How refreshing to read an equestrian romance with english riders! Though cowboys are hot, grumpy ex show jumpers are also hot.

In this book Bronwen is the manager of a farm that was recently sold, when Ian, the new owners brother, shows up and locks himself in the house never to be seen.

Ian was involved in a terrible riding accident and he's dealing with the trauma and grief from that accident, while Bronwen doesn't ride either because she was also in a fall.

When an unmanageable stallion shows up for them to train and get to trust them, the two grow closer together and develop a friendship -> friends with benefits -> love.

It was cute but I found myself skipping around here and there. I wish Ian had a bit more of a dirty mouth as though there were numerous spicy scenes, they fell a little flat for me.

Still happy to finally read a book with english riders!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this review.

This book was a fun read. I loved all the horse stuff. I love a good grumpy hero. This book had good character growth and was well written. The only issue I had was that it dragged through the middle a bit. I think more conflict was needed in this story. I did want to continue reading and that was definitely a good thing.. Huge thanks to Harlequin romance and Netgalley for allowing me read and review this book!

Unfortunately, this story jsut did not work for me. The pacing was off and the characters weren't lovable or particularly nuanced. I may have just not been in the mood for this read, but I did not vibe with it.

I really enjoyed this author's writing. I haven't read anything by them before, but I really got into the story and the pacing of it. The characters were well developed and lovable.

So The Grump Whisperer was… fine. It had its moments, but it didn’t really blow me away. The grumpy-sunshine trope is always fun, and Katy James did a good job creating tension between the main characters. The banter was decent, and there were a few genuinely funny moments that made me smile.

But honestly? It just didn’t stand out. The pacing felt off—some parts dragged, while others were rushed. I didn’t feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to, and the romance felt a little surface-level despite covering deep topics.

That said, it’s not a bad read. If you’re looking for something light and easy, this could work for you. But if you’re hoping for a romance that tugs at your heartstrings or makes you swoon, this might not hit the mark.

I liked this story of 2 people figuring out how to move forward in their lives after horse-related accidents. Good grumpiness and good coming together.

This book will appeal to anyone who loves horses and the charm of a farm setting. The depiction of the tight-knit community and the role of the horses added depth to the story. While I enjoyed the characters, I felt the two main protagonists could have been more fully developed. Their backstories were not explored enough to create a strong emotional connection, which left me feeling less invested in their journey.

Although the chemistry between the main characters was evident, something felt missing in their overall dynamic. Additionally, certain details, like the mention of the old caretaker’s cottage, were introduced but not followed through, leaving some loose ends that diminished my overall satisfaction with the story.

While there were aspects I enjoyed, I ultimately wanted a more complete and immersive reading experience.

I read a lot of horse books as a pre-teen. I couldn't tell you what series, but I read them. And this scratches that itch for a grown up.

She's the barn manager and he's the new owner's brother. No one's been paying the bills, so she barges in to his house and demands he take responsibility. He's basically been sitting in the dark brooding for weeks, and now he's forced to engage.

There's attraction, there's the reality of getting back on the horse after you've been thrown (metaphorically and literally), there's teamwork to rehabilitate an abused horse, and there's some spicy scenes. This is a quick read and a pretty fun one. I really enjoyed the unusual setting and circumstances.

Looking forward to the next one in the series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was cute! Perhaps a bit too “horse girl” for me (a human afraid of horses) but it ticks all the check marks of enjoyment for me: grumpy, small town, light and fun, and paced perfectly!

Posted to Goodreads:

Browen loves her job as barn manager but when the farm gets sold her job may be in jeopardy. The new owner sends Ian, a former star jumper, to help keep the farm afloat. Ian and Browen clash until their mutual love of horses creates a bond that leads to sparks flying but both of them are hiding from things in their past that may make their happily ever after impossible.

The Grump Whisperer was a fast-paced romance. It lacked surprise but it was a quick read that delivered on its promised romance.

This was a very cute read set on a horse boarding farm with two characters trying to overcome and heal from their past. If you love horses (and romance) - this book is going to be an obvious must read.
For the most part I enjoyed the storyline and all the characters, which felt believable. There were a few times the book slowed down for me but never so badly that I couldn't keep turning the pages.

This book came out on 11/26/24 so grab a copy and let me know what you think!

3.5 out of 5 (couldn't decide whether to round up or down).

I really enjoyed The Grump Whisperer. Katy James has written a grown up romance for horse kids. Bronwen is the grump whisperer, with two grumps who need her help. One is Ian, a show jumper who has suffered a career ending injury. The other is Hades, a horse who has been badly treated in the past.

Listen, I love hurt people finding each other and healing. Bronwen was also a show rider, but a bad fall has made her afraid to get back on a horse. She’s made a safe life for herself as the barn manager at Morning Song Farm. The problem is (and we always start with a problem), that the farm has been sold and the new owner hasn’t shown up. The manure is piling up, the feed is getting low, and other maintenance important to the health and safety of the horses isn’t getting done. Ian Kingston thinks that he has retreated to his sister’s new house where he can wallow in privacy while she’s on a multi week retreat. Too bad for him that the house includes a working horse farm and a barn manager who wants the bills taken care of. Further proof that his sister is manipulating him, she buys a cantankerous horse and has him delivered without notice.

While there is conflict, The Grump Whisperer is in the mostly vibes camp of romance. I like an angsty romance with a third act breakup , but I also like a soft vibes romance where the third act conflict is worked out with communication and mutual understanding. I see myself wanting more soft vibes romances in the coming years. I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Harlequin Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

I love this book. I have been gravitating towards cowboy-romances for the past year and this was exactly what I wanted. I read this twice, once with advanced-reader-copy eyes and then just for enjoyment.

I am a sucker for a grumpy character, and man, does Ian ever have the valid reason. He is trying to get a grip on his new reality, while shaping his future. This includes getting away from the world of horses, somewhere he has spent two decades. He went long with watching over his sister’s new investment, and lands himself exactly where he didn’t want to be.

In comes Bronwen. As the manager of the barn on Morning Song Farm she’s kept busy with the community that has been built around the horses. Fiercely loyal to the people she loves. Which promptly lands her confronting Ian for the help they need to keep Morning Song Farm running. Luckily Ian’s soft spot are the horses, and that starts their relationship.

I really love this book. I enjoyed how easy it was to read and how community was at the heart of keeping Morning Song Farm alive. Ian and Bronwen’s love for the horses was definitely a part of the foundation of their partnership, and from that feelings started to flourish. Granted those feelings were some major lust at first, but it was fertile soil and other feelings begun to grow.

This was a rare occurrence where I requested a book from NetGalley based on the title and the cover. It is appropriately named- there’s a grumpy man and a grumpy horse. I wouldn’t know the first thing about caring for a horse but based on the detail of the horse boarding facility I’d be willing to say the author has extensive knowledge.

It’s a cute story. Love interests do fall for each other fast but this is also a short book. There is enough conflict to keep interest but not too much that I wanted to constantly roll my eyes. The horses are very present in the story but in a good way.

I do wish we got more on Hades prior owner. It was hinted that he was abused and I’m thinking the story didn’t want to go too dark so kinda left it alone. I’m glad he ended up at a good place. He had every right to be grumpy/difficult.

The Grump Whisperer by Katy James is the first book in the Morningsong Farm series, focusing on Bronwen, a devoted farm manager, and Ian, a grumpy former show jumper. When the farm is sold, Bronwen faces challenges under the new ownership, especially with Ian, who uses the farm as a retreat. Their initial animosity slowly shifts to romance, though the transition feels abrupt, with little emotional buildup. Set in a small-town atmosphere revolving around the farm, the story showcases Bronwen’s passion for horses but struggles with pacing, as key romantic developments feel rushed despite a promising start.

A cute and quick read. I don't know much about horses so somethings didn't make sense to me. Things moved pretty quickly throughout the story. You do get both POV's which I always like. Both characters had to overcome things and they did that together. Overall a cute story!

Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Date Read - July 28, 2024
Publication Date - November 26, 2024

*I received an E-ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @katyjameswriter, @harlequinbooks and @netgalley!

The Grump Whisperer is a spicy and quick read that is perfect if you are looking for a palate cleanser in between longer or heavier books. That being said, this book has some great themes and messages about making the most out of second chances in life and resilience by getting back up when life pushes you down. I went into it expecting a slow burn romance and even though it felt more like insta lust, I still had a good time. I really enjoyed getting to know the side characters and feeling connected to Hades. I also had fun learning more about horses and everything that goes into running a horse barn, which was really cool! Overall, this book is short, sweet and spicy.

If you like small town romance books about horses, you should give The Grump Whisperer a try!

Get excited to read The Grump Whisperer, available, November 26! 🎉

*Please check trigger warnings*

it was such a fun & sweet book. i will admit, one of the reasons i requested this book was because grump was in the title & there was a horse on the front as i am a huge grumpy character lover & horse lover.

i liked the two main characters and their development throughout the book. i thought there could’ve definitely been more of a slower burn to their relationship & that the mmc was more grumpy throughout the whole book & didn’t just stop being grumpy or at least less grumpy. i liked their dynamic though and how much he understood her.

other than that, i loved the community aspect of the farm & as well as the horses. i’ve always loved horses since i was young, so it was fun to read a book with them in it.

anyways, it was a very cute read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that focuses on a former show jumper who was injured in an accident. His sister urges him to assist on a horse farm despite not being able to ride any longer and man is he a grump! This had good bands, her but lacked a little bit and angst. Overall, it was a fun read but I struggled a bit with the third act strife.

An engaging story revolving around a horse farm. Unfortunate accidents left the main characters with issues. Interesting to watch their growth and realization that there could be a romance. I did skip over the intimate details. A nice variety of characters. Good to see this is the beginning of a series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.