After a tough read, I was looking for something light and sweet, and I'm so grateful to my Goodreads friends for recommending this gem of a book! It has everything: a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a famous heroine with a reclusive hero, childhood crushes blossoming into adult feelings, struggles with self-acceptance and love, anxiety representation, adorable animals, complex family dynamics, and a cozy small-town vibe. It was more emotional than I expected, but in a wonderful way. I highly recommend it!

Both April (the heroine) and Mal (the hero) have complicated pasts and presents, and their attraction to each other is delightful but also highlights their personal challenges. April returns home after pursuing an acting career following her grandfather's death. Mal, the older brother of one of her childhood friends, manages April's family's distillery. Their interactions are filled with head-butting, blushing (Mal's shyness is both adorable and heartbreaking), and a gradual reevaluation of each other. Initially, Mal has an almost enemies-to-lovers attitude, but April isn't who he thinks she is. As they get to know each other better, April learns about Mal's struggles.

The story is written in first person, dual POV, with minimal other woman/other man drama. There’s one scene where Mal intervenes when another guy gets handsy with April, and another where an ex tells April she wished for a second date with Mal, causing some jealousy but nothing major. Neither are virgins; Mal hasn’t been with anyone for 5-6 years, and April has more experience.

There is some miscommunication and avoidance, but I was so emotionally invested in April and Mal that I didn't mind. Their journey of struggling yet coming together made my heart swell. Mal’s shy exterior hides a surprising dominance and dirty talk, which April helps him embrace. She encourages him to take careful chances, while he provides her the support she needs to be herself. The character development and growth are beautifully done.

I adored their small town, Mal's supportive yet pushy family (though his relationship with his dad is complicated), and April's friendships. The town’s subtle support for Mal was heartwarming. The inclusion of their dogs, Dudley and Boy, and even the foxes, was a delightful touch for this animal lover. April's grandparents, though gone, had a significant impact on her life, and their presence was felt throughout the story, sometimes with a tinge of grief.

There is no third act breakup. Concerns about April’s future linger, but they don’t split up. Mal’s big moment towards the end made me cry and swoon simultaneously. The epilogue jumps a few months ahead, giving a strong HEA vibe and a dose of adorableness. The book isn't perfect—sometimes the timeline was confusing, and I wished some uncertainties were resolved sooner—but it was exactly what I needed. There are hints of potential future couples, which I'm curious about, and I’m excited to read more from this town and this author.

This book was pure joy! If you’re looking for something to get you out of a reading slump then I suggest that you pick up this book.

Set in a small town on the Isle of Skye, you’ll find April our sunshine FMC who is taking a break from her acting career to return to her home town and her grandfathers whiskey distillery. April clearly is strong willed but willing to learn the ropes in order to save the distillery from financial ruin. But it is Mal that steals the show. He is a giant man with a whole lot of insecurities, anxiety and self doubt and must be protected at all costs!! Every time, he got embarrassed I wanted to bundle him up into a hug and never let go. However, when he is given the opportunity, Mal has a mouth on him that will make you blush, swoon and kick your heels. I adored how he came out of his shell and with the unwavering support from April was able to go after what he wants.

Overall, April and Mal were just a delight to read. Honourable mentions to small town life, melding siblings and adorable dogs.

I cannot not mention the authors vivid descriptions of the landscape and touch of local dialect, it really brought the story to life and I am willing to bet that like me you will be ready to pack your bags to go visit the Isle of Skye in an instant!

🤍SmallTown
🤍Dislike to Friends to Lovers
🤍Less experienced MMC
🤍Childhood crush
🤍Hot whisky tasting
🤍Grumpy x Sunshine
🤍No 3rd Act breakup

I went into this one completely blind and enjoyed the hell out of it! It was everything I wanted from a grumpy/sunshine: the grump had a huge heart and reasons to dislike the sunshine, who was kind and selfless and a little lost.

I adored both Mal and April 😍 Their chemistry was obvious and so sweet. I loved how they were each other’s safe space. And Mal’s little jealous streak was so so hot 🥵

I see who the next one is going to be about and I need that book in my hands asap.

Oh and the writing! To me it was perfect. I think I’ll use this book as my study material, because I constantly found myself highlighting passages that could improve my own WIP.

Such a lovely book and a new favourite author for me! ❤️

5 ⭐️

OH. MY. GOD.

This was my first time reading a book by Elliot Fletcher and it did not disappoint at all 😍

WHISKY BUSINESS follows April Sinclair and Malcom Macabe. April is a resilient actress who faces a career setback, leading her to return to her Scottish hometown. Despite her alluring background, she is determined to restore her family's whisky distillery, showing a sense of loyalty to her roots. Malcolm, known as Mal, is a master distiller with a deep love for solitude. Despite his initial reserved attitude, he harbours unresolved feelings for April, showcasing an inner conflict between his desire for independence and his attraction to her.

I truly read this book in an evening because I couldn’t put it down— that’s how hooked I was!!! The chemistry and tension between the April and Mal is beyond words can describe and their open-door scenes are the best ones I’ve read in a long time. I absolutely adored this book.

Read if you like:
🥃 small town.
🥃 grumpy x sunshine.
🥃 frenemies to lovers.
🥃 opposites attract.
🥃 no 3rd act breakup.
🥃 set in Scotland.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Whisky Business by Elliot Fletcher will be coming out on June 6th.

WHISKY BUSINESS is a small-town, grumpy/sunshine romance on the isle of skye in scotland, about april, an actress returning home after her career has reached a new low, and malcolm, the grumpy whisky distiller working in her grandfather's distillery. they get off to a rocky start, but with the distillery's best interests at heart, they come to an agreement to work together and save it—all while ignoring their explosive chemistry.

i had such a good time reading this book; grumpy/sunshine is a trope that never misses and i especially loved how malcolm was so quiet and awkward around april because he'd had a crush on her since they were kids. once they finally gave into the pull they felt toward each other... whew. i was blushing, kicking my feet and twirling my hair the whole time.

read if you like:
- opposites attract
- small scottish towns
- loud meddling families

thanks to netgalley and harper collins UK for the advanced copy! whisky business comes out june 6th in the UK (and came out june 4th in the US).

A sizzling fun romance read, reuniting two childhood friends. I loved the Scottish setting and would enjoy more books set on here in the future!

This was such a delightful read! Opposites attract for childhood friends who grew up together on the Isle of Skye. With charming lead characters, a bunch of humour and two sweet canine companions there was a lot to love about this book.

Whisky Business is a sweet romance with strong mental health representation, tasteful spice and a relationship you can’t help but root for. A grumpy x sunshine dynamic duo, Mal and April tugged on my heartstrings real hard. I flew through this book in a couple of days, as it’s so easy to read!

Disclaimer: e-Arc provided by HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, via Net Galley for Review. All thoughts are my own. My thanks to HarperCollins, for providing me with the arc for review.

Plot
Whisky Business follows the love story of April Sinclair/Murphy and Malcolm Macabe. April is an actress who returns to her home on the Scottish Isle of Skye following the death of her grandfather, she is greeted by the grumpy Mal who’s been running the family Whisky distillery that she owns.

Thoughts
I’m giving this book 3.5 Stars.

What I liked:

- April is childhood friends with Mal’s sister, and I loved the family dynamic of her, Mal and the rest of the Macabe Clan.
- The setting of the Whisky distillery on the Isle of Skye was so fun, and interesting. I have no idea how accurate it was, but it was fun nevertheless.
- April and Mal are cute together, Mal is clearly obsessed with her, which I found fun.
- The Dogs! Both Mal and April own dogs, and they are so cute and I love all their mentions and their little interactions while their owners were pining after each other.

What I Didn’t Like:

- I’m not big on ‘fame’ in my books, I don’t mind it but it was definitely a bit boring in here. I felt like April didn’t want to act anymore, but then her career was a big thing for her. Found it a bit annoying.
- While the relationship was fun, I wasn’t overly obsessed with them. They were cute together, but on a surface level thing. It also fell in the classic thing of they’ve known each other for years so they don’t need to have conversations on page once they get together, which I hate.

Overall, I was here for a good time, but I don’t think it will stick with me. Don’t know if I’ll continue the series, as I didn’t particularly like the brother that the next book is about.

- Small-town Scotland
- Grumpy (him) x sunshine (her)
- Struggling actress x whisky distiller
- Cinnamon roll hero
- Frenemies to lovers
- Anxiety rep
- No breakup
- He calls her princess
- Dual POV

What do you get when you combine a grumpy, reclusive Scot with anxiety working at a failing distillery with a struggling award-winning actress who returns home to work on selling said distillery and the adjoining manor after her grandad passes? This small-town romance with a side of frenemies, of course.

I had no choice but to listen to the audio because, hello, Scottish accents, and I ended up really enjoying Whisky Business. Mal is a man after my own heart—the quintessential cinnamon roll hero. Once he realises April only wants to help him and finally lets her in, it's game over. Literally. "You were inevitable, princess. Holding back my feelings was like trying to hold back the tide."

I love their relationship—it was hot and swoony, honest and heartfelt. They understand, support, and bring out the best in each other.

"You are the only person to ever make me want to step outside my comfort zone. For you, I want to run from it."

My only complaint is the spice going from 0 to 100 and the plot falling to the background in the process. But other than that, I would definitely recommend it, and I look forward to more from the Macabes.

Highlights:
- Dogs falling in love alongside their owners.
- The spicy scene that started with her movie playing in the background 😮‍💨.
- Mal learning to slow dance 🥺.
- Mal's love declaration, along with no breakup!

Yep, his love confession made me feel things 🥺:

"You need to leave, and I won't ever try to hold you back. But how about this . . . when you go, what if I just keep on loving you? For the rest of my life. Would that be okay? You literally brought me back to life and made me believe in myself like no one else ever has. I wanted to give you something in return. I wanted you to know you'll always have a place in the world where someone adores you, a place where someone is wondering where you are and if you're okay. A place where you'll be safe if you ever feel like coming back. A home."

I loved this, the blurb really drawed me in along with the cover (because of wow look at them). This was super fun and cute read , it gave me all of the butterfly feels :)

Thank you for allowing me to read Whisky Business. This book was a gorgeous story between April and Mal and I loved seeing their relationship blossom.

I absolutely loved this quirky gorgeous romance. How does Elliot Fletcher make a man anxious and vulnerable and cranky and antisocial - and yet be so delicious and so hot? I don't know how, but she does it so well. Mal is beyond gorgeous and I so wanted him to make his mark, get the girl, keep the dog, save the business, stay on the Isle of Skye, all the things with a HEA!

April is gorgeous - she's a successful actress, but having a tricky moment. She's genuine, and warm and trying to do her best in a difficult personal situation. She tries really hard with everyone on Skye and charms the island - and Mal of course! There's plenty of pining and an awakening for April and they really are better together.

No spoilers here but it's all very subtle - who wears the pants, who takes the lead, I just loved it all! It's spicy 🌶🌶 and fun, with some role reversal. The Isle of Skye features beautifully, and Fletcher writes a mean Scottish accent. And she weaves in Mal wearing a kilt (with boxers, but still) - what more could you want?

I totally recommend this warm and clever romance. Five Scottish stars :)

Thank you NetGalley, Elliot Fletcher and Harper Collins for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I loved this book! I always have a thing for a grumpy MMC!
I knew I would love this book just based on the title and the cover art! I couldn't stop reading and I was gutted when it was over!

Delightfully frothy and fun romance with plenty of chemistry and a wonderful Scottish setting. Wonder if this will be a series with the next one focusing on a sibling or friend? Seems a shame to waste the sense of community and place built up!

4⭐️

This was such a nice read! The steamy moments were hot and I liked that the plot wasn’t too predictable. It felt super cosy without being slow and I’m excited to read the rest of the series when it’s out! I feel like this was a relatively low-angst read considering it’s grumpy x sunshine and I appreciated that the (minimal) miscommunication was resolved quickly.

✨4.25✨

Quotes the author put up online are what really made me want to give this book a try, and I’m very glad I did.

Very in depth character work for both our leads without it feeling forced or overpowering. The secondary’s were there enough to get to know them without it feeling too crowded.

The tension at the beginning was great, knowing that once they had an actual conversation things would develop better, the pacing worked well here too. The development of the romance was done well also. Not too rushed and it truly felt built on something other than lust.

The ending just felt a little rushed, I would have liked one more chapter at least maybe as we go from this wonderful resolution moment to the epilogue, a little more time would have felt more satisfying.

I flew through this and after picking up vibes I’m so glad I’m right about who the couple in book two is going to be! Can’t wait!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I did not mean to enjoy this book as much as I did but April and Mal's whole arc was INCREDIBLE. I adored the entirety of this book. Everything felt so raw and natural - feelings weren't forced and things weren't contrived. Despite April being a former(ish) celebrity, everything felt very like it could actually happen. Mal's grumpiness was *just* enough that it wasn't overdone to a point where I was like "I get it, he's grumpy." He was grumpy for a very good reason. I also LOVED his passion for distilling - it was beautiful.

The pros:
- Mal - through and through, his character was awesome. I love a good cinnamon roll MMC
- the lack of miscommunication. It's what I despise most in books and, although there is a bit of miscommunication, it's not used as a plot device which I appreciate
- the spice... it was just the right amount!

The cons:
- Honestly, nothing.

This small town, Scottish romance (childhood crush, etc.) hit ALL the points it should've and then some. I highly recommend for anyone who needs an escape to the Isle of Skye and into the arms of a distiller. 10/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this hard to get into at first but when it hit, it hit good
The characters were amazing, likeable and had great chemistry which was shown throughout
Can't wait to read more by Elliot Fletcher
Thankyou for the ARC

😭😭😭 What a book. Totally loved this - one of my favourite reads of the year so far. April, worried that her career as an actress is over, returns home to her family’s distillery in Skye. There she finds the business barely managing after her grandfather’s death, run by their long term gruff employee - Malcolm. As they work together to save the distillery they come to truly know each other and the most adorable, yet hot, romance ensues.

I mean the pièce de résistance of this is Mal. Phew. Never have I read a more endearing character. His anxieties and his fears just feel so genuine, and you feel yourself urging April on to love him because he so deserves it. As is she - I just loved the lack of third act break up in this. Yes, there’s angst and anxiety as their relationship take a turn towards the unknown but it’s not a big blow up - it’s a very mature romance in this way, making the characters all that more lovable.

This also felt like a love letter to Skye, and island living in Scotland. Not a Scottish cliche in sight - yaaaas. Such a beautiful Scottish romance. I am overjoyed that this is the first in a series 🥰

What to expect:

- grumpy x sunshine
- Scottish island setting
- celebrity romance element
- cinnamon roll MMC
- hates everyone but her vibes
- opposites attract
- spicy

It's always the quiet ones...

I'm normally more of a romantasy reader but something about the synopsis of the book just catched me.
And boy was i catched! I really loved this book!
Every single chapter has a song that goes along with it and i really loved that little detail!
So you don't just have the playlist at the beginning, like most books have it.

The relationship between April and Mal was not rushed but slowly built throughout the book.
I also loved the switching POV's because you really get both their sides and what they think and feel.
There was one moment in the book that made me squeal so badly that i jus started blasting Too sweet by Hozier.
That song fit perfectly for that moment and once you've read the book you'll know exactly why i did it and will do the same!

So to sum it up, if you are looking for the following tropes then this book is for you:

- Grumpy meets Sunshine
- Small town romance in Scotland
- Opposites attract
- Found family
- Childhood crush
- Family business