4.5⭐ Here is another Melissa Foster story that will make you swoon, croon, laugh out loud and feel for 2 people who are just so easy to love, that you just can't help but root for them! The banter is hilarious, and they both love with so much of themselves. I really enjoyed reading this book, I found myself smiling a lot while reading it!

Dedication: “For everyone who believes in love, and even those who don’t.”

Yes! Ms Foster describes this story in a nutshell! Destiny is sunshine to Ryan's grumpiness. Despite having lost all of her family, she still faces each day with a smile and positive attitude. She still talks to her parents when she needs the extra boost, and she just needs someone who understands her and can be there for her when she's running a little low on wattage.

Ryan is that unlikely person for Destiny, they seem like complete opposites. And even the way they meet spells disaster, but she still manages to break through his stony exterior, one smile, one joke, one Molly kiss at a time.

I love how Ryan supports her unconditionally and one day discovers that he truly is able to love and trust again. He understands what is important to her and hates to see her light dim, so he strives to make her happy.

I love how versatile of a writer Melissa Foster is. I've read some of her spicier stories. This one still has some spice, but has more feel good than spice. Their path from the disastrous meeting to their HEA is so sweet and swoony! I love the ending!

This book was truly a ray of sunshine for me and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good story.

Thank you Melissa Foster, NetGalley, and Montlake Publishing for this ARC. The above is my own and personal opinion.

Exceptional grumpy/sunshine story

For lovers of RomComs and the tropes grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, and fake dating, Melissa Foster's THE MR. RIGHT CHECKLIST delivers these and so much more. It was such a fun read, providing plenty of laughs and a few heartfelt moments. So, settle in and prepare to meet Destiny Amor, Ryan 'Fletch' Fletcher, and two wonderful pets.

Destiny works as a dog groomer, but her dream is to have her own marriage proposal business. She is such a breath of fresh air, always positive, wants to bring happiness to everyone, including herself, but more importantly she wants to find the same love her parents shared. Fletch is a professor, a doggy daddy, and comes across as having a grumpy personality. Nothing could be further from the truth, there was so much more to this incredible man beneath his grumpy facade. Destiny is in love with the idea of love and finding her perfect Mr. Right, if a man doesn't tick all the boxes on her checklist, then he's not for her. Whereas, Fletch has been hurt by love and never wants to experience that again.

When an event Destiny organizes turns into a monumental disaster, Fletch suggests an arrangement that will help them both, he'll help her with her business if she'll attend his brother's wedding as his date. So begins a fake friendship which turned into something neither expected. The chemistry between them was sizzling, the banter was often hilarious, and their first kiss... WOW!! I adored the little things they did for each other, the care they showed, and the love which slowly built between them.

THE MR. RIGHT CHECKLIST was another exceptional story from Melissa Foster. I devoured it and still wanted more!! I laughed a lot, shed a couple of tears, and fell hard for Destiny and Fletch. Melissa's captivated me with a story filled with sweetness, spice, charm, romance, and so many emotions. It would have to be one of the best grumpy/sunshine stories I have read.

A highly recommended read.

Even though Ryan Fletcher, or “Molly’s Daddy,” only met one item on Destiny Amour’s Mr Right Checklist, something magical began when she planned a marriage proposal from his stalker. What started as lessons in business management and a fake date to his brother’s wedding and evolves into a situationship matches an open, free-spirited proposal planner who was all about love with a guarded, cynical professor who didn’t believe in romantic love. A hilarious romantic comedy with all the feels, The Mr. Right Checklist by Melissa Foster is by far the best novel I’ve read by this author. I adored Destiny, who was so full of life, love, and happiness despite experiencing significant losses. She brightened up the life of everyone she touched, especially Fletch. He was behaving out of character almost from the first time they met. I couldn’t help but also love Fletch, who was very closed off yet incredibly loving to his dog, Molly, and who just blossomed with Destiny’s influence. I also was crazy for all the secondary characters that made up their world. The important message here is that it is fine to dream of what Mr/Ms. Right will be like, but never get so hung up on your list that you risk missing a great love story happening in front of your eyes. Readers who enjoy romantic comedy that is uplifting with characters so endearing that you want to make them your friends, then this is the book for you! I give this book 4.5⭐️ rounded to 5⭐️ on Goodreads and retail sites.

I would like to thank Melissa Foster and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If I had a feel-good book checklist, this one would have ticked all my boxes—and then some!

Destiny works at a pet grooming business. She loves dogs, especially Molly, a Bernese mountain dog, who just so happens to be Fletch’s pet. They get off on the wrong foot. He’s way too grumpy for her, she’s way too lively for him.

This was grumpy/sunshine at its finest. Destiny has her head in the clouds while Fletch has his feet firmly on the ground. She doesn't really know how to start her marriage-proposal business, so he sets out to help. In the meantime, they get to know each other. While opposites, they work.

She has a Mr. Right Checklist: a list of things that make up her perfect man. Since his family is pressuring him to find a date for his brother’s wedding, he asks Destiny to fake-date him. It’s fine, especially since he doesn’t meet the items on her list.
Plus, Fletch is not forever material, and forever is what Destiny’s looking for.

When they get into a FWB situation, they’re hot and pretty perfect. Fletch is a vault, but he starts to open up to this girl who is not what he imagined he wanted for himself. Because if he had a checklist of his own, she wouldn't be it either.
The beauty of it is: does it matter?

I loved the more intimate moments. The way she tells him all about herself. The way he helps her get that first real client, all the while never realizing he’s falling. They both are. And when realization hits, it’s glorious.

Could you write your own Mr. Right checklist? What if someone came along willing to be your everything, even if they don't fit the bill? More importantly, what if they redefined what Right is and no one else would ever do?
To be honest, I was never one for lists anyway :)

I absolutely loved Destiny and Fletch's story! The banter between them was so entertaining. One of my favorite scenes was when Destiny met Fletch's brothers and his friend Marshall for the first time. So funny! I really liked Marshall and hope he gets his own story.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐫. 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 is a spicy romantic comedy by Melissa Foster that mashes up some favorite tropes to make a must-read hit story, with a little grumpy/sunshine, a dash of opposites attract, some fake dating, and enough close proximity to keep things interesting! I loved every minute of Destiny and Fletch fighting their own battles to keep their relationship casual. Their banter was infectious, the friendship they developed was sweet, and their chemistry was 𝑯𝑶𝑻! All the laugh out loud moments were exactly what I needed! Let me just say, Fletch as a dog dad totally stole my heart!!🥰 Molly’s antics were hilarious, and reminded me of my dogs! The supporting characters were fabulous, as usual, bringing a found family vibe that Destiny so desperately needed! Her heartbreaking backstory was handled so beautifully, bringing out such a compassionate side of Fletch. This was a well-rounded, entertaining story from beginning to end. I’m just bummed that it’s over already!

I received an ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Destiny is a a hopelessly optimistic dog groomer turned proposal planner who interacts with Professor Fletch on a pretty regular basis when he brings in his dog Molly for grooming. Destiny thinks that the hot professor is too grumpy and doesn’t give him much thought until an unfortunate circumstance makes Destiny’s new business venture and Fletcher’s worlds collide in a disastrous way. Fletch, feeling sorry for Destiny offers to help her get her business off the ground. The more they work together the closer they become. Finally, Fletch needing a date for a family wedding suggests they fake date so his mom will stop suggesting dates. When their friendship becomes more they decide to transition into a situationship. What happens when a hopeless romantic and a determined bachelor start to catch feelings?


There are so many cute moments in this book. Southerner Destiny tries to look on the passivity side of life in all things. And grumpy Fletch is determined to never again be in another relationship after divorcing years earlier. The relationship that Fletch and Destiny form is based on friendship and Fletch’s genuine desire to be around her more and more. Destiny changes Fletch and Fletch provides what Destiny misses most, a family. If you want a heartwarming grumpy sunshine story that will make you smile and swoon, grab The Mr. Right Checklist immediately.

Melissa Foster’s The Mr. Right Checklist is a masterfully written romance that blends heartfelt storytelling with laugh-out-loud humor and a touch of steamy spice. From the very first chapter, Foster hooks readers with her sharp wit, relatable characters, and a story that feels both fresh and irresistibly charming.

The novel follows a protagonist whose search for “Mr. Right” doesn’t go quite as planned, leading to a journey of unexpected twists, sizzling chemistry, and self-discovery. Foster has a knack for creating vibrant characters whose emotions leap off the page, making it impossible not to root for them. The balance of humor and heartfelt moments gives the story depth, while the romance delivers all the swoon-worthy moments fans of the genre crave.

The spice level is perfectly tuned to enhance the story without overshadowing its heart. Foster’s writing captures the complexity of modern relationships with warmth and authenticity, ensuring readers will laugh, cry, and fall in love alongside the characters.

For fans of romantic comedies with substance, The Mr. Right Checklist is a standout. It’s a feel-good, addictive read that leaves you wanting more—not just from this series but from Melissa Foster’s entire catalog. Whether you’re new to her books or a longtime fan, this one will remind you why Foster is a powerhouse in contemporary romance.

I adored The Mr. Right Checklist. It was the feeling good romcom I needed. It was a breath of fresh air that made me giggle several times. If you want an adorable romcom with a grumpy MMC who has a soft spot for his family and his dog, and a lovable FMC who makes everyone around her feel happiness and sunshine, then definitely read this book.

Destiny is looking for her Mr. Right. Someone who loves her in the same epic way her parents loved each other. Fletch is divorced and does not want a relationship or another marriage. After their paths cross in a hilarious way, they start an unlikely friendship that morphs into what they think is a situationship over time. Both are not able to admit to the other how they truly feel, knowing they want different things.

This book will leave you smiling and saying aww several times. Fletch is romantic and thoughtful and also goes by the nickname of the O King, which should not come as shocking when you read the spice in this book. If you want a romcom that gives you the feels and has spice, for sure give this one a read!

✨Grumpy/Sunshine
✨Golden Retriever MMC
✨Small Town Romance
✨Opposites Attract
✨Fake Dating
✨Romcom

🌶️🌶️/5

Humorous Fletch aka Molly the dog's dad and Destiny his groomer started off in an usual way. Then end up coming up with an arrangement that suits them both. In theory neither were each other's type but the attraction is evident as the story goes on. They each begin to see the other differently and the chemistry in the bedroom is there as well.
To add to the experience I listened to audio on release narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York. While I am giddy about Savannah's male impression overall the audio was good. Sebastian nailed as usual.

Destiny's got to get her marriage proposal business up and running. Right now she's a dog groomer, but her ever present belief in love has given her hearts in her eyes as she eyes the idea of marriage proposals for everyone, not the least of which for herself someday. But then a grumpy but gorgeous professor happens to her and suddenly life's going in a way she never imagined. Will this pair of opposites be able to turn fake to real?

Fletch knows he's the opposite of what Destiny has on her Mr. Right Checklist. But somehow, spending all this time with her as his fake girlfriend has made him want what he never thought he would again - a committed relationship with someone who gives him that feeling. But does Destiny feel the same for him? His insecurities just may break the good thing they've got going on, and Destiny may walk away because of them.

This rom-com is just what I needed after having been reading some more emotionally heavy and angsty stuff. Fletch and Destiny hit all the right notes with their story - sweet, sexy, laugh out loud funny and witty, and an absolutely adorable pair of grumpy/sunshine goodness.

Rating: ♾️⭐
Spice: 3🌶️

I'm not sure why I held out for so long in reading Melissa's books, but heck do I have one hella backlist to get through! I cannot even put into words how much I LOVED this!! Melissa has written such a beautiful & heartfelt story that you can't help but be fully invested in.

Destiny works as a dog groomer, but has dreams to open her own business - creating the perfect marriage proposals for couples. When the event she plans gets ruined by one of her doggy clients & her human daddy, Fletch - it's evident Destiny overlooked her due diligence. Wanting to call a truce, Fletch agrees to help get her business off the ground, if in return, she can be his fake girlfriend for his brother's wedding.

Divorcee Fletch doesn't have any concerns about feeling anything for Destiny. He's vowed to never fall for the marriage trap again and Destiny also has a checklist she wants in a man. Fletch hardly meets any of the criteria, but what happens when Fletch starts developing feelings.. and the fine lines between them gradually start to blur?

Destiny & Fletch... I practically experienced every emotion to be had in their relationship. The flirty banter, the tension, the chemistry🤌🏻🫠 Despite Destiny having suffered major losses in life, she hasn't let that affect her outlook on life itself and most importantly, lose hope in finding true love. On the contrary, Fletch is closed off to love and has built walls so high around his heart, no one could scale them, until Destiny. It was adorable seeing that gradual shift in Fletch, where his true golden retriever personality started to shine through. Before he knew it, he was becoming everything Destiny could ever dream of, whilst falling head over heels for her. My heart could not be more full for them!💗🤗

I absolutely adored this book & cannot recommend it highly enough! I certainly didn't expect to be crying through some of the scenes, but it was just so touching!

Thank you so much to @melissafoster_author & @netgalley for providing me with an eARC, in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻💕

This is a fun, grumpy sunshine romance that is hard to put down. I loved the witty banter and sparks flying between the two MCs. The story itself is fun and entertaining. I lost count the number times that this book has been sighing happily, swooning, and laughing. I adored a memorable meet-cute, and this book did that in spades. It was a great way to hook me in as a reader. Overall, this book is the perfect little escape read for anyone looking to lose themselves in a fabulous rom-com.

This is the second book in this impressive series, and this is Destiny and Ryan / Fletch’s story.
Destiny is sweet and quirky, and she is a dog groomer, and budding marriage proposal planner. Ryan has been left bitter and jaded by his divorce, but he needs a fake girlfriend for his brother’s wedding to keep his matchmaking family off his back.
This is a well written easy to read, emotional roller coaster story, with family, friendships, grumpy / sunshine, opposites attract, humor, witty banter, romance, and love, which leads to an entertaining, poignant, and charming addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book. Amazing characters and wonderful plot. Very beautifully written and easy to read.

Destiny Amor is marriage proposal planner. She has a Mr. Right Checklist, and no one checked all of the boxes yet.

Ryan Fletcher, her dog grooming client, offers her a deal. He’ll help her business get on track, and she’ll play his girlfriend at his brother’s wedding to get his family off his back.

The more time they spend together and get to know each other, the more their feelings grow. I loved their chemistry and banter. They were made for each other.

Overall I loved this book very much. If you’re looking for a fake dating, small town, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine romance then you’re going to love it.

Yes! This feel good romance hit all the feels. I absolutely loved the characters. I found the couple were relatable, the characters were well developed and had such a gravitational pull to them. They would be my type of peeps to befriend and hang out with. This was a well-written book with charm, plenty of laughs and swoony moments.

THE MR. RIGHT CHECKLIST by Melissa Foster is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, erotic romance story line focusing on dog groomer / marriage-proposal planner Destiny Amor, and sociology professor Ryan ‘Fletch’ Fletcher.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Fletch and Destiny) THE MR. RIGHT CHECKLIST follows the building but fake relationship between our story line couple. Destiny Amor is the groomer for Ryan Fletcher’s dog Molly but Destiny sees nothing but a ‘grumpy Gus’ whenever Ryan enters the store but when Destiny’s inaugural marriage proposal event goes off the rails, Ryan aka Fletch offers a proposal, a fake relationship to keep his family of matchmakers off his back. Little does Fletch know but Destiny has a check-list of criteria for her own Mr. Right, and Fletch doesn’t check off too many boxes on our heroine’s list. As Fletch and Destiny’s relationship slowly builds into something more, neither one is willing to acknowledge their growing love, instead focusing on the end date, and nothing more.

The world building focuses on Destiny’s slow building marriage proposal business, and the growing relationship between our story line couple but Destiny is so fixated on her Mr. Right Check-list she doesn’t see that she has already found the man that she loves. Destiny is willing to walk away as their expiry date approaches because Fletch doesn’t check all of the boxes on her list. While Fletch struggles with a prior betrayal that refocuses his heart on something else he quickly realizes that Destiny may be his chance at love.

The relationship between Fletch and Destiny begins acrimoniously and quickly spirals down hill. In an effort to appease his family, Fletch proposes a fake relationship with our story line heroine, a relationship that will quickly turn into something more. Their sexual chemistry is real and strong. The $ex scenes are spicy intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are charismatic and fun. We are introduced to Destiny’s boss and best friend Ruby and her husband John ; Fletch’s best friend Marshall, and brothers Chuck, Jimmy and his wife Beth.

THE MR. RIGHT CHECKLIST is a story of secrets and lies, family and friendships, loss and grief, acceptance and love. The premise is spirited and heartwarming ; the characters are flirty and fun; the romance is seductive and fated.



THE READING CAFÉ: https://www.thereadingcafe.com/the-mr-right-check-ist-by-melissa-foster-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6997165359


BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/718299442


B&N (Sandy_thereadingcafe) posted

5++ Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ THE MR. RIGHT CHECKLIST deserves all the stars (especially those 2 special ones in the sky)! You will fall in love with this from the beginning when Destiny and Fletch have a most unusual encounter, leading to a captivating story that shows how opposites are meant to attract. And boy, do they ever in this thoroughly enchanting, funny, fun, exasperating, charming, and completely engaging tale. This will often make you smile, sometimes laugh, and sometimes bring tears to your eyes. Whatever emotion this evokes, it is sure to tug hard on your heartstrings and leave you feeling much better than before you read it! The fast-paced storyline with its well-drawn characters will keep you enthralled from beginning to end and keep you so thoroughly entertained that you will never want to put their story down, not even when you get to the adorably, wonderfully perfect ending.

I love a good romcom and this one checks some of my favorite boxes from opposites attract, to grumpy-sunshine, and a touch of fake relationship.

Destiny is a breath of fresh air! She's a southern girl who speaks her mind and loves love. Fletch has been burned by love and wants nothing to do with it. He's a dog dad that is tired of people trying to set him up on dates. I loved how these two came to be. Watching them form a beautiful friendship and open up to one another was everything! Destiny shows Fletch what love truly is and he shows her that her Mr Right checklist can change. These two were so sweet together! I loved watching their relationship grow and evelove. The secondary characters where fabulous too!

ARC review.

I love Melissa Foster as an author, but this was not one of my favorites. While I adored our hero, Fletch, and thought of him as the perfect book hero, the same could not be said for our heroine. Her name is Destiny Amor. She’s in love with love…she was just too extra and her rambling and antics got old.

I love the secondary characters and loved Marshall and both of Fletch’s brothers and hope they get stories as well.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.