I think the best word that sums up this book is cute. I don't read a lot of YA romance so I knew going into it I wasn't going to be getting a Elle Kennedyesqe hockey romance, but this was an easy, fun read overall.

So, things I liked:
✅ Fake dating (the superior trope)
✅ Grumpy x sunshine
✅ Hockey romance (another fav)
✅ Her taking care of him when he's sick (I was obsessed with that moment in The Hating Game, and I've been chasing that high ever since)
✅ There's really not a third act break up. Because the FMC is an adult and is able to use her words. So refreshing.

Things I didn't love:
❌ The whole reason for fake dating was a little ridiculous. A hashtag is trending that the social media manager doesn't like so her solution is to have Nathan get a fake girlfriend.
❌ The Epilogue. I thought it was rushed and made Summer seem annoying (I'd say more, but I don't want to spoil anything)
❌ Is there any point in having the "only one bed" moment if no one get naked? (In my humble opinion, no there isn't).

There's lots of secondary characters and most of them I liked. I'm sure it's a lot more exciting when all these random people pop up from her other books for people who have actually read them (I have not so I didn't know squat about anyone).

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grumpy/Sunshine....

This was a really sweet, nicely done, hockey, grumpy/sunshine.
Nathan is the grump, a tough nut to crack (he better be goey on the inside).
Summer is the eternally chipper, perky, endlessly happy to Nathan's grumpiness.
She is only too happy to be his partner in faking it.
4.5

I will immediately be going back and reading book 1 of this series. I love a good grumpy x sunshine trope, and this delivered perfectly. I love books that have spice, and can sometimes struggle with closed door romances, BUT, I had absolutely no problem with that for this book. I have been devouring hockey romances lately, and this was a perfect addition to my hockey romance era.

I can't wait to read more from this series!

This story is delightfully sweet while also giving us the grumpy but also very sweet hero we all want (or at least I do). I also really enjoyed coming back to the Appies team and seeing some characters I liked from previous books!

I loved Nathan's character and how while he was grumpy he also cared about his team, family and most of all Summer. It can be hard in a contemporary romance to have stakes to keep the characters apart when it's clear they are both interested from the beginning. However, I felt like Jenny Proctor did a good job explaining why Nathan was so hesitant.

I really enjoyed how confident and smart Summer was. I haven't read the book about her sister from the Sweater Weather series but I really enjoyed meeting her family and I'd love to go back and read that one! I enjoyed that Summer and her twin didn't like men who couldn't tell them apart. That is a really creative way to find out much someone cares!

Fans of sweet hockey romance or sweet small town romance will love this one! I really enjoy a series of interconnected standalones and I'm excited to read more from Jenny Proctor. I think this is the perfect type of book for fans of adult romance who want a closed door story.

🌶️ - Only kissing in this one with no scenes where more occurred. Could be safe for teens but is a story about adults written for adults.

I’m definitely in my hockey rom-com phase and I’m not even a little sad about it when it means reading delicious romances like this one. I love the Appies Series and I think this is my favourite so far. There’s just something about a grump in fiction that makes you there for the journey and the partial melting of their gruff exterior.

Summer is the new contract lawyer who has come to work for the team and Nathan is a hockey player who has some overly exuberant female fans. In perfect rom-com form the best way to combat this problem is of course a fake dating situation.

I loved the dynamic of grumpy Nathan and cheerful Summer and how even though he’d never admit it she got under his skin (in a good way) from the beginning. Summer gives as good as she gets and holds her own and it’s absolutely delightful.
Will she succeed at her mission to make Nathan smile? Will he be able to deal with the past and let her in?

Another thing I loved is that besides the romance we really do get so much of the team in this one. There’s such a great found family dynamic between the guys and of course the women in their lives and getting to see how they all root for each other and support one another is such a nice element to this series. And yes…there are text threads!

Oh and this is closed door but whoooo that chemistry is 🔥


Thank you so much to Jenny Proctor and Net Galley for an advance review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Tropes:
🏒 Forced Proximity
🏒 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Closed door romance

I am a Jenny Proctor fan and while I will read anything she writes, I really didn’t expect to read this in one sitting (I need another Appies love story pronto).
Nathan really tried not to fall for Summer but how could he not? She was flirty and despite his surly demeanour, she keeps showing up for him (which he secretly loves).

Summer makes Nathan see that he really can have it all and I thoroughly enjoyed their chemistry from start to finish. Summer was strong and independent, and I envy her ability to keep on chasing after what she wants despite the risks.

This book had me chuckling to myself and I loved the inclusion of their text messages and the dual POV, it made me love the characters more and root for their HEA.

If you’re usually an open door romance reader I still think you could enjoy this book as Summer and Nathans banter, flirting and pining (sometimes reluctantly) created enough tension I actually forgot there wasn’t any spicy scenes.

I simply cannot wait for the next instalment in the Appies series and I’m so thankful I was able to read this ARC via NetGalley.

Will I read anything by Jenny Proctor? Yes. Undoubtedly. Will I run to get a new book in the Appies series? No. I’m chartering a private jet because I can’t wait that long!

Summer (back from the How To Kiss A Movie Star/Hawthorne series) has come to work for the Appies as their new legal counsel. But her first day doesn’t goes as plan when she almost gets hit by a speeding car in the parking lot. Enter brooding, silent, all around muscle man Nathan. His surly attitude, unsurprising, hides his panic over how to talk to the beautiful lawyer. But it doesn’t matter anyway, after all, Nathan knows that relationships and hockey don’t mix. But when fans online start taking things too far, Harper (YAY) comes up with a plan, show that Nathan is off the market, and while Summer is apprehensive (she knows what happens when two people fake date), how can she say no to the chance of dating her not so subtle crush.

Siiiiigh. I just love these books, and the epilogue was AMAZING. Pumped to see that Alec and Van’s stories are being written because I just want to stay in the Appie universe forever!

3.5 Stars

🏒 The vibes:
- hockey romance
- Fake dating
- Taking care of him when he’s sick
- Family dysfunction

🥅 My thoughts:
I rarely turn down a hockey closed door romance. I was excited to read this one because I’ve enjoyed the Appies in previous books. Summer and Nathan were both instantly attracted to eachother but when Nathan expresses that he won’t be in a relationship while playing hockey, Summer is very disappointed but pretty relentless in her pursuit of him.

🏒 There were some very cute moments that I loved between Nathan and Summer, especially when she took care of him when he was sick. I loved Nathan in general (though I wouldn’t consider him a grump by any means). I liked seeing him with his family; I really enjoyed the entire plot line involving his family past dysfunction and the resolution with that entire situation. My favorite part of the book is Nathan and his journey of learning how to let Summer get past his walls.

🥅 There’s a lot of social media/tik tok in the plot which isn’t my favorite element (probably because I’m old). I didn’t love the emphasis on TikTok, and this book made me dislike Parker’s job and judgment, to be honest. It made me question if pushing atheletes in Tik Tok should be a thing. I don’t think that’s the point of the book- but it definitely made me weary of it. Again- I’m old 😂🙈.

🥅 My main gripe aside from a heavy Tik Tok plot- is a personal preference thing but I’m learning that I don’t love when it’s the FMC that is chasing the MMC or being the primary pursuer. I think I prefer he falls first/harder than the opposite of that- so that was an element that wasn’t my favorite. The attraction and pursuit was instant and I typically prefer a slower progression, but overall I still enjoyed this book and would continue reading anything Appies related.

Release date: April 23, 2024.

Thank you so much to Jenny Proctor, NetGalley, and JPC Publishing for the gifted copy.


*note- posted on bookbub, Instagram stories on 4/23/24 and saved permanently on Story Reviews highlights, goodreads, Amazon, and Storygraph. Links provided.

The Appies continue to rule! I loved this book as much as the others. Nathan was an intriguing character with all the broodiness and yet he’s the biggest softie behind that armor. Summer was a badass girlboss and the perfect love interest for Nathan. I really liked their dynamic and the instant attraction. One of my favourite moments was when Summer (and the guys) tried to wake Nathan up in his hotel room. It was kind of funny and sweet at the same time. I was glad they could figure out things by the end. The epilogue and the bonus epilogue were both really sweet.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of the book.

Oh what a sweet cute, absolutely adorable book! I loved Nathan and Summer. The entire plot of their relationship is fun, a mix of predictable and unpredictable, and just so much fun. I loved their small moments most of all, when summer tries to wake Nathan up, or when they would text each other, both caring for each other so much from the beginning!

The epilogue was so sweet, easily my favorite chapter, I loved how it was written in the future, and the way it shared their story in the future!

I’m so hoping to see books for the rest of the team, and can’t wait to see what comes next!

Summer and Nathan may not be a real couple, but they are legit! Wow! I truly enjoyed their fake relationship. It resonated with all the emotions that keep a rom-com reader engaged. Humor, check. Flirting, check. Crush-induced embarrassment, check. It is precisely because it is not fake that Summer and Nathan settle so easily into their “fake” relationship. It does the job the Appies social media manager needed it to by deflecting unfamily-like drama away from “taming the broody beast”, but it is not exactly pro bono. There are definitely hearts on the line. Watching them discover what is so obvious to everyone else was enjoyably sweet and satisfying. Emotions and desire are clearly felt but remain clean and sweet. I love the team camaraderie and the glimpses of other characters you have met if you’ve read about the Appies. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Romancing the Grump is book 2 in the Appies series by Jenny Proctor.
I loved book one A Groom of One's Own by Emma S. Clair.
So I was so game for book two written by Jenny! And she didn’t disappoint either.
Delightful and fast read. Fans of hockey romance won't be disappointed by this book.
This was a lovely, romance with likable characters that I was immediately drawn to. 
The characters were so well written and felt real and relatable. The romance is so swoonworthy with off the charts chemistry.

Thank You NetGalley and JPC Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

3.5⭐️



Algo que en los 4 libros de los appies es constante y que me gustó es la unión de los 6. Logan, Felipe, Eli, Van, Alec y Nathan.

No negare que en algún punto quería sacudir a Nathan, el tipo no podia ser más diferente a su padre y aun así se aferraba a que no podía tener una relación.

La escena en el hotel cuando Nathan se cayó al cuarto de Summer me dió mucha risa.


¿Riley y Alec serán algo ???


Gracias Netgalley por el ARC.

🤍Book review 🤍

Romancing the Grump
A Sweet Hockey Romcom
by Jenny Proctor

"Romancing the Grump" by Jenny Proctor is a delightful hockey romcom that left me eager for more. Meeting the grumpy Nathan Sanders and the determined Summer Callahan was an absolute treat. As they navigate a fake relationship that starts to feel all too real, I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. Proctor's charming storytelling had me hooked from the start. I appreciated how the characters took a deep look into their lives, unraveling layers of complexity and vulnerability. Despite their initial reluctance, their chemistry is undeniable, leading to a slow-building romance that is both heartwarming and satisfying.
With plenty of humor, romance, and just the right amount of spice behind closed doors, this book has something for everyone. I can't wait to dive into more books by this talented author.

Very grateful to the author for this copy, opinions are my own.


#RomancingTheGrump #JennyProctor #BookReview #HockeyRomance #Romcom #FakeDating #Chemistry #Heartwarming #Humor #Spice #SweaterWeatherSeries #Bookish #ReadingCommunity

From hate to heat! If you love books that have quick wit, romance and a bit of spice, this is the read for you! Overcoming familial pressure to find true happiness! Loved this book so much and cannot wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and JPC publising for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this book! It has everything I love in a rom-com: grumpy-to-sunshine, hockey romance, fake dating, dual POV, 'touch her and die' vibes, only one bed and cute text messages. I couldn't stop reading.
It's my first time reading this author and the Appies, and OMG! Can I call myself an Appies fan already?! They are the best. I really want to read the other books in this series, but all books stand alone and can be read in any order. I think there were some connections with the other books, but if you haven't read them, it doesn't make you not understand what was happening.
Summer is a strong character, really smart, and she says what she thinks. She is independent and takes risks. She is willing to help others despite the fact that she might get hurt. I really enjoyed getting to know her and her family. The relationship with her sisters is so sweet.
Nathan, what can I say, I love him. He is so grumpy but adorable at the same time. I like the relationship he has with his teammates; they made me laugh. The bus scene was really nice. You can see how he grows during the book and opens up his feelings. He is so protective of everyone, especially with Summer.
The chemistry between them is great and you can feel it from the beginning. They made me laugh and gave me goosebumps in some scenes. After finishing the book, I totally forgot it doesn't have really spicy scenes. It is a closed-door romance. I think it has the perfect balance between sweet and sexy. I really love it.
The author's writing style makes you not want to put the book down. It has dual POV, which is great for me; I got to know exactly what Summer and Nathan were thinking. This is a plus for me in every book. The texting message scenes were so cute; I really enjoyed all of them. I like the mentions of some TV series, books, and board games.
The epilogue literally is what I like, and I can't wait to read the second one in her newsletter.
If you like sweet hockey romance, fake dating, dual POV, grumpy-to-sunshine, and closed-door romance, I highly recommend it! I'm looking forward to reading more of Jenny's work.

I would like to thank netgalley and JPC Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable romp in the Appies universe. Looking forward to more of these books.

Jenny Proctor writes the most adorable romantic comedies, and "Romancing the Grump" is no exception! This book is the second in Proctor's "Appies" series, centers around Nathan Sanders, a famous up-and-coming hockey player and Summer Callahan, the team's new legal adviser. While the two have crossed paths before, there's no denying the sparks between them this time. This book contains many of my favorite tropes: only one bed, fake dating, grumpy vs. sunshine, etc. I really enjoyed how Proctor ramped up the chemistry and sexual tension without being vulgar.

This was a really cute book, and I read it so quickly! I'll definitely check out the other books in this series. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read from Jenny and I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to read it early. Just by reading the title I knew this book would be up my alley and I was right. This book had some of my favourite tropes done right. The grumpy x sunshine trope is a classic that is always amazing. One of my favourite tropes is when a character takes care of each other when one is sick and this scene was written out beautifully. I love a good found family trope and Nathan’s teammates were adorably supportive. Lastly, normally with fake dating it leads to misunderstanding and a third act break up which was not the case here which made it absolutely perfect!
Now onto the actual book, I adored Summer & Nathan’s personalities together. I love that Summer was such a strong character and didn’t back down or get scared away without being pushy in any way. The way she was feeling about falling for Nathan was very relatable and I found that her use of percentages for how much she liked him was very cute. I really enjoyed reading about how Summer affected Nathan. Seeing him fall for her while trying not to was adorable. I really enjoyed seeing both of them being protective of each other as well it was incredibly sweet. I really appreciated that this was a closed door romance. There was tension and they were touchy with each other and kissed but that was all. As much as I enjoy romance books I’ve been skipping spicy scenes lately.
My only complaint and the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I wish the book would've been a bit longer and given the characters more time to develop and interact with one another. However, the length made it a cute and easy read and I could never complain about that.

The chemistry between Nathan and Summer is palpable from the start, but their fake relationship truly ignites the story. Their connection deepens as they navigate the charade, revealing layers of vulnerability beneath Nathan's gruff facade.

What sets this romcom apart is its balance of heart and humor. While the banter between the characters keeps the pages turning, there's also a touching exploration of emotional growth and healing. Readers will find themselves rooting for Nathan and Summer as they stumble through the highs and lows of their faux romance.

"Romancing the Grump" is a closed-door romance, focusing on the emotional journey rather than steamy scenes.