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rireadssometimes's review against another edition
4.0
I only picked this book because it had a grumpy heroine and I'm always on the hunt for personal representation in romance. Thankfully, the story didn't disappoint me.
His grumpy childhood friend is a short and sweet book with medium angst.
It deals with emotional abuse, self worth and learning to love and be loved.
I easily rooted for Mike and Charlotte because they treated each other so well.
The story was narrated very smoothly and the side characters were also very fun.
PS: Is drinking 9 cups of coffee in a day really normal??? How is Charlotte alive???
His grumpy childhood friend is a short and sweet book with medium angst.
It deals with emotional abuse, self worth and learning to love and be loved.
I easily rooted for Mike and Charlotte because they treated each other so well.
The story was narrated very smoothly and the side characters were also very fun.
PS: Is drinking 9 cups of coffee in a day really normal??? How is Charlotte alive???
herk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bhavani's review against another edition
4.0
This book is GREAT!! It has friendships, love, romance, lots of yummy food descriptions, sexy times, emotional complexity, and, most importantly, flawed characters doing their best to overcome personal challenges to be together. I'll definitely pick up other books by Jackie Lau.
racheldiep's review against another edition
3.0
A very fluffy, light read. I love the Asian/Asian rep (not Asian/white, or Asian/bi-racial; those stories are important, too, but can feel like cop outs or "more palatable" diversity marketing to Western audiences). I also appreciate the lack of toxic masculinity (the male lead goes to therapy, has non-judgmental bromances), and the fact that the female protagonist was an extreme introvert lol.
The reason why it's 3 stars for me: There isn't much conflict. Like, it's resolved in a few pages and is very low-stakes. I also thought that the scenes with the female lead hanging out with her friends was just filler / the usual girlfriends hanging out in a rom-com, sort of deal, but didn't add anything to the story. I get the other friends have their own storylines later, though.
The reason why it's 3 stars for me: There isn't much conflict. Like, it's resolved in a few pages and is very low-stakes. I also thought that the scenes with the female lead hanging out with her friends was just filler / the usual girlfriends hanging out in a rom-com, sort of deal, but didn't add anything to the story. I get the other friends have their own storylines later, though.
katiewordsforworms's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nen96's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so sweet. Very little angst and next to no conflict.
It was nice to read a romance about two mature characters who had a lot of stuff to work through, but still managed to treat each other with care and respect.
This book also had positive representations of therapy and a hero who struggled with self-worth but was not a raging asshole.
Overall, there’s a lot to like.
It was nice to read a romance about two mature characters who had a lot of stuff to work through, but still managed to treat each other with care and respect.
This book also had positive representations of therapy and a hero who struggled with self-worth but was not a raging asshole.
Overall, there’s a lot to like.
beckymmoe's review against another edition
5.0
Friends-to-lovers--especially when they're childhood friends, with a touch of unrequited love--is one of my all-time favorite tropes, when done well. Ms Lau does very well with Charlotte and Mike here :)
Their story was so much fun!
Charlotte's quirks (and okay, Mike's too--I'm looking at you, spiders) made me laugh out loud more than once. Though I am 100% with her dislike of stadium proposals--those are ALWAYS a bad, bad idea--I just loved that Mike was so accepting of them--and of her!--and never made her feel bad about them or less-than. And of course Charlotte reciprocated with his spider issue, calmly dealing with any and all that dared to invade his space. (OMG, when he woke her up that one time? I'm pretty sure I snort-laughed. Thank goodness no one was around to witness that.)
The conflict of this story ends up being very low drama, but with all of the drama going on IRL right now that was exactly the kind of story I needed to read. Essentially, His Grumpy Childhood Friend is a lighthearted, sexy friends-to-lovers story about two childhood friends who reconnect as adults and just really manage and enjoy and appreciate each other, not in spite of their quirks but because of them. It's worth a read even if you haven't read Amy and Victor's story ([b:Her Big City Neighbor|54546124|Her Big City Neighbor (Cider Bar Sisters, #1)|Jackie Lau|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594848597l/54546124._SY75_.jpg|85108665]) yet.
But you totally should read their story too. It's *almost* as fun ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Their story was so much fun!
Charlotte's quirks (and okay, Mike's too--I'm looking at you, spiders) made me laugh out loud more than once. Though I am 100% with her dislike of stadium proposals--those are ALWAYS a bad, bad idea--I just loved that Mike was so accepting of them--and of her!--and never made her feel bad about them or less-than. And of course Charlotte reciprocated with his spider issue, calmly dealing with any and all that dared to invade his space. (OMG, when he woke her up that one time? I'm pretty sure I snort-laughed. Thank goodness no one was around to witness that.)
The conflict of this story ends up being very low drama, but with all of the drama going on IRL right now that was exactly the kind of story I needed to read. Essentially, His Grumpy Childhood Friend is a lighthearted, sexy friends-to-lovers story about two childhood friends who reconnect as adults and just really manage and enjoy and appreciate each other, not in spite of their quirks but because of them. It's worth a read even if you haven't read Amy and Victor's story ([b:Her Big City Neighbor|54546124|Her Big City Neighbor (Cider Bar Sisters, #1)|Jackie Lau|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594848597l/54546124._SY75_.jpg|85108665]) yet.
But you totally should read their story too. It's *almost* as fun ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
theladyinreds's review against another edition
4.0
This was sweet and emotionally satisfying. Two former childhood friends who are opposites on the introvert/extrovert scale “practice” date and then eventually fall in love for real. They work really well as a couple and were emotionally supportive and healthy for each other. I dug it.
CW: emotionally abuse parents (in the past, cut off in present)
CW: emotionally abuse parents (in the past, cut off in present)
melonreads's review against another edition
3.0
So, I've had time to sit and think about this book and what worked for me and what didn't. And I hope I've sat with it long enough that I can put my thoughts into some sort of coherent words that actually reflect my opinion of this book.
First of all, Jackie Lau's book are, by and large, a delight. Her books are low-key angst to completely free of all angst, she will spend page after page describing what her characters drank and ate from cider varieties to gourmet ice cream flavors. They are easy and breezy and lightweight fun, and don't get me wrong, I do NOT mean that as a criticism. However, that being said, they are also not the kind of books that stay with the reader, at least not me. They are sort of in one ear, out the ear type of books. And that's fine. Sometimes, what we actually want is a temporary palate cleanser or an escape and Jackie Lau book are great for that.
BUT. You knew that was coming. The problem comes when there is a main character introduced who has some kind of past trauma or emotional issue. I think mentioning it in passing is not a great approach and while in this book, the hero, Mike, has grown up with parents who emotionally abused him which in turn led him to seeking therapy and unable to find happiness and fulfillment in longterm relationships, I feel like there is more time spent having the characters banter about their respective preferences in cider flavors than in delving into Mike's past. It's very much mentioned in passing, with Mike sharing little stories about how awful his parents are and casually mentioning he's had therapy and perhaps he needs more. And while I appreciate that the author doesn't pretend that everything is wonderful and magically fixed at the end, I do wish she'd spent more time delving into how Mike's upbringing informed his present day emotional issues.
First of all, Jackie Lau's book are, by and large, a delight. Her books are low-key angst to completely free of all angst, she will spend page after page describing what her characters drank and ate from cider varieties to gourmet ice cream flavors. They are easy and breezy and lightweight fun, and don't get me wrong, I do NOT mean that as a criticism. However, that being said, they are also not the kind of books that stay with the reader, at least not me. They are sort of in one ear, out the ear type of books. And that's fine. Sometimes, what we actually want is a temporary palate cleanser or an escape and Jackie Lau book are great for that.
BUT. You knew that was coming. The problem comes when there is a main character introduced who has some kind of past trauma or emotional issue. I think mentioning it in passing is not a great approach and while in this book, the hero, Mike, has grown up with parents who emotionally abused him which in turn led him to seeking therapy and unable to find happiness and fulfillment in longterm relationships, I feel like there is more time spent having the characters banter about their respective preferences in cider flavors than in delving into Mike's past. It's very much mentioned in passing, with Mike sharing little stories about how awful his parents are and casually mentioning he's had therapy and perhaps he needs more. And while I appreciate that the author doesn't pretend that everything is wonderful and magically fixed at the end, I do wish she'd spent more time delving into how Mike's upbringing informed his present day emotional issues.