Scan barcode
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Sizzlingly swoon-worthy, fabulously entertaining and full of northern charm—When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a banter filled (and heartfelt) Rom-Com that I loved from start to finish.
It follows Mabel a sunshiny, plus sized ghost writer who’s been brought in to ghostwrite the memoir of famously grumpy footballing Legend, Alfie Harding (who has already rejected the previous sixteen writers!) The pair clash a little at first, but after Mabel gives Alfie a piece of her mind they soon find common ground—which leads Alfie to opening up about his life, in ways he’s never done before.
But, after Mabel is papped leaving the ex-Man Utd player’s house (in an innocuous but oh soo secret writing session) rumours start to circulate about their supposedly blossoming relationship. With the need to keep up the pretence that Alfie is writing his own memoir (or risk kissing her job prospects goodbye) the pair have no choice but to fake date… at least until the book is released.
However, what started as a reluctant (but mutually beneficial) arrangement is slipping into something far more serious (and steamier) than Mabel had ever anticipated, and as her feelings for the short tempered sporting legend grow, so too does her uncertainty over what is real and what is fake.
This was such a deliciously addictive and humorous read that I (a self confessed Grumpy x Sunshine fanatic) couldn’t get enough of! The writing was incredibly engaging, and the characters all soo wonderfully witty and nuanced —especially Mabel and Alfie (though Alfie’s assistant and Mabel’s best friends were also rather entertaining.)
Mabel, our overly cheerful protagonist was an engagingly endearing character and I loved getting to explore her sensitive, yet heartwarmingly complex nature. I also loved the depth we see in her inner thought processes and feelings surrounding her struggles with self worth, which, as someone who is also plus sized felt incredibly relatable.
Though much as I loved Mabel, it was our misunderstood cinnamon roll of a love interest, Alfie that stole my heart. His adorably grumpy (and socially awkward) interactions were soo endearing—in a heartwarming, Nick Miller meets Roy Kent kind of way. Despite his own hang ups and trauma, Alfies’s unwavering support and trust in Mabel had me rooting from the start.
Though as entertaining (and swoon-worthy) as Alfie and Mabel were together, I have to warn they do curse up quite a storm—which, I know may be off putting for some readers. Personally, I thought their creative use of swears worked well in breaking the tension between them, and helped bring a sense of normalcy (and relatability) to an otherwise uncomfortable situation.
Overall, a deliciously fun, laugh out loud Rom-Com that fans of Grumpy X Sunshine or opposites attract romances are sure the enjoy.
Also, a huge thank you to Chloe at Pan MacMillan for the finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cursing, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent and Injury/Injury detail
aedavison's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
🌟Audio Book Review🌟
🎧📚 When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
Former footballer, Alfie Harding, is a man of few words. He doesn't share his life with the public and he'd like to keep it that way, thank you very much. However, he's somehow been wrangled into writing a memoir. Enter Mabel Willicker, a bubbly ghostwriter who's been tasked with getting Alfie to open up. But when photos of Mabel leaving his home go viral, the pair are pushed into a fake dating scheme to keep the ghostwriting under wraps. It'll be simple. They won't catch feelings. They aren't each other's types. Right?
When Grumpy Met Sunshine was a hilarious novel full of tropes and the most amazing Meet Ugly in the history of literature. The banter was top tier and the romance... chef's kiss!
The audiobook of When Grumpy Met Sunshine, written by the fantastic Charlott Stein and narrated by the wonderful Emily Spowage will be published on February 6, 2024.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
🎧📚 When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
Former footballer, Alfie Harding, is a man of few words. He doesn't share his life with the public and he'd like to keep it that way, thank you very much. However, he's somehow been wrangled into writing a memoir. Enter Mabel Willicker, a bubbly ghostwriter who's been tasked with getting Alfie to open up. But when photos of Mabel leaving his home go viral, the pair are pushed into a fake dating scheme to keep the ghostwriting under wraps. It'll be simple. They won't catch feelings. They aren't each other's types. Right?
When Grumpy Met Sunshine was a hilarious novel full of tropes and the most amazing Meet Ugly in the history of literature. The banter was top tier and the romance... chef's kiss!
The audiobook of When Grumpy Met Sunshine, written by the fantastic Charlott Stein and narrated by the wonderful Emily Spowage will be published on February 6, 2024.
Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Alcoholism
basilreads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Child abuse and Alcoholism
I did not feel the love connection between the characters. I thought they were boring and one-dimensional.stephbeaudoin20's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein
I'm not sure there are words to describe how much I loved this book!!!!!! I received an ARC from NetGalley, but this has already been added to my to be purchased list, and I will be investigating the author’s back catalog!
Things I am here for:
Mable is a confident, happy, plus-sized heroine. Yes!!!!!
Alfi is a grumpy gorgeous footballer a la Roy Kent, but Alfie is his own character and so very wonderful!
The internal and external dialogue is absolutely hilarious!
Steamiest sex scenes ever! Alfie is all like, you need to masturbate, we all do it, just do it, you'll feel better.
Alfie's dirty talk. Swoon!
How Alfie makes Mabel is number one priority in so many ways.
A Fax Machine!
I have so many wonderful highlights in this book. And it was and advanced copy, so this might not be in the final book, but I love it so much.
“Like it was so ridiculous, it was. But somehow at the same time it was all the ways people almost lost each other, over everything they couldn’t say. This is the way the world ends, she thought. Not with a fight, but with a single word left unsaid.”
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm not sure there are words to describe how much I loved this book!!!!!! I received an ARC from NetGalley, but this has already been added to my to be purchased list, and I will be investigating the author’s back catalog!
Things I am here for:
Mable is a confident, happy, plus-sized heroine. Yes!!!!!
Alfi is a grumpy gorgeous footballer a la Roy Kent, but Alfie is his own character and so very wonderful!
The internal and external dialogue is absolutely hilarious!
Steamiest sex scenes ever! Alfie is all like, you need to masturbate, we all do it, just do it, you'll feel better.
Alfie's dirty talk. Swoon!
How Alfie makes Mabel is number one priority in so many ways.
A Fax Machine!
I have so many wonderful highlights in this book. And it was and advanced copy, so this might not be in the final book, but I love it so much.
“Like it was so ridiculous, it was. But somehow at the same time it was all the ways people almost lost each other, over everything they couldn’t say. This is the way the world ends, she thought. Not with a fight, but with a single word left unsaid.”
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Addiction
literaryrogues's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Very cute, and very British haha, if you aren’t familiar with some of the slang then you might be a bit confused. I really loved Alfie and Mabel’s dynamic and how they poked fun. The romantic gestures and secret “I love you”s were so charming and honestly some of the best I’ve read. This also got quite steamy, Alfie is quite the dirty talker.
It lost some points for me with the ending, I understand why it worked out the way it did, but I think it could have been a bit better with the cutoff and time jump (trying not to give spoilers). Both characters grapple with insecurities and feeling unloved, partially left over from their alcoholic/abusive fathers. But also for Alfie being a footballer that is only defined by his rage, and for Mabel as only being “curvy and too bubbly and too annoying.”
Alfie is very comparable to Roy Kent from Ted Lasso and Mabel’s editor is basically Ted so also keep that in mind.
It lost some points for me with the ending, I understand why it worked out the way it did, but I think it could have been a bit better with the cutoff and time jump (trying not to give spoilers). Both characters grapple with insecurities and feeling unloved, partially left over from their alcoholic/abusive fathers. But also for Alfie being a footballer that is only defined by his rage, and for Mabel as only being “curvy and too bubbly and too annoying.”
Alfie is very comparable to Roy Kent from Ted Lasso and Mabel’s editor is basically Ted so also keep that in mind.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse and Alcoholism
jasbeingjas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I received an ARC from Netgalley. I was a little worried in the first chapter that I might not love this book, the way I originally thought I would, but then I quickly fell into the story and the characters. This felt like reading a cross between Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade (one of my favorite books, with a plus size FMC who ends up with a celebrity crush) and Ted Lasso (because Alfie immediately made me think of Roy Kent and I'm pretty sure Beck was Ted Lasso). I love the grumpy sunshine trope, along with a bit of the fake dating trope. I was worried about the pacing for a bit before I realized that actually the tension was building perfectly and I didn't even realize when I became so invested in the story. I loved the way Alfie and Mabel fell for each other. This is my first read from this author and will definitely check out more in the future!
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Child abuse, and Alcoholism
dogoodwithbooks's review
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 21 (some parts), Chapters 23-25 (some parts)
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When retired pro footballer Alfie Harding is asked to finally pick a ghostwriter for his upcoming memoir, he never suspected to wind up working with the very cheerful Mabel Willicker and having to talk about his feelings about his life to her. When their arrangement and dynamic banter is mistaken as a new relationship, Alfie and Mabel decide to fake-date in order to get the press off their backs. Though, as their fake relationship continues, the lines between what’s fake and what’s real begins to blur and Mabel and Alfie wonder if there’s something more to their relationship.
I personally loved When Grumpy Met Sunshine and I think it’s a new release to keep your eye on this winter.
Perfect for fans of By the Book, Yours Truly, and Things We Never Got Over, When Grumpy Met Sunshine has the perfect blend of grumpy x sunshine and fake dating. With an adorable FMC and a grumpy MMC that can rival Knox Morgan, their dynamics make for a delightful rom-com read that will make you laugh out loud and tug at your heartstrings.
Stein’s writing style also adds a unique layer to the book’s plot and really makes it engaging to read. I personally like the voice she gives to Mabel and Alfie in this book and I feel that it really makes them relatable. The outside commentary bits at the end of each chapter (though I feel like some of them weren’t totally necessary) offers insight into Alfie’s life and overall character development. Though, I wish Stein took some more time into writing more of Mabel’s character growth since we don’t often get to read into it as much compared to Alfie’s.
Other than that as well as some work on plot structure, I have little complaints on When Grumpy Met Sunshine and I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh voice in rom-coms with great use of the grumpy x sunshine trope.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
When retired pro footballer Alfie Harding is asked to finally pick a ghostwriter for his upcoming memoir, he never suspected to wind up working with the very cheerful Mabel Willicker and having to talk about his feelings about his life to her. When their arrangement and dynamic banter is mistaken as a new relationship, Alfie and Mabel decide to fake-date in order to get the press off their backs. Though, as their fake relationship continues, the lines between what’s fake and what’s real begins to blur and Mabel and Alfie wonder if there’s something more to their relationship.
I personally loved When Grumpy Met Sunshine and I think it’s a new release to keep your eye on this winter.
Perfect for fans of By the Book, Yours Truly, and Things We Never Got Over, When Grumpy Met Sunshine has the perfect blend of grumpy x sunshine and fake dating. With an adorable FMC and a grumpy MMC that can rival Knox Morgan, their dynamics make for a delightful rom-com read that will make you laugh out loud and tug at your heartstrings.
Stein’s writing style also adds a unique layer to the book’s plot and really makes it engaging to read. I personally like the voice she gives to Mabel and Alfie in this book and I feel that it really makes them relatable. The outside commentary bits at the end of each chapter (though I feel like some of them weren’t totally necessary) offers insight into Alfie’s life and overall character development. Though, I wish Stein took some more time into writing more of Mabel’s character growth since we don’t often get to read into it as much compared to Alfie’s.
Other than that as well as some work on plot structure, I have little complaints on When Grumpy Met Sunshine and I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone looking for a fresh voice in rom-coms with great use of the grumpy x sunshine trope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
jessgj's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own
So Charlotte Stein has been on my radar for a while now. She's friendly with some writers and reviewers I follow (Okay, semi-stalk) on Twitter and she writes romances with plus-size leads. I even remember when she announced this book and mentally adding it to my TBR.
So imagine my surprise when the stars aligned and I got an ARC for this book.
Y'all, this book. I'm not even going to tease it. It's a 5 stars for me and probably my favorite romance I've read this year. This book had me in my friend's DM yelling about it for a week. It's been a while since I've read a book that's just had me giggling and smiling like a menace as I read.
While the book wears its Ted Lasso inspiration on its sleeves, I was definitely reminded of Gilmore Girls' Luke Danes. The perpetual scruff, the terse man who lectures while he fixes whatever problem he encounters, the secret playfulness, it's there and it had me swooning.
I've seen a few reviews saying this book has "too much banter", which is a valid opinion, my response to that is "Jokes on you, I grew up on Cary Grant movies and 'Gilmore Girls'". While the banter can go on a bit, it's completely understandable that these two joke as much as they do.
When we first meet them, Mabel and Alfie seem worlds apart but we soon learn how similar they grew up and how their trauma has impacted them. Their conversations are fun and lightning-fast because this is the first time they've been able to be themselves in their full glory, These two are constantly bantering because they get to play for the first time in goodness knows how long.
The book is told entirely from Mabel's POV. I definitely missed the experience of seeing events through his eyes but Stein is so good at conveying what he's feeling. Even through Mabel's biased lens, every gesture, word, and stare is just loaded with meaning and feeling and ugh, THIS BOOK!!
(That said, if Stein ever decides to give us a snippet or epilogue through Alfie's POV, hook me up. I need it)
Admittedly, sometimes Mabel's thought process can be a little frustrating because she chalks a lot of their moments up to "Oh, he's such a good friend" and baby girl, y'all passed that a minute ago. Still, when you've spent your life surviving off crumbs, a full meal can feel frivolous and too good to be true.
The ending feels a little rushed to me and I wish we could have gotten more of our couple's Happy Ever After but I adored this book. One of my favorite reading experiences this year.
TW: Alcoholic parents, abusive parents, fatphobia, fandom culture, sexual content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
katrinaward's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
This was a rollicking fun, sexy book. The main characters, a ghostwriter and a gruff footballer end up having to fake date to save their reputations, and get more than they bargained for.
The banter was absolutely top-tier, and I’m in awe at how easy Stein made it look. So much of this book was dialogue, and it flowed so naturally. I laughed A LOT, and it also delicately and heartwarmingly handled childhood trauma and not feeling like enough. It also read like vaguely-inspired Roy Kent fan fiction which I would absolutely read more of.
The banter was absolutely top-tier, and I’m in awe at how easy Stein made it look. So much of this book was dialogue, and it flowed so naturally. I laughed A LOT, and it also delicately and heartwarmingly handled childhood trauma and not feeling like enough. It also read like vaguely-inspired Roy Kent fan fiction which I would absolutely read more of.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
More...