as a stand alone. This is the story of James Branson and Natalie. I enjoyed the characters and the antics!! Natalie and Steph are so fun. Great quick read. 4 stars

The Grumpy One is a spicy, sassy, sexy billionaire romance story that features James and Natalie. Both characters are fun with a banter that is befitting of Natalie's sass. Our girl fights James tooth and nail, and it was fun to have such a spicy FMC.

James is sexy but in the stern, high-fashion, billionaire kind of way. All in all, it's a fun read for an afternoon!

This one was a lot of fun to read and I enjoyed the banter and the sexual tension between the two main characters.
I love a good grumpy boss workplace romance and this one ticked all the boxes. It's funny and adorable cute at times. I also loved how he stood up for her in the workplace and gave her recognition for all the talent she had. A good storyline that entertained from start to finish.

Aspiring Designer Natalie is moonlighting as a cleaner at a design house when she has an unfortunate run in with the grumpyCEO, James. And by unfortunate I will say there was both bad singing, and a mop involved. Natalie lets her mouth run amok and throws around a lot of insults and sass before she finds out who she is insulting then is asked to leave. Since her dismissal was vague she returns to work the next day hoping she wasn’t actually fired, only to be offered her dream job as a designer the bad news is, she is working for the grumpy CEO who she can’t seem to stop insulting.

This books was really great. I enjoyed it so much more than I expected. While the premise seems pretty straightforward there are a host of side characters that really bring this story to life. Not only that, but the journey that both main characters take to realize that their hostility is actually based in attraction unfolds nicely. There are also some real issues that both characters have to deal with both individually and collectively. The journey makes the HEA payoff even more satisfying. I didn’t read book 1 so this book holds up as a standalone story with no problems. Great book. I highly recommend it. Loved everything about Natalie. She is my kind of heroine.

The Grumpy One was an enjoyable read! A modern Cinderella story between Natalie, a janitor and aspiring designer, and James, the 'king of high fashion'. The enemies/rivals to lovers vibe between Natalie and James was so good, the snark followed up by denial of the attraction they feel for one another. It's was also interesting to see the passion for high fashion that both characters have. This book went by way too quickly for me, but it was a great 5 star read.

Thank you to Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read the ARC of this book, I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

This is a cute story about a lovely romance sparking between two unlikely people.
Natalie has a hidden talent for fashion designing. She is working her way through college by working as a cleaner for a big fashion company. Her first meeting with the insanely hot CEO of the company was hardly a meet cute, seeing that she hits him with her mop. Despite this embarrassing encounter, sparks sizzle between them. When James discovers Natalie's hidden talent for designing, he offers her the opportunity to work with him.
Filled with steamy as well as sweet moments and sassy banter that will have you laughing out loud, made this a delightfully fun and heartwarming read. The story was well-written and entertaining and kept my attention from start to finish. If you're looking for a quick, fun escape, you will definitely want to pick this one up!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a gripping read, I thought the characters were intriguing and I'm going to keep an eye out for more from this author.

My review of this book is a bit delayed. I had a hard time getting through it. I would pick the book up, read a few chapters and put it back down. I think my major dislike was primarily the female main lead. I am usually into a grumpy sunshine dynamic but this just didn’t do it for me. That being said, the story plot was fairly decent. I like the fashion centered story and didn’t drop the book because of it. I think I will likely give this another opportunity to see if it delivers better with a second read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this.

I truly loved this book. Natalie and James' love story was amazing. I truly enjoy the unique story line with her being the cleaner for his company, which he is CEO of. Yet it did feel gross at times due to the power dynamic.

If there's one thing I love to read as a reader it's a good grumpy x sunshine. So when I read the title of this romance I couldn't help but request the arc.

James was soooooo grumpy, no smiles and a straight face, he was annoyed even by the music. While Natalie, was all lights and sparkles. Always with a smile, despite the odds, and always singing Beyoncé songs, even if she couldn't sing well. I just love her.

I loved this one. It's just that this trope always hits. What's better than good chemistry between the grumpy hero and the sweetest sunshine heroine? Reading it always gives me that serotonin boost because the grumpy boy is always trying to fight the attraction he feels for the sunshine girl, but it's impossible for him to escape. They always end up gravitating towards each other. Until they become each other's favorite person and before they know it they love each other.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was cute and I liked the MMC a lot. It was an easy read, perfect to blow through in a day and help curb book hangovers.

Thank you to the author and Net Galley for providing me with an e-arc of book #2 in the Bossy Glenhaven Billionaires series.

When Natalie picks up a second job at Branson Designs, to help pay for design school, she couldn't possibly have imagined she'd find herself slapping the CEO in the face with a wet mop. Yet, there she was. There they both were. James Branson, the handsome CEO of Branson Designs, in his perfectly tailored, now ruined, suit and Natalie Reynolds, the woman with an annoying knack for off-key Beyonce sing-alongs, threatening to call security on him.

'The Grumpy One' is a romantic comedy filled with banter, spice, and so many heartfelt moments. The author does an incredible job blending romance and humor, while still creating those grab-the-tissues moments that leave you wanting more once the story's over. This is my first Leslie North book and it will absolutely not be my last.

If you're not looking to get into a series, please note the books in this series can be read as standalones.

The next book in the Bossy Glenhaven Billionaires series, 'The Grouchy One', is scheduled to release on June 6, 2024 and I can't wait to read it!

This book introduces readers to a hilarious and charming romance between Natalie, a spirited cleaner, and James Branson, the grumpy CEO of Branson Couture. Their worlds collide when Natalie accidentally attacks James with a wet mop, leading to unexpected sparks and a surprising job offer for Natalie on James's design team.North skillfully weaves together humor and romance in this delightful romantic comedy, featuring witty banter, steamy encounters, and heartwarming moments. Despite their initial clash, Natalie and James find themselves drawn to each other, creating a captivating story filled with laughter and love.With its engaging plot, lovable characters, and sizzling chemistry,

Great read, definitely got the blood boiling. It was an easy read and I would recommend it for someone who would like to read something easy and enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This was a really cute read, if both a bit predictable and unbelievable at times. There was no way that Natalie would have been able to keep her job after throwing a mop at her boss. This book had good banter between the two leads and was exactly what you'd expect with a billionaire boss romance.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a digital ARC of this book for my honest review.

Natalie starts off seeming spoiled and bratty, which makes her hard to like at first. James is all over the place—he's into Natalie one minute and not the next. His behaviors made me want to rattle him around. The other characters don't get much development, so they feel flat. The story's plot is a bit predictable, but I still found it enjoyable. The writing is okay, but forgettable. I finished the book and quickly forgot about it. The ending wasn't satisfying for me either.

Received as an ARC in return for my honest review.

💵 Enemies to lovers
👗 Boss x Employee
💵 Forced proximity
👗 Billionaire MMC
💵 Sassy FMC

This was my first read from Leslie and overall I enjoyed it for the most part. I felt this book was what it was but the characters infuriated me at some points and not in a love to loath them kind of way which was a bit disappointing…..Natalie I’m looking at you and it grates on me we share a name, you were an idiot!

The bit that was done best in the entire book was the grovelling, nice to see a main character that doesn’t fold at the first ‘I’m sorry’ which makes a change.

Overall if you want a read that delivers the spice but you’re not majorly fussed about an impeccably thought out plot or needing to have comprehensive characters you may like this one.

I loved this title! It's been a long time since I've read a Leslie North title and I won't wait so long again! I loved everything about this title from the "following your dreams" to the fashion talk. It was a delight to read...and plenty hot!

As Leslie usually publishes her books in sets of three, I had the impression that The Bossy One was a standalone. But noooo, Leslie just wanted to drag it out this time… Fine by me, I’ll patiently wait for the next parts… So when The Grumpy One arrived on Netgalley, I grabbed it of course (and now I have to wait for the last one: the Grouchy One until June 2024…). Ugh.

But well worth the wait! James is one hunkey dorey man. And yes, a big marsh mellow, but of course he keeps that a secret from everyone. And Natalie is just plain funny. The mop incident, which is directly at the start of the story is funny as hell and sets the tone for the rest of the banter throughout the book. Of course, Leslie-style, there will be a happy ending with some hot and naughty in between. Loved it, and I’ll eagerly await part three on this one!

Four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.