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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Growly Bear & Trouble Jean
T.J. & Max’s story starts off with glitter. There are so many pranks to keep you laughing and wondering how Cooper and T.J. will out-prank the other. Reading the banter between TJ and her growly bear neighbor Max is adorable. This book had me laughing, almost crying, then rooting for Max & TJ. You can almost feel Max’s anxiety and you just want to give him a hug.
T.J. & Max’s story starts off with glitter. There are so many pranks to keep you laughing and wondering how Cooper and T.J. will out-prank the other. Reading the banter between TJ and her growly bear neighbor Max is adorable. This book had me laughing, almost crying, then rooting for Max & TJ. You can almost feel Max’s anxiety and you just want to give him a hug.
Audible Audiobook
I wanted this book to be great. I’m used to Pippa’s books being fun. Max & Tillie Jean were no fun. Pippa used Max’s anxiety as a reason for him to be an asshole. Oh, if only we were all so lucky! I’d love to be able to tell everyone to fuck off &, when they call me out, just say I have anxiety. No, I’m afraid mental health doesn’t work that way.
The book just didn’t work for me. Their “pranks” were mean spirited for the most part. (I don’t know why Pippa loves glitter so much.) Max’s hot & cold got boring & his history of whoring around didn’t endear him towards me. Tillie Jean was supposed to be sunshine in a can, but her constant flirting with Max made him really uncomfortable & if that was a guy we wouldn’t be saying how cute it is.
Honestly, the book was decent, but she’s written so many much better works.
I wanted this book to be great. I’m used to Pippa’s books being fun. Max & Tillie Jean were no fun. Pippa used Max’s anxiety as a reason for him to be an asshole. Oh, if only we were all so lucky! I’d love to be able to tell everyone to fuck off &, when they call me out, just say I have anxiety. No, I’m afraid mental health doesn’t work that way.
The book just didn’t work for me. Their “pranks” were mean spirited for the most part. (I don’t know why Pippa loves glitter so much.) Max’s hot & cold got boring & his history of whoring around didn’t endear him towards me. Tillie Jean was supposed to be sunshine in a can, but her constant flirting with Max made him really uncomfortable & if that was a guy we wouldn’t be saying how cute it is.
Honestly, the book was decent, but she’s written so many much better works.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
slow-paced
Oh Growly Bear Max and Trouble Jean!! I love this book so much. I love that Pippa Grant doesn't shy away from tough issues like anxiety. And she writes it in a way that is relatable and so real. I could feel all of Max's anxiety, panic attacks, and fears as my own. But it was also written in a way that didn't make you pity him. It made you cheer for him. He is definitely one an amazing character. Tillie Jean was his perct counter part. I love that she calmed his inner demons and that he challenged her to go outside her comfort zone. She's so unapologetically herself and brightens everyone's lives. All the side characters were perfection and it was awesome to see the sibling dynamic. I want to go to Shipwreck so bad! Read this book!!!!
Another super fun, sparkly (literally, LOL) rom com from [a:Pippa Grant|17160940|Pippa Grant|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1538656167p2/17160940.jpg]! The Grumpy Player Next Door is a grumpy-sunshine romance with a touch of forbidden thrown in there (she's his BFF/coworker's little sister, and Cooper's already had one player traded off the team after he slept with his little sister).
And glitter. So. Much. Glitter. Just when you think you've seen as much glitter as you're going to see, THERE'S MORE.
Don't say I didn't warn you ;)
Though it does take forever for Tillie Jean and Max to finally get together, Ms Grant keeps things interesting with stolen kisses, half-naked snowball fights (one of them is properly attired, the other is in boxer shorts--don't ask), epic prank wars, renegade goats, and a potty-mouthed parrot so that you almost don't notice. (This is a lie. You totally notice. But you're almost entertained enough that you don't mind...much.) When they do get together, it's all kinds of fun--even though it takes a whole other dose of forever (and an incident) for them to go public.
But then you get a black moment, reconciliation/grand gesture, HEA and epilogue in relatively short order, and I dare you to try to get the goofy grin off of your face that they'll all (OK, not the black moment, but everything else) leave you with.
The Grumpy Player Next Door is the third in the Copper Valley Fireballs series, but it *could* work as a standalone if needed. However, the other couples from that series do play small roles--as do some characters from related series (Tillie Jean is Grady's sister from [b:Master Baker|52894083|Master Baker|Pippa Grant|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561300705l/52894083._SX50_SY75_.jpg|69826130], and the Bro Code guys get mentioned at least once) those new to the author might feel a bit like a newcomer to a town where everybody knows everybody else, but those who have read and undoubtedly loved her books will feel right at home.
And for those who have read the other Copper Valley Fireballs books, no worries--the team mascot(s!) absolutely make some rather memorable appearances here ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
And glitter. So. Much. Glitter. Just when you think you've seen as much glitter as you're going to see, THERE'S MORE.
Don't say I didn't warn you ;)
Though it does take forever for Tillie Jean and Max to finally get together, Ms Grant keeps things interesting with stolen kisses, half-naked snowball fights (one of them is properly attired, the other is in boxer shorts--don't ask), epic prank wars, renegade goats, and a potty-mouthed parrot so that you almost don't notice. (This is a lie. You totally notice. But you're almost entertained enough that you don't mind...much.) When they do get together, it's all kinds of fun--even though it takes a whole other dose of forever (and an incident) for them to go public.
But then you get a black moment, reconciliation/grand gesture, HEA and epilogue in relatively short order, and I dare you to try to get the goofy grin off of your face that they'll all (OK, not the black moment, but everything else) leave you with.
The Grumpy Player Next Door is the third in the Copper Valley Fireballs series, but it *could* work as a standalone if needed. However, the other couples from that series do play small roles--as do some characters from related series (Tillie Jean is Grady's sister from [b:Master Baker|52894083|Master Baker|Pippa Grant|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1561300705l/52894083._SX50_SY75_.jpg|69826130], and the Bro Code guys get mentioned at least once) those new to the author might feel a bit like a newcomer to a town where everybody knows everybody else, but those who have read and undoubtedly loved her books will feel right at home.
And for those who have read the other Copper Valley Fireballs books, no worries--the team mascot(s!) absolutely make some rather memorable appearances here ;)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
emotional
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
Sigh.... Pippa always leaves me vaguely dissatisfied with my life.... great story.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced