About the Book:
Title: When Grumpy Met Sunshine
Author: Charlotte Stein
Page Length: 336
Publication Date: Feb. 6, 2024
Publisher: St, Martin’s Press
Synopsis: A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.
When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.
And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.
But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend―until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?
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My Review:
I really liked the premise of this story, and the cover drew me in. I’m always a fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope, and the fact that the FMC is plus size is an added bonus. However, the story is very dialogue-heavy, and while I appreciate strong dialogue, there were times when it felt like it was a bit too much. I think it’s because the story included regular dialogue and a lot of inner dialogue. I’m not a huge fan of rambling inner dialogue. The story also switches perspectives, which was sometimes difficult to follow.
Mabel is funny and sweet and charming, and I love her upbeat attitude. She is the total opposite of the grumpy and negative Alfie, who is easily annoyed and more pessimistic. They don’t seem like they should work, but they do. I enjoyed their fake-dating, slow-burn, opposites attract, workplace romance love story. They have a lot of chemistry, and their slow-building romance leads to some pretty spicy scenes!
Overall, this was an ok read for me. I liked the characters, body positivity, and romance as well as the messages. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The messages.
- Mabel.
Tropes:
- grumpy/sunshine
- forced proximity
- fake dating
- plus size rep
About the Author:
Charlotte Stein is the RT and DABWAHA nominated author of over fifty short stories, novellas and novels. When not writing deeply emotional and intensely sexy books, she can be found eating jelly turtles, watching terrible sitcoms and occasionally lusting after hunks.
