This opposites attract, forced proximity, fake dating romance should have been right up my alley but something just lacked if I'm brutally honest.

Mabel is the latest in a long line of ghostwriters hired by retired footballer Alfie. He's reluctant to write his biography and finds any excuse to delay or derail it. Their little arrangement is inadvertently mistaken for a romance and now they have to play it up.

Mabel is curvy - it's so nice to see larger characters finally being taken seriously and not just made the "fat friend/comic relief". She is empathetic and gets Alfie to open up a bit. Alfie is uber grumpy but has a practical bent and a protective streak.

I'm a Scot so swearing is like breathing to me but some may find the amount of searing excessive. The story starts to lag a bit through the last third of the book.

📖🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦📖

📖𝕋𝕚𝕥𝕝𝕖: When Grumpy Met Sunshine
✍🏼️𝔸𝕦𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣: Charlotte Stein

(Thank you NetGalley, Publisher, and Charlotte Stein for this ARC in exchange for an honest review)

Release date: February, 15th


Tropes:
👩Curvy FMC
👉Fake Dating👈
👨🏻Retired footballer x 👩Ghostwriter
😡Grumpy x 🌞 Sunshine
💙Opposites attract

📖 Grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding reluctantly agrees to sell his memoirs, but writing them seems impossible—until bubbly ghostwriter Mabel Willicker breezes in. Despite their clashes, they team up to tell his story. When their professional relationship is mistaken for romance, they play along. But as their fake love story unfolds, sparks fly, leaving them wondering if their chemistry is just for show or the real deal. Will this unexpected connection lead to a fairytale ending?

✨This cover was so gorgeous (and blue, my fav color) that I couldn't resist reading the blurb, which was really good. However, one thing I'm getting to know about my liking about books recently is that I'm less and less tolerant of characters who are thirty-year-olds but act like children. I get it when we have young adults but in adults? I can't stand it, so I couldn't make it more than 50%. I usually don't mind when a romance is written in one POV even though I prefer a dual POV and get to know him better too, but in this book, I think we needed that POV to better get into the story.

🌸 Curious for more details? Join me on Goodreads and Instagram (lovelace.books) to spill all the tea! ☕📖

I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this one!!!

I'm ngl, a book called "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" , I had super high hopes for it! Its one of my all time favourite quotes and this one certainly delivered.

Highlights
- grumpy/sunshine,forced proximity,
- fake dating tropes
- Alfie and Mabel were great characters throughout

Things I struggled with
- The lengthy dialogue, there was so much talking in this book
- Miscommunication

E-Arc Review📚
WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE by Charlotte Stein
4🌟
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When Grumpy met Sunshine is an opposites attracts romance about ex footballer and his Ghost Writer. Ex Footballer Alfie is known for being grumpy and reveals very little about himself, which has caused much trouble for the precious ghostwriters of his memoir. Until along came Mabel and her sunshine disposition that has Alfie telling her all about himself, including things he never thought he would tell anyone.
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Now I will admit that I am a bit late to reading this especially since it has recently been published, but I am so glad I chose to read it this weekend. I spent a large potrtion of this book with a grin on my with how sweet Alfie was without trying. As a curvier lady who spent many years struggling with her appearance I totally related to Mabel and the way she reacted, believing that someone like Alfie would never go for a woman like her.
I loved the slow burn of this book, I didn't even realise how far in I was before any kind of spice scenes appeared but it worked well. And that epilogue had me in tears but it was so worth it.
The formating of the story was interesting as well, I enjoyed the little extras at the end of the chapters that gave a little insight into either Mabels writing process or the worlds around thems thoughts.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @panmacmillan for the opportunity to read this for free in exchange for my honest review.
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#whengrumpymetsunshine #charlottestein #grumpysunshine #fakedating #slowburn #oppositesattract #arc #netgalley #nighttimereading #bookish

I had a lot of high hopes for this book - after all, who doesn't like an (minor) enemies-to-lovers romcom narrative? But unfortunately, it took the first 8 chapters for me to start reading without cringing at the writing style. Beyond the fact there seemed to be a mix of British and American phrases (which greatly confused me, though for the larger part this was British English and very homely), Stein's writing just wasn't my cup of tea; the character of Alfie Harding felt like a 40 year old man trapped in a 25 year old.
Additionally, the formatting of the ebook seemed odd if not 'incorrect', with single/double word lines every other line - this unfortunately had an impact on the reading as it was extremely hard to not read in the style of contemporary poetry.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is the latest novel from romance author Charlotte Stein and the (you guessed it!) grumpy x sunshine romance between grumpy retired footballer Alfie Harding and his sunshine-personified memoir ghostwriter Mabel Willicker.
This book is packed full of all of your favourite romance tropes. Our grumpy x sunshine pair end up in a fake-dating scenario after Mabel is caught by the paparazzi leaving Alfie’s house and this was really well executed. If you like the ‘Hates Everyone But You’ and ‘Touch Her and You Die’ tropes you will LOVE Alfie Harding as a swoon-worthy MMC who was fiercely protective over Mabel, even when they were ‘just friends’. BookTok is going to absolutely love this pair!
The narrative is packed full of witty-banter between Mabel and Alfie which had me laughing out loud. It did take me the first five chapters or so to settle into the story and get used to how fast paced the story was, particularly during conversations between Mabel and Alfie, but once I was there I was HOOKED.
This is a slow-burn romance but boy is it worth the wait. If you like a spicy romance with lots of sexual tension and great dirty talk, this is the book for you. I’d rate this as a 4 out of 5 on the spice scale as there are multiple open-door intimate scenes (and in a variety of locations – car and kitchen counter included!).
Mabel and Alfie were brilliant protagonists and their relationship felt really genuine, which is not always the case with celebrity romances. I love plus-size representation within romance books and Mabel was an absolute queen who was unapologetically her sunshine self. Alfie was a really complex character who I fell completely in love with. The chapters are interspersed with extracts from articles, social media posts and press interviews which add further detail to both our present-day story and Alfie’s backstory. It was really interesting to see how Alfie’s famous footballer public persona differed to his true self and this was well written. The shared childhood trauma Alfie and Mabel have was also well and respectfully written.
This book does have a HEA despite a third act breakup. I’m never a massive fan of third act breakups, especially ones linked to miscommunication, but it resolved itself well with a grand gesture that melted my heart.
Overall, When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a gorgeous romance read, perfect for reading around Valentines Day. I’ve been absolutely hooked on Charlotte Stein’s writing and can’t wait to read more of her books.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️/ 5

I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

I loved reading this book. The story was so cute and wholesome.

Mabel is a ghostwriter, and she ends up taking the job to write ex-footballer Alfie Harding's memoir. The two couldn't be more opposite. Mabel is sunny, outgoing and her house looks like a rainbow exploded. Alfie is grumpy, quiet and minimalist. However, first impressions can deceive you. Alfie is not what he seems. He behaves like his family and fans expects him to behave instead of being his true self. But the more time he spends with Mabel, the more he can't deny his true self anymore.

Mabel and Alfie are perfect for each other. Although they keep pushing each other away, they can't stray for too long. I love how their relationship progresses and how the characters develop throughout the story. When I was close to the end I was shocked, but I'm so thankful for the last chapter.

I need to read something that isn’t romance now because I can’t with those books. especially this one tbh because as I read it progressively got worse and worse. the characters had barely any chemistry, everything was just cringe and I couldn’t care less about them. 1.5⭐️ for I don’t know what to be honest.

This was such a delight to read. Admittedly I have been a Charlotte Stein fan for years so when I finally got my mitts on her long awaited new book I was very excited. This has a lot of Steins' trademark sparky and fun dialogue between Alfie and Mabel, and speaking of our main characters they were so adorable.

Mabel is a lovely heroine, a plus size cutie that has our hero in a spin from the get go. Alfie is the grumpy cinnamon roll hero, gruff and frowny but such a sweetheart once you get past that exterior.

This book has a very character and dialogue driven plot, there's not much in the way of the central romance so if you need a plot driven romcom then you might struggle with this.

After this, I can't wait for her next book to come out

2.5 stars

When I saw the hero was Roy Kent coded, I knew I needed to read this. Sadly, it didn't really deliver what I wanted. Yes. There are some similarities, but I wanted more.
The story has some issues because it feels a bit disconnected around the 60% mark, but overall, it was a fun read.
My biggest issue with the book is that although our heroine has a lot of inner monologs, we don't get to really know much about her. I wish we got to know more about her life and her trauma with her father and her sister, but unfortunately, everything was pretty superficial.
I feel that with some more depth and editing, this would have been an amazing book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐ When Grumpy Met Sunshine is hilarious and heartwarming and a must read for fans of spicy romcoms. As you probably guessed from the title, this involves the Grumpy x Sunshine trope and follows ex footballer (and well known grump) Alfie Harding and his pastel loving sunshine ghostwriter, Mabel Willicker. It’s pitched as Ted Lasso meets Tessa Bailey and honestly I could not think of a better description. If you want a hero with Roy Kent ‘You deserve someone who makes you feel like you’ve been struck by fucking lightning. Don’t you dare settle for “fine”.’ vibes then Alfie Harding is your man. He has ‘who hurt you because I will hurt them harder’ vibes but is the biggest secret cinnamon roll, he’s sex and body positive and he has a heart of gold… it is safe to say he makes a fantastic addition to your collection of book boyfriends ;)

Mabel is a wonderful, relatable FMC who is bubbly and bright both in her style and her personality. While at first glance, her and Alfie are complete opposites, they are actually not so different. The natural chemistry and banter, and transition from friends to lovers, between her and Alfie was soooo good and let me just say, Charlotte Stein knows how to write DAMN. GOOD. SPICE. Maybe it was the cute cover (you’d think i’d have learnt by now not to judge a book by its cover), but I had not expected there to be multiple, detailed sexy scenes. This was definitely not a negative, but it is something to note if spice isn’t really your thing.

This is definitely a book I would recommend and the only thing that stopped it from being a 4.5 or even 5 ⭐ was that the ending felt a little rushed for me but others may love it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an earc & early review copy. All views are unbiased and my own.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein is a delightful romcom centered on the chemistry between Alfie Harding, a grumpy retired footballer, and Mabel Willicker, his sunny ghostwriter. The opposites-attract dynamic brings humor and warmth to the narrative, with Mabel's bubbly charm complementing Alfie's reluctant vulnerability. The story takes an entertaining turn when their business arrangement is misconstrued as a budding romance, leading them to pretend to be a couple for the public eye.

The first part of the book offers a humorous and engaging storyline, filled with witty banter and laugh-out-loud moments. However, the middle portion becomes dominated by steamy scenes, momentarily sidelining the plot's progression. Despite these moments, the book eventually returns to delivering a satisfying narrative. The characters are well-developed, and the banter between Mabel and Alfie creates a captivating dynamic.

While the writing style is enjoyable, there are instances of excessive swearing, and the last portion of the book feels rushed, impacting the overall pacing. Nevertheless, When Grumpy Met Sunshine successfully draws readers into the charming world of its characters, offering a cute and engaging read with a fairy-tale ending.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Mabel has to be the ghostwriter for the memoirs of THE Alfie Harding, an ex football player, she never expected that this arrangement could lead to something more.

Awwwwwwww!!!
When Grumpy met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein is my first book of this author, and won't be my last!
I instantly fell in love with this beautiful book cover! 🥰😍🥰😍
But he prepared! It's cute, YES and totally fits to the energy between the main characters! Buuuuuut OMG there's soooo much SPICE in it... I honestly didn't expect it at first. LOL
Ha! But I'm not complaining here! 😌🤪
Just a side note! 😏

Sooooo Mabel has to spend time with Alfie to get to know him better. Better be prepared to write his memoirs perfectly.
OMG those two just stole my heart write from the beginning!
Mabel is this quirky, happy, friendly and curvy woman...
... and on the opposite is Alfie. The grumpy, big, hairy guy.
The banter between them IS AWSOME! I LAUGHED SOOOO MUCH because both together?! AWKWARDNESS OVERLOAD!!! LOL
But there's not just awkwardness and chaos and clumsiness.... there's also loooots of sizzling chemistry between Mabel and Alfie!
Awwwwwww!!! PERFECTION!
And when things lead them into a fake relationship?! OMG it even got better! 🥰😍

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!
DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITES THIS YEAR! (Yeah, I know it's only February, but I said what I said! 😁)

Thanks a lot to Charlotte Stein and Pan Macmillan for this ARC via NetGalley.
This is my honest review in my own words.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this one. I have it till 38% and I just couldn't get in to it, which is disappointing. The writing was okay but the characters and plot was just boring.

Thanks to Net Galley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC! I received an advanced copy of the book and am leaving an honest review.

I went into this quite literally for the title. I figured, this is gonna be a cutesy fun read. A curvy sunshiney ghostwriter works with the grumpy surly ex footballer on his memoir? Love the premise. I was a bit concerned since I read an ARC last month with a similar premise but just WOW. It kept getting better as I read it.

I love Mabel and Alfie. I saw so much of my self in Mabel, with the self doubt and insecurities. She was such a fun character and I LOVED how she saw Alfie and how she was able to draw him out. She had such a way with him, it was lovely to read.

Hooo boy. Alfie. Freaking. Harding. THIS MAN. He has to be one of the absolute SWEETEST and MOST THOUGHTFUL men ever written. WE LOVE A MAN WHO DEMANDS CONSENT!! He was always his grumpy self but totally softens around Mabel. You can see how she’s, not changing him, but allowing him to be more himself and admit to things about himself he hasn’t liked previously. I loved the developing relationship between them and it felt very authentic and real.

I honestly started off the this and got a good halfway into thinking, ok this seems like a good 3-3.5 star read. But as I kept going, I couldn’t put it down! This turned into a true 4.5 star read for me.

My only complaints (and there aren’t many) are that it was physically hard to read, I’m pretty sure it was just the way the file downloaded and I was honestly reading it mostly on my phone, so it wasn’t great. The only other thing was it was a sloooooow burn for me, I would have loved it to pick up a bit earlier and get a bit spicier. But I do have to give props, Alfie can talk DIRRRTY!!

This is my first Charlotte Stein read but it won’t be the last! It was great and I would HIGHLY recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to receive this book as any book I see where the main character is curvy or not a normative size is a yes for me. However, this one just didn't do it for me.

I didn't like that it was only from one POV. In romances, I like to know the POV of both main characters and this book didn't have that.

On the other hand, the conversations between them? They are two adults in their thirties, but they have absurd conversations all the time. Also, I don't see the point where they go from hating each other to falling in love. It's impossible for them to develop that feeling when they're fighting all the time about super childish things.

But my main problem is with him. He's supposed to be so grumpy and always frowning, but then he hides from her behind a plant? It just doesn't make sense.

Very sad, because it could have been a wonderful book, but a lot of things were missing.

"When Grumpy Met Sunshine" by Charlotte Stein is a delightful and heartwarming tale that explores the unexpected and transformative power of love. The story revolves around two seemingly opposite characters, Grumpy and Sunshine, whose lives take an unexpected turn when they cross paths. The author, Charlotte Stein, skillfully weaves a narrative that is both humorous and touching, creating a perfect balance between lighthearted moments and deeper emotions.

The characters are well-developed and endearing, making it easy for readers to connect with their quirks and vulnerabilities. Grumpy's stoic demeanor contrasts beautifully with Sunshine's infectious optimism, and their interactions are filled with witty banter and genuine moments of connection. Stein's writing style is engaging, and her ability to convey the emotional journey of the characters is truly commendable.

The book not only explores the romantic relationship between Grumpy and Sunshine but also delves into themes of self-discovery and personal growth. It is a story that reminds us of the transformative power of love and how it can bring out the best in people. "When Grumpy Met Sunshine" is a feel-good and uplifting read, perfect for anyone looking for a heartwarming romance with a touch of humor and a lot of heart.

The first part of the book was quite enjoyable, even though it had some rough patches. Then it started to drag on with rambling sentences and trying hard to be funny: I’ve seen references to Ted Lasso so I’m assuming, as someone who hasn’t seen the show, this may be why I couldn’t connect.

Overall, I'd say it was a decent read.

While the book didn't exactly resonate with me, it's not because it's bad—it just didn't align with my preferences. The humor tends to be a bit over-the-top, which isn't my usual cup of tea. However, if you enjoy lively rom-coms, this book could be a perfect fit for you.

I really wanted to enjoy this, but sadly it just failed to pull me in, so I decided we are better off parting ways. There was no objective reason why this was, and I'm sure many romance readers would enjoy it, but alas, it was not for me.

When Grumpy Met Sunshine is a rom-com packed with banter and spice. It follows Mabel, a beam of brightness who are a ghost writer and former football player, Alfie, who wants assistance writing his memoir. However, there was a miscommunication between them and the public. They decide the best course of action is to fake date. Will this work, or will they realise they're not really faking anymore?


Let me begin by saying that I adore the Grumpy X Sunshine trope, so I knew this would be right up my alley. Mabel and Alfies had a perfect mix of humour and romance, and I had quite enjoyed their British banter.


One way I could characterise this book is that when it was fantastic, I couldn't stop reading, but when it wasn't so good, I didn't want to take it up again.

I enjoyed the first half of the book, despite the fact that some portions were choppy, making it slightly more difficult to read. However, I liked Charlotte's take on the grumpy/sunshine trope. The following 25/30% was primarily spicy stuff that didn't really add to the plot and I found this made the book drag a little, but after that, I enjoyed the way Charlotte made the last 10% work and I couldn't put the book down and it gave me what I wanted.

Overall, it was an okay read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of Charlotte Stein's When Grumpy Met Sunshine in exchange for an honest review.