My Rating: ⭐⭐.5

Hey there, book pals! Happy Friday!! We all made it through the week and get to spend the weekend relaxing. For me I will be spending my time visiting RI for their new USL teams, RIFC, first home game followed by cheering on my favorite MLS team, the Revs on Sunday. So, It seemed to be a no-brainer to pick up “When Grumpy Met Sunshine” by Charlotte Stein, a ghostwriter and a ex-footballer (Soccer to us Americans), Sign me up!

But my friends I got some news for you… I’m giving this book a mere 2.5 stars, because it didn’t quite reach the soaring heights of my expectations. However, it’s still a read worth sharing with you all. So, let’s chat about what makes this book shine and where it stumbled along the way.

We meet Alfie Harding, a retired footballer, grumpier than a cat on a rainy day, who reluctantly agrees to spill his life story. Enter Mabel Willicker, our curvy and oh-so-sunshine-y ghostwriter. These two couldn’t be more different if they tried, right? But as they navigate the murky waters of Alfie’s past, sparks begin to fly and just maybe they aren’t so different after all!

But here’s the thing my friends. We were promised that this is spicy. The first sentence about this book on GoodReads states “A steamy, opposites-attract romance” but this book didn’t quite deliver on the promised steaminess. I agree that the banter between Alfie and Mabel was there, but I was left wanting more depth from our characters. And where was the grumpy hero we were promised? It was a missed opportunity to add some depth and tension to the story.

However, despite its shortcomings, “When Grumpy Met Sunshine” still offers an escape into the world of opposites-attract romance. There is chemistry between Alfie and Mabel, and watching their relationship evolve from banter to something more is adorable, especially if you can’t resist a fake relationship trope. When Alfie and Mabel’s business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, they find themselves with a bit of public attention. This book has definite Hallmark vibes.

So, my fellow book lovers, while “When Grumpy Met Sunshine” may not have been the spicy tale I was expecting, it’s still a charming read for someone looking for a fake romance, easy read with a sprinkle of sunshine and a little grumpy. If that’s you, then this book might just be your cup of tea. And hey, don’t let my rating deter you, pick up the book and decide for yourself! I even recommend supporting your local library on this one. After all, sometimes the best stories are the ones that surprise us the most.

Happy reading, my friends!